One Life, Two Paths excerpt by New Hope Publishers

“One Life, Two Paths is a well-written evaluation of King Saul, and extrapolated from this study comes powerful life lessons for us all. It is filled with practical life-application lessons on integrity, patience, and wisdom. You will see the importance of spiritual check-ups and learn applicable truths, which will help with daily living in the twentyfirst century. As you work through this study, God’s Word will come alive in a real and relevant way. This study is a great resource for personal spiritual growth.” —DR. FRANK S. PAGE, president and chief executive officer, Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention

“The life of King Saul offers one of the more frustrating accounts of a leader in the Old Testament. At the same time, he shows us reality, as each of us can identify with him in some way. This study will take you into the life of Israel’s first king to see both the devastating effects of sin and the wonderful work of grace.” —ALVIN L. RIED, senior professor of evangelism and student ministry, Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“One Life, Two Paths includes insightful illustrations, and the study’s 30 chapters offer a daily devotional and quiet time with God for a month. Questions in each chapter provide direction for small-group Bible study use or a deep, personal touch with God for an individual. Take your time and enjoy it. This thoughtful, soul-searching book quieted my busy days—I couldn’t put it down!” —EDNA M. ELLISON PhD, award-winning writer of 38 books, including the “Friend to Friend” series

Other New Hope® books

by Kimberly Sowell Thin Red Line: Tracing God’s Amazing Story of Redemption Through Scripture OLD TESTAMENT, VOLUME 1 OLD TESTAMENT, VOLUME 2 NEW TESTAMENT, VOLUME 3 NEW TESTAMENT, VOLUME 4 Journey to Confidence Journey to Significance Soul Shaping Lost on a Familiar Road Lost on a Familiar Road Devotional Major Truths from the Minor Prophets (with Edna Ellison and Tricia Scribner)

A Passion for Purpose

(with Edna Ellison, Joy Brown, Tricia Scribner, and Marie Alston)

Women of the Covenant (with Edna Ellison)

Chosen and Cherished

(with Edna Ellison and Joy Brown)

A Month of Miracles

(with Edna Ellison, Joy Brown, Tricia Scribner, Marie Alston, and Cherie Nettles)

ONE LIFE TWO PATHS life lessons from a fallen king

Kimberly Sowell and Brian Saxon

Â® BIRMINGHAM, AL ABAMA

New Hope® Publishers PO Box 12065 Birmingham, AL 35202-2065 NewHopePublishers.com New Hope Publishers is a division of WMU®. © 2017 by Kimberly Sowell and Brian Saxon All rights reserved. First printing 2017. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. New Hope Publishers serves its authors as they express their views, which may not express the views of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Sowell, Kimberly, author. Title: One life, two paths : life lessons from a fallen king / by Kimberly Sowell and Brian Saxon. Description: First [edition]. | Birmingham : New Hope Publishers, 2017. Identifiers: LCCN 2017017063 | ISBN 9781625915245 (permabind) Subjects: LCSH: Christian life. | Success--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Failure (Psychology)--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Saul, King of Israel. | Bible. Samuel, 1st, IX-XXXI--Criticism, interpretation, etc. Classification: LCC BV4501.3 .S66125 2017 | DDC 222/.4306--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017017063 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Interior Designer: Glynese Northam ISBN-13: 978-1-62591-524-5 N174122 • 0817 • 2.5M1

Contents I nt r od u ct Ion

ch apt e r 1 : S e e kIng t h e S eer 1 Samuel 9:1–14 9 c h apt e r 2 : St e p pI ng I nto god ’ S W Ill 1 Samuel 9:15–24 1 4 ch apt e r 3 : e ncou r ag e m e nt d I r ectly f rom god 1 Samuel 9:25–27; 10:1–8 19 c h apt e r 4 : a n otI c e ab l e cha n g e 1 Samuel 10:9–16 2 5 ch apt e r 5 : h I d I ng am ong t he baggage 1 Samuel 10:17–27 3 0 c h apt e r 6 : VIctor y t h r ou g h god’ S p o Wer 1 Samuel 11:1–11 3 5 ch apt e r 7 : g I V I ng god t h e glory 1 Samuel 11:12–15 4 0 c h apt e r 8 : b e car e fu l W h at you a Sk for 1 Samuel 12:1–25 4 5 ch apt e r 9 : cau g h t I n a t I ght place 1 Samuel 13:1–7 5 1 c h apt e r 1 0 : d on’t fl In ch 1 Samuel 13:8–15 5 6 c h apt e r 1 1 : r a Sh b e h aVI or 1 Samuel 14:24–46 6 2 c h apt e r 1 2 : part Ial o b ed Ien ce 1 Samuel 15:1–9 6 8 c h apt e r 1 3 : J uSt IfI catI on S 1 Samuel 15:10–23 7 3 ch apt e r 1 4 : tor n r e l at Io nS hI p S 1 Samuel 15:24–35 7 8

c h apt e r 1 5 : a h e art g od Wa n t S 1 Samuel 16:14–23 8 3 ch apt e r 1 6 : b Ig man, l I t t le ma n 1 Samuel 17:1–39 8 9 c h apt e r 1 7 : fad I ng glory 1 Samuel 17:55–18:9 9 5 c h apt e r 1 8 : I n t h e pr eS e nc e of greatn e S S 1 Samuel 18:10–16 1 0 1 c h apt e r 1 9 : pa Wn S I n S au l’ S game 1 Samuel 18:17–30 1 0 6 c h apt e r 2 0 : a g lI m m e r of hope 1 Samuel 19:1–7 1 1 2 c h apt e r 2 1 : W h e n ot h e r S Start to p u ll a Way 1 Samuel 19:8–17 1 1 7 c h apt e r 2 2 : h I d e and S eek 1 Samuel 19:18–24 1 2 2 c h apt e r 2 3 : W h o IS d I nIng at you r table? 1 Samuel 20:24–34 1 2 7 c hapt e r 2 4 : W h e n e V Il S h r o u dS you r m Ind 1 Samuel 22:6–23 1 3 3 ch apt e r 2 5 : t h e po We r of g od’ S faVor 1 Samuel 23:1–13 1 3 9 c h apt e r 2 6 : fr u It l eS S p u rS uI tS 1 Samuel 23:14–29 1 4 5 c h apt e r 2 7 : l eS Son S fr om a b etter m an 1 Samuel 24:1–22 1 5 0 c h apt e r 2 8 : S e cond c h an ce S 1 Samuel 26:1–25 1 5 6 ch apt e r 2 9 : t u r nIng to t h e e ne m y f or help 1 Samuel 28:1–25 1 6 1 ch apt e r 3 0 : a t r ag I c e nd Ing 1 Samuel 31:1–13 1 6 7 ap p e ndI x how to become a christian

1 73

Introduction

n 1916, Robert Frost captured in words one of the common yet monumental moments of the human experience in his poem “The Road Not Taken.” He summed up the crossroads experiences of life—those defining moments when we stand at a juncture and pause to consider the implications of going left or heading right. It’s the exciting and at the same time altogether sobering realization that we’ll likely never stand in that spot again where “two roads diverge in a yellow wood,” so we prepare ourselves to live with the decision we’re about to make, knowing that decisions guide us down paths that lead only to more crossroads. If life can be described as a journey, the path of that journey is not a continuous line as much as it is a series of segments joined by connecting points we call decisions. We make decisions every day— some subtle, others life-changing. We stand at the crossroads, and we consider the implications of steering in either direction. Both paths make promises if we’re willing to listen. They each state their case for why they should be chosen. How do we best make those decisions? What does God reveal about His will at the crossroads moments of our lives? And what do our decisions reveal about us? King Saul has gone down as one of the most infamous figures in Bible history. We quickly dismiss him as a bad guy, someone with whom we could never relate, nor with whom we would want to be associated. We remember him for all the connecting points, all of the poor decisions that marked his life path. But did it have to be that way? Was Saul incapable of taking the high road and avoiding the path of evil? Upon careful examination, not all of Saul’s connecting points were defined by poor judgment, at least at the start.

In fact, Saul began his life journey teeming with potential, steeped with promise, poised and positioned by God’s divine providence. He was capable of being a better man, but in the end, he simply chose not to be. And, therein lies the truth we all must accept. Whether we are pausing to gaze back at past decisions that brought us to the place we now stand or are looking long and hard as far as our eyes will let us see down two paths that lie before us now, we must take hold of the privilege and responsibility that in life, we choose. We choose. God equips us, cheers us, and guides us, but ultimately His love grants us the right to choose what we will do with our lives. In the end, Saul chose poorly. Saul’s life journey is a proverbial road map for the path of destruction. In One Life, Two Paths, join as we navigate Saul’s decisions and benefit from learning where not to go when standing at the many crossroads of our lives. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. —MATTHEW 7:13–14

I N T R O D U CT I O N

ChapT eR 1: 1 Samuel 9:1–14

Seeking the Seer

2 SAUL’S STORY: God gave Saul an upbringing and unique character-

istics that poised him to be successful in his life’s calling. MY STORY: God has given me experiences, relationships, skills, gifts,

and personal attributes to prepare me to successfully fulfill God’s calling on my life. How am I capitalizing on God’s preparations?

B e g I NNI N gS (1 Sam U el 9:1–2)

eginnings can have a lot to do with endings. Not always—a person who grows up without the love of a parent or in the midst of dysfunction and chaos is not guaranteed to fail, nor are those born with a silver spoon in their mouths guaranteed success. Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade but grew up to be a Nobel Prize– winning UK Prime Minister whose name will forever be revered in world history books. Conversely, such famous celebrities as football star Johnny Unitas and country music legend Willie Nelson began well yet later suffered the pain of filing for bankruptcy. Yet, there’s no denying a strong beginning cultivates the potential for a productive middle and an admirable end for all who desire to make their lives count. And though his life ended in a heap of failure, Saul could never blame his ending on his beginning, because Saul’s life began well.

SPIRITUAL MARKER: How would you describe the beginning of

your life? How did your parents influence the start of your life? Did your family struggle, or were you surrounded by success? Before we ever hear the name Saul, we first hear about his father, Kish (1 Samuel 9:1). We know very little about Kish, only that he was a Benjamite with means and a notable heritage. Kish had wealth, which was an assurance of power and influence in the community. By placing Saul in a home where he could observe his father handle money and influence, God prepared Saul for managing the wealth of Israel and responsibly handling the power and influence that comes with being king. God not only gave Saul a father to mentor him in power and wealth but also some physical attributes to help him on his way. God made Saul pleasant on the eyes. And let’s not fail to acknowledge just how great a gift it was. Saul was the most attractive person in all Israel (v. 2). How could good looks prepare a man to be king? Because of his appearance, Saul would have drawn a lot of notice to himself. Saul likely grew up the center of attention in many settings, which would have given him a taste of what it might feel like to live under the microscope of being a king to God’s people. Not only that, but human nature causes us to be drawn to those who are pleasant on the eyes. Like it or not, perhaps more than once Saul’s good looks influenced the children of Israel to give him the benefit of the doubt. Saul had another physical characteristic to establish him as a fine candidate for king. Saul was the tallest among the people—and not just by a little. He would have been a natural standout as he towered a full head-height above even the tallest among them. God built Saul’s frame in such a way that people would physically have to look up to him. Are we saying short, less attractive people aren’t suited for leadership? Certainly not, because Christ was described in Isaiah as quite the opposite: “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2). But

C h a pT e R 1 : S e e K I N g T h e S e e R

God knew the children of Israel no longer trusted the judges He had appointed them; they insisted on a king, a human figure to represent them among the nations, someone they could point to with pride (1 Samuel 8:5, 19–20). God was willing to give them exactly what they wanted, so he shaped Saul to be the typical, humanly idealistic king who could meet their desire to make an impression on the other nations. How did God shape you for His glory? God shaped Saul in ways that would make him acceptable to the Israelites as their king and placed him in a home where he could learn how to manage wealth and servants. But God uses all kinds of experiences to prepare us for His call on our lives. Positive relationships and beautiful traits can prepare us for His plan, but painful and disappointing experiences can also prepare us to be useful for Him. How we respond to what He puts before us is key. A childhood in foster care can lead a person to grow up and embrace bitterness or instead grow a heart for children without families. A bout with financial hardship can prepare a person to live in contentment as a missionary in a third world country, or the struggles of doing without can lead a person to jealousy and discontentment. Each of us must choose if we’re going to let God shape us with the good as well as the bad or if we’re going to squander blessings and resent tough times.

Q: What do you like about yourself? What do you not like? have you ever considered how both your strengths and weaknesses shape who you are for god’s purposes?

1 SamUel 9:1—14

Q: Saul’s height would one day make him an obvious choice to fight the philistine giant goliath, but Saul refused that opportunity to step up and instead let a small young man fight that battle. Are you in any way wasting the potential god has given you?

g O D’ S pR OC eD U Re (1 Sam U el 9:3–14) How frustrating to wake up one morning, gaze out the window at the beautiful blue sky, only to look over the landscape and realize the donkeys have gotten loose. We’ve all suffered through that kind of a day when nothing seemed to go right. What we thought we would accomplish suddenly gets replaced with what we are forced to do because we are putting out fires, or in Saul’s case, chasing donkeys. SPIRITUAL MARKER: How do you deal with life’s frustrations?

Have you ever considered that God allows frustrations in your life because what He wants you to accomplish is different from what you have on your daily agenda? Scripture doesn’t tell us if the livestock pens failed or if the servants fell asleep on the job. Regardless, the donkeys were lost, and Kish entrusted the matter to his son Saul. Rather than recoil at the idea of chasing donkeys all over creation, Saul humbly accepted his father’s request and traveled far and wide to find the missing donkeys. And when the servant suggested they seek help from the man of God before abandoning the cause and turning back, Saul was willing to take the advice of the servant. “Well said,” is Saul’s humble response (v. 10). King Saul certainly didn’t go down in history being admired for his humility, but young Saul was still willing to listen to wisdom and sound judgment.

C h a pT e R 1 : S e e K I N g T h e S e e R

In this scene of Saul’s life, we find Saul obeying the will of his father and diligently seeking the donkeys with no indication his attitude was anything but humble, even though Saul was having no success in in his endeavor. He was right where he was supposed to be, but by all accounts of what he was experiencing in the moment, it appeared he was wasting his time. He was out chasing donkeys, and there was not a single donkey to be found. Now what? Maybe you’re also frustrated. You believe you are exactly where God wants you to be, doing what you’re supposed to be doing, yet nothing is going right. By every measure, you’re failing miserably. You’re having no success, and you’re having no fun. In those times, what is God doing? Why does it feel like He is putting you through a seemingly useless endeavor? Perhaps, like Saul, God is operating through those donkey-chasing experiences to navigate you to your final destination. Sometimes the donkey chasing is simply the vehicle He wants to use to get you where you ultimately are meant to land. So what do you do in the meantime? You chase donkeys. You remain faithful to the task and believe that our Sovereign King has a time and a procedure for everything (Ecclesiastes 8:6).

Q: What frustrations are you currently dealing with? are you being faithful to do what you’re supposed to be doing?

Q: how has god used circumstances in your life to usher you to be at the right place at the right time—to meet someone, learn about an opportunity, or get an answer you were looking for?

1 SamUel 9:1—14

ChapT eR 2: 1 Samuel 9:15–24

Stepping into God’s Will

2 SAUL’S STORY: When Saul arrived in the city, he met Samuel and

quickly realized his purpose for being there (finding his father’s donkeys) was not God’s driving purpose for bringing him to meet Samuel. MY STORY: God is always at work around me, in my life as well as in

the lives of others who can be used of God to usher me into the next leg of my spiritual journey.

g O D IS TalK I Ng aB OU T YOU (1 Sam Uel 9:15–21)

(Kimberly) heard about the job opening at 10:30 a.m., applied for the position at 3:30 p.m., got a job interview the next morning at 8 a.m., and by 3:30 p.m., I had a job offer. Considering a career change only 29 hours after sending in the application—wow, that’s a lot to take in at one time! It was a job I wasn’t seeking and an opportunity I never would have imagined myself taking. But I knew with certainty this was of the Lord, and my certainty had much to do with the Spirit-led words of the person who called me for the interview. As soon as she offered me the position, she began to share the story of the steps they had taken to fill this particular position. Others had applied and were interviewed, but leadership never felt at peace about hiring any of the applicants. They decided to be patient and pray, believing God had the right person for the position and would

send that person in due time. “I opened your application from home online, and I turned to my husband and said, ‘This is the person we’ve been waiting for; she’s the one who’s supposed to have this position.’” Knowing people were praying for me before they even knew my name was a blanket of assurance. God was in control. SPIRITUAL MARKER: Have you ever received an opportunity that took you by surprise? How did God let you know the opportunity was from Him?

Saul didn’t know it, but God had been talking to Samuel about Saul before Samuel had the opportunity to meet him. Samuel would be critical to the reign of Saul both as a spiritual leader and as an advisor, and Saul would need wise counsel from Samuel that he could trust was from the Lord. Samuel’s foreknowledge about Saul would serve to give both Samuel and Saul confidence that Saul was God’s chosen man and God was orchestrating every detail of this situation. Samuel didn’t know everything about Saul or about how this initial encounter was going to happen, but Samuel knew enough to feel assured that he was in the Lord’s will. After all, Samuel was tasked with anointing the first king over God’s chosen people, and the consequences would be disastrous if Samuel anointed the wrong man. Samuel knew when this chosen king was supposed to arrive and that he was a Benjamite (1 Samuel 9:16). He certainly knew that Saul had been on a quest to find donkeys that had gone missing three days earlier (v. 20). And if that wasn’t enough, God spoke specifically to Samuel when Saul drew near, saying, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you” (v. 17). From Samuel’s perspective, what a blessing to receive such specific instructions from the Lord! God granted Samuel the information necessary to be successful in his task to anoint the chosen king. And from Saul’s perspective, what great assurance to know God had prepared other people who were going to be pivotal in his life! Even though Saul didn’t foresee this opportunity or seek the position of king (or perhaps hadn’t sought any life other than following in his father’s footsteps),

1 SamUel 9:15–24

Saul could glean strength and courage from the confident manner in which Samuel declared that he was the chosen one. We do not serve the Lord in isolation. God intends for us to serve Him in a community of believers, and He places people in our lives to guide us and help us grow into our ordained roles. Saul had never met Samuel; in fact, Saul had no idea that he was speaking to the great seer he had heard so much about. But Saul knew Samuel by reputation and realized Samuel was not a man to be easily dismissed. He knew to take Samuel’s counsel seriously. This required humility from Saul, who could have reacted arrogantly and dismissed Samuel as nothing more than a crazy old man. Instead Saul had a willingness to open his mind to ideas he had never considered before. God didn’t have to bring this grand revelation to Saul through Samuel. God could have spoken to Saul through a burning bush, a dream, or a vision. But as king, Saul would need to be willing to receive counsel from Samuel. This encounter was the perfect beginning to what could have become a long, meaningful relationship between Samuel and Saul as they served the Lord together, each fulfilling his own role while enhancing the work of the other. The possibilities of what their partnership could have meant never saw fruition, however.

Q: have you ever considered that god could speak to other Christians about you? Think about the evidence god provided to both Saul and Samuel to let them know Saul was God’s chosen one. How can you discern whether God is speaking to you through someone else?

C h a pT e R 2 : ST e p p I N g I N TO g O D ’ S W I l l

Q: as you listen for god’s voice, are you willing to hear him speak to you about other people? Samuel had to be humble enough to realize that fulfilling God’s will in his life meant pouring into Saul to help him be successful. Samuel realized success in God’s kingdom is measured differently from how the world measures success. Have you reached a level of maturity and humility that God could use you as a mentor and confidant to someone else who will achieve success that you yourself are not called to achieve?

T he Se aT Of hONOR (1 Sam Uel 9:22–24) Saul walked into a party being thrown in his honor. This would be the first of many times he would sit in the seat of highest honor, but never again would such an event feel like a surprise party because his divine destiny was about to unfold rapidly. Imagine the unsettling experience of being the guest of honor at a party where everyone invited is waiting patiently to celebrate you, and you don’t even know the name of a single guest! It was a lot to take in for one day. What was Saul thinking? How long did it take him to process what was happening? Perhaps his mind was racing with questions. What would this mean? What about his father, Kish? Where would he live? How could he possibly be a king? Would the Israelite people accept him? Was this real or a bizarre dream? SPIRITUAL MARKER: How do you respond to the idea that God

grants honor to you as a follower of Christ? One truth Saul could not escape through this surreal unfolding of events was that he had done nothing to deserve the honor and attention given to him by Samuel and this banquet hall of guests. Saul seemingly fell backwards into this place of honor. God

1 SamUel 9:15–24

hand-delivered these blessings, and there was nothing for Saul to do except humbly receive what God granted. This day in the life of Saul would not be the norm for him, nor are these kinds of events an everyday occurrence for us as Christ followers of today. We may experience days when God opens the floodgates with overwhelming evidence of His direction for our lives, but often God moves in subtle ways, building our faith and teaching us to trust Him through gentle whispers. Even when we don’t see larger-than-life evidence of God’s plan, we can be assured God is always working in our lives and in the hearts of the people around us to prepare His plan for each day of our lives. God has made the promise, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).

Q: When god allows a blessing or opportunity to take you by surprise, what is your typical thought process? Do you question god? Do you feel the need to make sense of what’s happening?

Q: Think about the opportunities God has given to you. Do you tend to be humble about these opportunities, or do you feel you’ve earned them? Would the people around you say you’re humble in the way you interact with those who bring honor to you?

C h a pT e R 2 : ST e p p I N g I N TO g O D ’ S W I l l

ChapT eR 3: 1 Samuel 9:25–27; 10:1–8

Encouragement Directly from God

2 SAUL’S STORY: As Saul was departing from his first encounter with

Samuel, Saul received God’s anointing as ruler and then experienced three signs from God to assure him of God’s presence. MY STORY: God will give me the encouragement I need in the tim-

ing I need it to move forward on His chosen path for my life.

DeeplY pe R SON al I NT e RaCTIO NS WIT h gO D (1 Sam U e l 9:2 5– 27 ; 10:1)

he meal was completed, the guests had departed, and the day was done. Samuel prepared a resting place for Saul and his servant to spend the night on his roof—a cool place to rest their heads and gaze in wonder at the glory of God. Did Saul catch Samuel’s words when he announced what would happen the next day? Samuel told Saul, “Tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart” (1 Samuel 9:19). What that would mean, Saul could only imagine. The general population is typically not highly skilled at selfassessment. We all know people who think way too highly of themselves and are maybe even impressed by their own humility. Others are full of self-doubt and think too little of their potential. Mirrors and photos wouldn’t be quite so popular if we didn’t care to know the truth about ourselves, but we humans are quite capable of looking

directly in the mirror and walking away with only our own skewed perversion of the truth. The heart is wicked and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), but God can reveal the truth about what’s really going on inside of us where only He can see. To grow into the man God was calling him to be, Saul was going to need God’s assessment of what was in his heart. God was going to have to awaken Saul’s heart in order for him to see the potential within himself, while Saul would also need to realize his own humanity in order to remember that all glory belongs to God alone. SPIRITUAL MARKER: Do you know what’s in your heart? How often

do you invite God to inspect your heart? Read Psalm 139:23–24. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what He sees when He looks at the deepest part of you. The family servant had not only been a traveling companion for Saul but also an advisor concerning the donkeys and an eyewitness to the mind-blowing celebratory meal they enjoyed with Samuel and the 30 guests. After spending the night under the stars, the servant and Saul rose and headed with Samuel to the outskirts of the city, where Samuel sent the servant ahead. It was now time for God to speak to Saul personally through Samuel about the future. Samuel had already told Saul that the desire of Israel was upon him (1 Samuel 9:20), but now Samuel clearly expressed God’s intention to make Saul king by anointing him with oil. Soon enough there would be much public fanfare to declare Saul king before the people, but this was meant to be a private occasion, a time of personal reflection on God’s purpose for Saul’s life. The people had requested a king, but God alone would select the man to sit on the throne of His chosen people.

Q: Evaluate your personal relationship with God. How often do you draw away from other people, your phone, and your computer, to talk with god 20

C h a pT e R 3 : e N CO U R ag e m e N T D I R e CT lY f R O m g O D

without interruption? During those times, how do you communicate with god? how do you most often hear from him?

Q: What do you most long to hear from god? What’s on your mind? are you asking the right questions, or are you holding back any questions, concerns, or fears from god?

ThRe e S I g NS (1 Sam U el 10:2–8) Words are powerful tools of encouragement. As soon as my (Kimberly) children jump in the car after school, they typically start telling about their day by starting with the good news. If any teacher, coach, or peer shared a compliment, my children are sure to remember every word. “Mama, guess what the coach said today? I’m getting better at my serves!” or, “I’m glad I picked the green shirt to wear for pictures today because everybody kept telling me my shirt made my eyes sparkle.” Unfortunately, people are often starved for encouragement in this selfish world and will cling to any compliment or word of affirmation they receive, even if they suspect the word was given halfheartedly or with false motives. The world needs more encouragement, but with God, words are only the beginning.

1 SamUel 9:25–27; 10:1–8

SPIRITUAL MARKER: Are you easily discouraged? How often do

you reflect on the promises of God? God offers us more than encouraging words as He propels us forward into His will. Sometimes He guides us by pointing us to specific Scripture passages, speaking through sermon messages, or even changing our life circumstances to open and close doors of opportunity. In Saul’s case, God provided three specific signs to affirm He was orchestrating this new calling in Saul’s life. The first sign God revealed to Saul through Samuel was two men who would confirm Saul’s donkeys were safe and secure back home and would mention Saul’s father was concerned for his safety. This encounter would serve as a reminder to Saul that God was aware of his personal life and the details of those relationships. God also showed sovereignty over Saul’s relationship with his father. As king, Saul would face many challenges in his personal relationships and would need to yield to God’s authority in his every interaction. God also displayed his ability to solve problems for Saul. God had used donkeys to draw Saul to the home of Samuel, and God would continue to oversee every detail, even faithfulness to take care of the livestock, in His intervention in Saul’s life. The second sign was three men carrying a skin of wine, three goats, and three loaves of bread. Perhaps these men were part of the remnant of the faithful believers among the Israelites, journeying to offer a sacrifice before the Lord. Samuel told Saul the pilgrims would offer him two loaves. This act of charity would serve as a reminder that God would meet Saul’s needs. Saul would receive food he hadn’t worked for or earned. God didn’t instruct Saul to seize the bread; he would receive what was given him. A good king under God’s authority would have to be fair and just and care about the needs of the people instead of hording riches for himself. The third sign was a band of prophets. God promised to put His Spirit upon Saul, and at that time Saul would prophesy with the prophets of God. Saul was also to have the experience of being made new. This third sign would serve as a vivid lesson of how God’s

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calling on Saul’s life was to be conducted as a spiritual act of worship. Saul would need the guidance of God’s Spirit to lead His people with wisdom and honor, and in this third sign God gave Saul a taste of being overshadowed by the divine. Each sign was specific in nature, including exact locations and facts. God was precise in what He promised to do in each interaction with Saul. And His promises came with great freedom for Saul: “And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you” (1 Samuel 10:7). God wasn’t asking to be Saul’s puppet master. God gave Saul room to move and grow as he learned to independently respond to God’s movement in his life. I confess I don’t always thrive within God’s freedom. If I think of God’s path for my life as a steady stream of living water, I’m drawn to the idea of diving into that stream and exploring the waters as I find my movement in Him. But when God points me toward that stream in real time, and I’m faced with making moment-by-moment decisions within His will, I sometimes panic. I worry I’ll upset God by staying too long, leaving too soon, getting ahead, lagging behind, or even by going left when I was supposed to go right. In those times I would be thankful to have God pull my puppet strings! As we grow in Christ and long more than anything to honor Him, it’s not uncommon to freeze up when we’re uncertain about the details of what “the occasion demands,” as God phrased it to Saul. But then we remember God’s grace. We remember that God looks at the intensions of the heart, and He loves that our desire is to please Him. We recall the obvious—God fully knows our limitations, and yet He loves us. And as we recall the lovingkindness and encouragement of God, we dive into the Living Water, begin to swim within the riches God’s current, and indeed do as the occasion demands.

Q: god promised that the coming of the holy Spirit upon Saul would turn him into another man (v. 6). How has your salvation and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power changed you into a new person? (If you aren’t certain 1 SamUel 9:25–27; 10:1–8

about your salvation, please explore this topic by turning to how to Become a Christian in the appendix.)

Q: Saul didn’t ask for signs from god, but god desired to give Saul signs to encourage him in his faith. Are you noticing the encouragement God is currently offering to you, whether it’s through a kind word from a friend or a Scripture verse that speaks directly to a problem you’re facing?

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