Lesson #10

1 SAMUEL 10
Lesson #10
CONFIRMING GOD’S GUIDANCE

• Memory Verse: 2Timothy 1:9

• Read 1Sam 10:1-16 God’s Confirmation
• Samuel privately anointed Saul and then there was a RETURN to daily life.
• In Bible times, the anointing with oil signified a consecration or a setting apart for service.
• The anointing of a ruler was actually a religious act that established a special relationship between God and the king who served as God’s representative and ruler on earth over His people.
• How did God confirm the appointment?
• It is interesting that the prophecy given to Saul about the confirmation of his call to be Israel’s first king parallels the Christian coming to know the Lord and has a deep symbolic significance:
• Two men were by Rachel’s tomb (2)
• The tomb = the believer must first crucify his own will and desires in order to Jesus Christ on the throne of His heart..
• Read Gen 35:16-20
• Jacob had just made God the Lord of his life.Then Rachel, whom he loved, had died.
• The number 2 in the Bible is a symbolic number meaning “witness” or “testimony”.
• Three men by the oak of Tabor (3)
• Confirmation comes by way of the Holy Trinity represented by the number 3. Lev 1-2
• Three lambs, three loaves of bread, and a bottle of wine. These were 3 types of Old Testament offerings.
• The lambs (the burnt offering) = a sacrifice to God, the Father.
• The bread (the meal offering) = Jesus, the Son, who is the Word of God.
• The wine (the drink offering) = the power of the Holy Spirit.
• The three men gave Saul 2 loaves of the bread which indicates that Saul was a true believer in the Messiah. He partook of the bread that represented Jesus Christ.
• A company of prophets (5)
• An illustration of the joy in the new birth experience (a psaltry, tabret, pipe, harp)
• “…thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.”

(6)

• Read 2Cor 5:17
• Saul needed to be a new creation, totally surrendered to God, in order to be the best ruler.
• Notice that God gave Saul another heart which parallel’s the new birth experience in this New Testament age we live in today.
• Saul prophesied along with the group of prophets.

• “…Who is their father?…”

(12)

• Prophets do not inherit their gift of prophecy. It is a gift and a calling by the anointing of God.
• God confirmed Saul’s calling by His sovereignty through the working out of circumstances to fulfill prophecy.
• Application:
• How does God confirm His will to believers today?
• Often God confirms His will for us in threes as well.
• Read 2Cor 13:1
• God confirms His will through His Word.
• Read 2Tim 3:16
• God confirms by circumstances.
• However, the believer should not rely totally on circumstances, for Satan also manipulates circumstances.
• Read Eph 1:11
• God confirms by an inner voice and by inner peace.
• Read Col 3:15
• God’s direction to Saul:
• Saul was to go to Gilgal and wait 7 days for Samuel to come and make sacrificial offerings to God. (8)
• Saul disobeyed this order in 1Sam 13.
• After God gives direction and confirmation, there is always a test of obedience.
• Why does God test the believer? Is it because God does not know how the believer will react? No. God is all knowing (omniscient).
• Then, why does God test at this point?
• Man does not know how weak he really is. The testing is to point out to man where he is weak, so that he might learn obedience.
• God’s responsibility:
• Notice that it is God’s responsibility to fulfill all the details of the prophecy by His sovereign will in order to confirm Saul’s calling.
• Saul’s responsibility:
• Saul’s only responsibility is to be obedient, go to Gilgal, and to wait.
• Saul tells no one.
• Read 1Sam 10:17-27 The Public Installation at Mizpah
• We see the choosing of Saul by the casting of lots.
• Why is this important?
• It is necessary to confirm God’s choice before the people.
• It is necessary to understand that God is sovereign even when a believer is in God’s permissive will.
• The casting of lots and God’s will:
• Read Pro 16:33
• This scripture indicates that God is sovereign over human affairs in the Old Testament through the casting of lots.
• Two stones were used, one representing, yes, and one representing, no.
• The lots would be cast like dice into the lap or a cloth bag. Lots were cast to select the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement. (Lev 16:7-10)
• Lots were cast to divide the land after the conquest of the promised land. (Jos 14:2)
• Lots were cast to determine guilt or innocence of a suspected criminal (Jos 7:14 Jon 1:7)
• The New Testament practice of the casting of lots:
• Lots were cast to replace Judas after the resurrection. (Act 1)
• What was Saul’s reaction? (22)
• Saul hid himself among the baggage, either out of modesty or out of fear.

• “Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom,…”

(25)

• Read Deu 17:14-20
• The book of Deuteronomy gives us God’s instruction for the Israelites as they entered the promised land under Joshua.
• Saul went home to Gibeah, 3 miles north of Jerusalem.
• Gibeah was the first capital of the monarchy.
• There was opposition among the tribes from the beginning.
• Application and Discussion:
• What can we learn from this chapter that applies to our lives today?

HOMEWORK
1 SAMUEL 11
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of 1Sam 10
• What should be the Christian’s attitude and actions when you God has called you to do something, but there is opposition?
• Find some scriptures on which to base your opinion.

• Preparation for 1Sam 11
• Read 1Sam 11:1-15
• What do you learn about Saul’s character?
• What test confronted the people of Israel?
• Why do you think Saul used a yoke of oxen?
• Memory Verse: Romans 12:5, 16