1 Samuel 9

God told Samuel to anoint Saul leader of Israel (verse 16). Although priests were also anointed (Exodus 29:7; 40:12–16), from Saul’s time on the term “anointed one” referred to Israel’s kings, not to the priests. Anointing with oil symbolized the calling out of a person for a special work of God and also the transferal to that person of the authority and power needed to carry out that work.

21 Saul understood that Samuel was singling him out for some important role, and he began to protest. He was only a farmer from the tribe of Benjamin, he said. At that time Benjamin was the smallest tribe; it had nearly been wiped out by other Israelite tribes during the period of the judges (see Judges 20:46–48). How could Samuel talk that way to a man of such humble origins? But, of course, that is God’s way: He prefers to choose the humble for His most important tasks (see 1 Samuel 2:8; 1 Corinthians 1:26–29).

22–27 After a meal together at the high place, for which Samuel had previously set aside a portion for Saul (verses 23–24), Samuel went with Saul to the flat roof of his house where they talked and then spent the night according to Middle Eastern custom. The next morning, Samuel accompanied Saul to the edge of town and told him to send his servant ahead. Then, in private, Samuel anointed Saul king of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1).

A question arises here: Why did God choose Saul? We will learn from the remaining chapters of 1 Samuel that Saul ultimately failed as king and had to be replaced. Did God make a mistake?

Not at all. God deliberately gave the Israelites the kind of king they had asked for—one who would go out before them and fight their battles (1 Samuel 8:20), one who would deliver them from the Philistines (verse 16). And so the people received their request. Saul had many qualities necessary for leadership; indeed, early in his reign God gave him great victories over the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:11) and the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:20–23). What went wrong?

In spite of Saul’s God-given qualities—his impressive appearance (verse 2), his humility (verse 21), his new heart (1 Samuel 10:9), his spiritual power (1 Samuel 10:10)—Saul never truly surrendered himself to God’s authority; he never acknowledged in his heart that the true King of Israel was God Himself. That was Saul’s undoing. Yes, the people got what they had asked for; but how much better it would have been if they had asked for another kind of king—a king after [God’s] own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). It was a mark of divine GRACE that following Saul God did give the Israelites just such a king, King David. This reminds us to be careful what we pray for; God might give it to us! And in the end we might regret it.