What reactions did Saul's prophesying provoke, and why were they significant? Setting the Scene – Saul’s Surprise Transformation 1 Samuel 10:6 had foretold that “the Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy… and be transformed into a different man.” Verse 11 records the moment: Saul—previously known only as a tall farmer’s son—joins a band of prophets, speaks Spirit-inspired words, and everyone who “had formerly known Saul” is stunned. Immediate Reactions in Gibeah • Astonishment: “What has happened to the son of Kish?” • Skepticism mixed with wonder: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (10:11–12) • Spread of a proverb: the question became a saying, circulating through Israel (10:12). These responses show neighbors grappling with a work of God they had never imagined for Saul. Why the Reactions Were Significant • Validation of Divine Choice – God had secretly anointed Saul (10:1); public prophesying provided visible confirmation. – Numbers 11:25–29 shows prophecy as a sign of God’s empowering presence. • Demonstration of the Spirit’s Sovereignty – The Spirit chooses and changes whomever He wills (cf. John 3:8). – The people’s shock highlights that the transformation was unmistakably supernatural. • Challenge to Human Expectations – Neighbors knew Saul’s ordinary background; God delights in overturning assumptions (1 Corinthians 1:27). – The proverb underscores collective recalibration: if Saul can prophesy, God’s possibilities are limitless. • Foreshadowing Future Irony – Years later Saul again prophesies—this time while pursuing David—and the same saying resurfaces (1 Samuel 19:24). – The repeated question bookends Saul’s reign, stressing how far he would drift from the Spirit who first empowered him. Echoes in Other Passages • Gideon (Judges 6:15) and Amos (Amos 7:14–15) likewise startled onlookers when God called “unlikely” servants. • Acts 2:7: Jerusalem crowds were “amazed and perplexed” at Galileans speaking in other tongues—another Spirit-induced reversal of expectations. Takeaways to Remember • God’s Spirit can instantly transform an ordinary life into a prophetic witness. • Public astonishment often accompanies genuine moves of God—and that astonishment serves to glorify Him, not the individual. • Early obedience to the Spirit matters; later neglect, as Saul’s life proves, leads to tragic loss of that same empowering presence. |
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