What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 10:23? So they ran - The men who had gathered at Mizpah didn’t stroll; they “ran.” Their haste highlights how seriously they took Samuel’s command and the Lord’s revelation (1 Samuel 10:22). - Urgent obedience is a recurring pattern. When Abraham served his guests he “ran to the herd” (Genesis 18:7); Philip “ran up” to the chariot to share the gospel (Acts 8:30). - Here the same eagerness shows faith at work: once God speaks, delay is not an option (Psalm 119:60). and brought Saul - Saul had been “hidden among the supplies” (1 Samuel 10:22), reluctant to step forward. Yet the people physically bring him out, underscoring that God’s call overrides human hesitation (Proverbs 19:21). - The scene parallels Solomon’s public enthronement when Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah “brought” him to Gihon for anointing (1 Kings 1:38-40). Divine choice is confirmed by communal action. - What God appoints, He also arranges in practical detail; the crowd becomes an instrument of His plan (Romans 8:28). when he stood among the people - Saul is now in full view, no longer secluded. Leadership in Israel is meant to function among, not above, the covenant community (Deuteronomy 17:15; Joshua 24:1). - Samuel later echoes this principle: “Here I am; bear witness against me before the LORD” (1 Samuel 12:3). Transparency fosters trust. - Standing “among” the people anticipates the king’s duty to be both representative and servant (Matthew 20:25-28). he was a head taller than any of the others - Scripture records, “From his shoulders up he was taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:2). The public now sees what Samuel had already observed: impressive stature, humanly ideal for a warrior-king (Numbers 13:33; 1 Samuel 17:4). - God granted Saul this physical advantage, yet later reminds Samuel, “The LORD does not see as man does” (1 Samuel 16:7). Outer stature cannot replace inner obedience (1 Timothy 4:8). - The detail is literal and historical, emphasizing both Saul’s suitability in the nation’s eyes and the contrast that will arise with David, a smaller shepherd whose heart pleases God. summary 1 Samuel 10:23 captures the dramatic unveiling of Israel’s first king. Urgent obedience (“they ran”), divine appointment (“brought Saul”), public accountability (“stood among the people”), and striking appearance (“a head taller”) combine to affirm God’s sovereign choice while hinting that outward greatness alone cannot sustain true leadership. |
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