Topical Bible: Holy Spirit: Saul

◄ Holy Spirit: Saul ►

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The Holy Spirit's interaction with Saul, the first king of Israel, is a significant aspect of his narrative in the Old Testament. Saul's relationship with the Holy Spirit highlights themes of divine empowerment, guidance, and the consequences of disobedience.

Anointing and Empowerment

Saul's initial encounter with the Holy Spirit occurs when he is anointed as king by the prophet Samuel. In 1 Samuel 10:1, Samuel anoints Saul, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?" Following this anointing, the Spirit of the LORD comes powerfully upon Saul. In 1 Samuel 10:6, Samuel prophesies, "Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person." This transformation signifies the Holy Spirit's role in equipping Saul for his new responsibilities as king.

The fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in 1 Samuel 10:10, where it states, "When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he prophesied along with them." This event marks Saul's divine empowerment, enabling him to lead Israel with wisdom and strength.

Guidance and Leadership

The Holy Spirit's presence in Saul's life is further demonstrated during his early reign. In 1 Samuel 11, when the Ammonites threaten Jabesh-gilead, the Spirit of God comes upon Saul, stirring him to action. 1 Samuel 11:6 records, "When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger." This divine prompting leads Saul to rally the Israelites and achieve a decisive victory, solidifying his position as king.

Disobedience and Departure

Despite the Holy Spirit's initial empowerment, Saul's reign is marred by disobedience to God's commands. This disobedience ultimately leads to the Spirit's departure from him. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul fails to fully obey God's command to destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. As a result, the LORD rejects Saul as king. In 1 Samuel 16:14, it is noted, "Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him."

The departure of the Holy Spirit signifies a turning point in Saul's life and reign. Without the Spirit's guidance and empowerment, Saul becomes increasingly troubled and unstable. This spiritual void is filled by an evil spirit, which exacerbates Saul's distress and leads to erratic behavior, as seen in his interactions with David.

Contrast with David

The narrative of Saul and the Holy Spirit is often contrasted with that of David, his successor. While the Spirit departs from Saul due to his disobedience, David is anointed by Samuel, and the Spirit of the LORD comes powerfully upon him from that day forward (1 Samuel 16:13). This contrast underscores the importance of obedience and faithfulness in maintaining the presence and favor of the Holy Spirit.

In summary, the Holy Spirit's involvement in Saul's life illustrates the transformative power of divine anointing, the necessity of obedience to God's commands, and the consequences of spiritual disobedience. Saul's account serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of maintaining a right relationship with God and the Holy Spirit.

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1 Samuel 16:14
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
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1 Samuel 18:10-12
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
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1 Samuel 19:9-11
And the evil spirit from the LORD was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
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1 Samuel 20:30-33
Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own confusion, and to the confusion of your mother's nakedness?
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1 Samuel 22:7-19
Then Saul said to his servants that stood about him, Hear now, you Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
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1 Samuel 28:15,16
And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.
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2 Samuel 7:15
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
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Library

Something Different from the New Birth.
... 1:13, "After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise ... From
these four cases"(1) Apostles, (2) Samaritans, (3) Saul, (4) Ephesians ...
/.../macneil/the spirit-filled life/chapter iv something different from.htm

The Holy Spirit Convicting the World of Sin, of Righteousness and ...
... As far as the Holy Scriptures definitely tell us, the Holy Spirit has no Way of
getting at the unsaved world ... Take, for example, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter vii the holy spirit.htm

Gifts and Talents.
... of a man whom the Holy Spirit leaves to himself; and his heart trembled at the
possibility of an evil spirit coming upon him, and an end as sad as Saul's. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/viii gifts and talents.htm

Separated unto the Holy Ghost
... and Saul. "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate
me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. ...
/.../murray/absolute surrender/separated unto the holy ghost.htm

The Holy Spirit is Called the Gift of God in the Scriptures. By ...
... of which, namely, His own members, He cried from heaven, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou ... to all the members of Christ, by the Gift, which is the Holy Spirit. ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 19 the holy spirit is.htm

Prophecy was not Only from the Father and the Son but Also from ...
... the world and preach the Gospel," [1216] so, too, the Holy Spirit says: "Separate
Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." [1217] And ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiii prophecy was not.htm

The Acts of the Apostles
... The seven men chosen as deacons were "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom." Acts
6:3. It was the Holy Spirit who led in the ordination of Saul (9:17); in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the acts of the apostles/title page.htm

The Holy Spirit Sending Men Forth to Definite Lines of Work.
... before us does not tell us how the Holy Spirit spoke to the group of prophets and
teachers in Antioch, telling them to separate Barnabas and Saul to the work ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter xviii the holy spirit.htm

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament Other than in the Old.
... but it may illustrate faintly the twofold operation of the Holy Spirit upon the
souls ... more enduring when they assume an official character as in Saul; altho in ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxv the holy spirit in.htm

On the Holy Spirit Respondent: James Mahot
... this description are the actions which are ascribed to the Holy Spirit, and which ...
rush mightily upon Sampson;" (Judges 14:6;) to "depart from Saul;" (1 Samuel ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 6 on the holy.htm