Topical Bible: King: How Chosen by Divine Appointment, Saul

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The selection of Saul as the first king of Israel is a significant event in biblical history, illustrating the divine appointment of leadership. The narrative of Saul's anointing is primarily found in the First Book of Samuel, which provides a detailed account of how God orchestrated the circumstances leading to Saul's kingship.

Divine Displeasure with Israel's Request

The Israelites' demand for a king marked a pivotal moment in their history. Up until this point, Israel was led by judges, with God as their ultimate ruler. However, as recorded in 1 Samuel 8, the elders of Israel approached the prophet Samuel, requesting a king to judge them "like all the other nations" (1 Samuel 8:5). This request displeased Samuel, and he prayed to the LORD. God responded, saying, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king" (1 Samuel 8:7). Despite God's warning about the potential consequences of having a human king, the people persisted in their demand.

God's Selection of Saul

In response to the people's insistence, God chose Saul, a Benjamite, to be the first king of Israel. Saul was described as "an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the others" (1 Samuel 9:2). The choice of Saul was not based on human wisdom or criteria but was a divine decision.

The Anointing of Saul

The process of Saul's anointing began with a divine revelation to Samuel. God informed Samuel that He would send a man from the land of Benjamin, whom Samuel was to anoint as ruler over Israel (1 Samuel 9:16). When Saul came to Samuel seeking guidance about his father's lost donkeys, God confirmed to Samuel, "This is the man I spoke to you about; he shall govern My people" (1 Samuel 9:17).

Samuel then privately anointed Saul, pouring oil on his head and declaring, "Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?" (1 Samuel 10:1). This anointing was a symbolic act, signifying that Saul was set apart by God for the role of king.

Public Selection and Confirmation

Following the private anointing, Samuel gathered the people at Mizpah to publicly select the king. Through a process of casting lots, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen, then the clan of Matri, and finally Saul, son of Kish, was selected (1 Samuel 10:20-21). When Saul was presented to the people, Samuel proclaimed, "Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people" (1 Samuel 10:24). The people responded with acclamation, shouting, "Long live the king!" (1 Samuel 10:24).

Saul's Initial Success and Divine Endorsement

Saul's early reign was marked by military success and divine endorsement. The Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, enabling him to lead Israel to victory against the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:6-11). This victory solidified his position as king in the eyes of the people, and they reaffirmed his kingship at Gilgal, where they "made Saul king in the presence of the LORD" (1 Samuel 11:15).

The account of Saul's selection as king underscores the theme of divine sovereignty in leadership. Despite the people's misguided motives in seeking a king, God remained in control, choosing Saul according to His purposes and plans for Israel.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD has anointed you to be captain over his inheritance?
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The First Kings.
... Saul was in fact the man on whom the divine appointment to be the first king of
Israel ... and Samuel then anointed Saul as the person whom God had chosen to be ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

Divine Sovereignty
... as that, for there is a claim between subject and King. ... answer we can find is in
the Divine Sovereignty, and ... for the office is passed by, and another chosen. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/divine sovereignty.htm

The Typical Significance of the Scriptures Declare their Divine ...
... He was chosen and ordained of God before he was ... majesty as had not been on any king
before him ... only be accounted for on the supposition of Divine appointment. ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter six the typical significance.htm

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
... breaking the covenant which he made with the king of Babylon ... Divine grace alone can
enable to pay the debt of duty ... Have not all the chosen of God to be brought ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter v covenanting confers obligation.htm

My Brother Fabius
... individual, but a fugitive likewise, has chosen to maintain ... ordaining, in whose hand
the king's heart is ... to have it at a price, opposes the divine appointment. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/de fuga in persecutione/my brother fabius.htm

Things to be Realized.
... He made known His will, his mind being chosen as the ... own word, spoken to me by the
King Himself, my ... Church is part of the great confederacy of states-divine. ...
/.../jackson/the message and the man/chapter ii things to be.htm

Jerusalem
... God, so far as it was not the divine sovereignty, was ... describe the relation between
him and his chosen people. ... Son of God" to describe the Davidic king, but it ...
/.../lake/landmarks in the history of early christianity/ii jerusalem.htm

Obedience: Its Place in Holy Scripture.
... 2. Think of Abraham, the father of the chosen race. ... Me that I have set up Saul to
be king, for he ... ye shall abide in My love,' with its divine sanction, Even as ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/i obedience its place in.htm

1 Timothy i. 18, 19
... to bring forward one that is worthy requires a divine election ... as if he had said,
"God hath chosen thee ... men serve under a tyrant, but thou servest under a King. ...
/.../homily v 1 timothy i.htm

Adonijah
... David himself had been chosen and anointed in preference to ... when he declared, "I
will be king," he was ... The divine choice often differs from the human, for "the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/adonijah.htm