Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20020120.htm

1 AND 2 SAMUEL: GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OVERSIGHT
Part XII: The NEED For God's Leaders CONSISTENTLY To DEPEND On God's Equipping
(1 Samuel 10:1-27)
  1. Introduction
    1. Any believer in an oversight position from the Lord needs God's consistent blessing, for just one slip-up in his actions can give opponents an EXCUSE to express a loss of confidence in his leadership!
    2. This fact is clarified by a slip-up on SAUL'S part in 1 Samuel 10:1-27 as follows:
  2. The NEED For God's Leaders CONSISTENTLY To DEPEND On God's Equipping, 1 Sam. 10:1-27.
    1. After Saul was anointed by Samuel to be Israel's king, he was told some signs would occur following the event that would confirm to Saul that God and not just Samuel wanted him to be king, 1 Samuel 10:1-8:
      1. Samuel anointed Saul to be Israel's king, an event Saul had not expected, 1 Samuel 10:1 with 9:21.
      2. To confirm this anointing was from God and not just Samuel, Samuel predicted to Saul some events he would experience that only God could thus arrange (cf. Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, ftn. to 1 Sam. 10:2-5):
        1. Samuel told Saul he would find two men by Rachel's sepulcher, and they would tell him his father's lost donkeys had been found and that his father, Kish was concerned about Saul's welfare, 10:2.
        2. Saul would go on and at the plain of Tabor meet three men going to worship God at Bethel, one of whom would be carrying three kids, another three loaves of bread and another a bottle of wine, 10:3.
        3. These men would salute Saul, and give him two loaves of bread which he was to take, 1 Sam. 10:4.
        4. Next, Saul would come to the hill of God at Gibeah where there was a garrison of the Philistines, and in that city Saul would meet a company of prophets descending from the high place carrying a psaltery, tabret, pipe and harp and that they would be prophesying, 1 Samuel 10:5 NIV.
        5. Saul was also told God's Holy Spirit would come upon him so that he would also prophecy with these men, turning him into another man by way of spiritual equipping, 1 Samuel 10:6.
        6. At this point, he would do what was in his heart as God would be directing him, 1 Sam. 10:7.
        7. Later, Saul was to go down to Gilgal before Samuel who would follow to offer burnt and peace offerings. Saul was to wait there for 7 days until Samuel showed him what to do next, 10:8.
    2. Amazingly, all of these numerous signs came to pass that day, certifying to Saul that it was INDEED God's will for Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's new KING, 1 Samuel 10:9-13!
    3. Yet, Saul FAILED to REMAIN CONFIDENT in his CALLING in SPITE of these assurances and the Spirit's work in him, giving OTHERS an EXCUSE to REJECT his leadership! (10:14-27)
      1. Saul backed away from resting in God's many strong assurances in front of his uncle, 1 Sam. 10:14-16:
        1. When Saul's uncle learned Saul had talked with Samuel, and asked Saul directly what Samuel had said unto him, Saul told of that part of his conversation with Samuel regarding the donkeys but left out saying anything about the anointing event, 1 Samuel 10:14-16.
        2. This omission was doubtless due to a feeling of human inferiority Saul felt before his uncle, a feeling revealing Saul failed to depend on God's equipping him and signaling to him his calling to rule over his humanly superior uncle (in Israel's patristic society) was indeed of God!
      2. Saul also backed away from resting in God's assurances before the whole nation, 1 Samuel 10:17-25:
        1. When Samuel called Israel to Mispeh to publicize God's appointment of their new king, Saul shyly hid with the baggage, clearly not resting in God's assurances of his royal calling, 10:17-21, 22b.
        2. In fact, God had to be sought to find Saul so Samuel could present him to Israel, 1 Sam. 10:22a-25.
      3. Well, though God graciously touched the hearts of some men to be supportive of Saul, other worthless men despised him, wondering how "timid" Saul could save them from their enemies, 10:26-27.
Lesson: Saul failed to rely on God's MANY and GREAT authenticating SIGNS and EVIDENCE of the Spirit's work IN HIM of his leadership assignment, and THAT gave his OPPONENTS room to give reason NOT to submit to him!

Application: God's leaders must CONSISTENTLY trust in God's equipping, power and leading of them to be in their roles to stay productive before their subordinates and thus not give their opponents an excuse to oppose them! This makes their ministry much more effective and peaceful before all!