Saul obeyed His
father and went in search of the lost asses. Saul was a handsome young man,
tall and in fact from his shoulders, he was taller than any among his people.
He had the physical features of a would-be King, someone others would look up
to fit to be a King in terms of his stature.
Saul cared about
his father, after they had NAMED from mount Ephraim through the land of
Shalisha, Shalium and had come to Zuph; Saul thought it was time to return home
so that his father would not become worried about them.
He understood
the priesthood system in his nation, He reminded the servants that they needed
to bring something to the prophet they were going to consult.
Saul was humble,
he declared his pedigree to the prophet, “I am a Benjamite of the smallest
tribe of Israel, and you cannot rate me so high”.
After he was
anointed the spirit of God came upon him, he was indeed chose of God and he
prophesied. Saul was discrete; he kept the information about the Kingdom to
himself even when his uncle prodded him for information.
His humility was
displayed again when he hid himself as at the time he was to be presented to
Israel as their new King.
Saul was
courageous, Nahash, the Ammonite threatened to pluck out the eyes of the people
of Jabesh culead despite the fact that these people have promised to serve the
Ammonites. Saul heard this and rose up in anger; He fought the Ammonites and
conquered them. The Israelites then rose up in support and confirmed his
kingship. Yes we now have a King, who has all that it takes to lead us. Hurray
we are now like other nations! We are secured.
All was well,
God even promised to be with the Israelites and their new King if they will
fear Him and obey Him. He promised not to forsake them in this new dispensation.
1samuel12:13-24.
Saul reigned
successfully for two years and then war broke out between the Philistines and
the Israelites. Jonathan had attacked the garrison of the philistines and here
they are 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and multitude of soldiers ready to
attack the Israelites. The Israelites became afraid, where is the trust they
had in their King, the store of trust was depleted. Many Israelites went into
hiding, some fled to Gilead and the few left with Saul were trembling. By the
seventh day, the few left with Saul started to disperse and still Samuel had
not showed up as promised.
Saul could bear
it no more, “I am King, I can as well offer the burnt offering, I am in charge,
the buck stops on my table”. He who at the time he was looking for the lost
asses would not approach a prophet empty handed now threw caution to the wind
and took up the work of the priest. According to 1samuel 13:12, Saul said “because
the people were scattered from me and the Philistines had gathered, I forced
myself to offer the burnt offering”. Saul had failed the first test, he
disobeyed God because he could not wait, and he assumed the prerogative that
was not his because of a lack of faith. His kingdom would have been established
forever but alas he failed.
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