Reading
SAA Notes
Samuel anoints Saul King! Saul is God’s Anointed or Christ. Samuel exhibits the same spirit towards Saul as John the Baptist does towards Jesus. Both prophets accept that they must decrease that he (God’s Christ) may increase! The pattern of how God makes a Christ is established here with Saul and David. What happens in the Gospels finds its roots here. God’s prophet anoints God’s Christ to his office, and then the Holy Spirit comes upon God’s Christ in power.
SJA Notes
* God Almighty, break the teeth in the mouths of the wicked, tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!
“He it is who shall restrain my people.”
Here is God’s prince, the king!
Here is the one who would bring salvation from the enemy and restraint from pursuing the world.
This is the job of a king.
Saul points us to Jesus. Through his faithless behaviour and disobedience that will come in the following chapters – Saul shows us that we need a king who is FAITHFUL and OBEDIENT.
Saul points us to Jesus because he is the Lord’s Christ at that point in time, messiah for the people, restraining us and our sin in truth.
And do you see the pattern that the Lord keeps – anointing with oil by the prophet/king-maker, the Spirit coming on the person in power.
John the Baptist was a king-maker too, just like Samuel. There is a wonderful symmetry there.
It is to be Jesus’ power at work in us (not of ourselves), His wisdom that we long for (not the world’s), His glory we seek (not our own).
Jesus is our king, the true and only ultimate messiah, the living and risen Christ – Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
* Gracious Lord God,
Thank You for showing us Jesus in Your word today.
Please aright our hearts and minds today, as we read Your word and dwell upon it.
You word is the only mirror that always tells us the truth – Please open the eyes and ears of our hearts to see and hear what You would have us know today.
Amen.