SAM ANOINTS SAUL (SAM 8-10)
Sam had two sons, the older was Joel (YAH IS AL) and the younger was Abijah (FATHER IS YAH). Sam was getting old, so he let them be leaders at Beersheba, but they weren't honorable and wise like their father, they were dishonest and accepted bribes to make bias rulings and hand out unfair punishments and were more like Eli's wicked sons Hophni and Phineas who only sought personal gain.
WAS SAMUEL TRYING TO ESTABLISH HIS OWN DYNASTY (OF SORTS) BY NAMING HIS OWN SONS AS JUDGES, HOPING THEY'D CARRY ON LEADING YISHARAL AFTER HE WAS GONE?
The Nation’s Leaders began to feel like Sam didn't have `the stones' to lead them anymore (it was a very dangerous time and they felt politically vulnerable against the nations). So they approached Samuel at Ramah and said, “Sam, you’re an old man now and you've set a good example for your sons, but they're just stuff'in around, they don't follow your instruction. It's well and truly time mate! WE WANT A PROPER KING TO BE OUR LEADER, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER NATIONS HAVE. SO CHOOSE ONE FOR US!” THESE ARE THE PIVOTAL WORDS THAT WILL HAVE SUCH IMMENSE IMPACT ON YISHARAL’S FUTURE.
And Sam was taken back, took it personal and was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a King and he thought it was evil, so he asked Yahusha about it.
And (much to Sam’s surprise) Yahusha said, "Sam let'em have it mate, do whatever they want. I’M ACTUALLY THE ONE THEY’RE REJECTING as their ruler, not you! Ever since the day I delivered them from Egypt, they've always turned away from Me to worship idols, and now they’re turning away from you too. So just do everything they ask, but make sure you WARN THEM and tell them how a King will really treat them”.
So Samuel told the people what Yahusha had said, “If you have a King, he'll force your sons to join his army, some of them will ride in his chariots, some will serve in the cavalry, and others will run ahead of his chariot as bodyguards. Many will be officers in charge of 50's, 100's and 1000's. Others will have to farm the King’s land and harvest his crops, or make weapons for his chariots. Your daughters will have to make perfume or do his cooking and baking. The King will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his own officials. He'll also take a tenth of your grain and grapes and give it to his officers. He'll take your slaves and your best young men and donkeys and make them do his work, also a tenth of your sheep and goats. You'll become the King’s slaves, and when you finally cry out for Yahuah to deliver you from the King that you asked for ... crickets mate!”
IN HEBREW THE PHRASE `SAMUEL TOLD THE PEOPLE’ IS LIKE `COURTROOM LINGO' AND MEANS TO MAKE A LEGAL DECLARATION, BECAUSE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YISHARAL AND THEIR NEW KING IS BEING FORMED, ONE THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT TO WHAT THEY'VE HAD WITH YAHUSHA UP TO NOW. EVERYTHING YAHUSHA REQUIRED FROM HIS PEOPLE WAS TO FUND THE TABERNACLE AND SACRIFICAL SYSTEM OF OFFERINGS AND PRIESTS, HOWEVER AN EARTHLY KING WILL TAKE WHAT HE WANTS PURELY FOR HIMSELF. BUT THIS IS WHAT YISHARAL DEMANDS AND OFTEN YAHUSHA WILL LET US HAVE OUR OWN STUPID WAY AND WE ARE STUCK WITH OUR CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE OF IT.
But the people wouldn’t listen to Samuel. “NO!” they said. “We want to be like the other Nations. We want a King to rule us and lead us in battle.” So Samuel listened to them and then told Yahusha exactly what they’d said. “Let them have it! Do what they want,” He answered. “Just giv'em a bloody King if that's what they want.” (SHEMA - LISTEN & DO WHAT IS SAID)
Then Samuel told the people to go back to their homes.
THE DIRECTION HAS BEEN SET, THERE'S NO POINT ARGUING, SO GO HOME AND WAIT FOR YAHUSHA TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PERSON.
9.
Kish was a wealthy, politically influential man who belonged to the Tribe of Benjamin (father = Abiel, grandfather = Zeror, G.grandfather = Becorath, GG.grandfather = Aphiah). And Kish had a son around 40 years old, named Saul (IRONICALLY “TO ASK” IN HEBREW) who was a sexy hunk of man, far better looking (and more than a head taller) than anyone else in all of Yisharal.
NOTICE THAT YAHUSHA GAVE YISHARAL THE EXACT KIND OF PERSON THAT PEOPLE WANT WHEN THEY THINK OF A KING - TALL, DARK, HANDSOME, STRONG, AND PART OF A WEALTHY FAMILY WITH INFLUENCE. ON THE OUTSIDE HE HAD EVERYTHING - MEN WOULD WANT TO BE HIM AND WOMEN WOULD WANT TO BE WITH HIM. YAHUSHA KNEW THAT YISHARAL WOULD TAKE ONE LOOK AT THE MAN SAMUEL CHOSE AND REJOICE IN THEIR NEWFOUND HOPE, CERTAIN THAT THEY'D DONE THE RIGHT THING BY DEMANDING TO HAVE A KING JUST LIKE THEIR NEIGHBOURS.
And Kish owned some donkeys, but they’d run off. So he told his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” So Saul and the servant went through the hill country of Ephraim and the territory of Shalishah, but they couldn’t find the donkeys. Then they went through the territories of Shaalim and Benjamin, but still there was no sign of the donkeys. Finally they came to the territory where the clan of Zuph lived (Samuel’s family came from this area). “Let’s go back home,” Saul told his servant, “If we don’t go back soon, my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us!”
“Wait!” the servant answered. “There’s a man of Alahim who lives in a town near here. He’s amazing! And everything he says comes true. Let’s talk to him. Maybe he can tell us where to look.”
“But how can we talk to a prophet when I don’t have anything to give him? We don’t even have any bread left in our sacks”.
“I’ve got a small piece of silver that we can give him, and then he’ll tell us where to look for the donkeys.”
“Great then, let’s go and see this vision-guy!” (because in those days Yahusha would answer questions by giving visions to prophets). So Saul and his servant went to the town where the prophet lived, and as they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to get water, and the two men said to them, “We’re look'in for the seer who can see visions. Is he around?”
“You betcha, he’s just ahead of you guys up there. There’s a sacrifice and a sacred meal at the high place of worship later. So if you get a move on you should find him just inside the town gate. They can’t start eating until he blesses the sacrifice so they’ll wait for him. Quick, hurry he’s just up there.”
So they went to the town, and just as they were going through the gate, Samuel was coming out on his way to the high place, because the day before Yahusha had told him, “I’ve seen how My people are suffering, and I’ve heard their call for help. So about this time tomorrow I’ll send you a man from the Tribe of Benjamin who will rescue My people from the Philistines. I want you to pour olive oil on his head and anoint him to be their leader.”
So Sam looked at Saul, and Yahusha said, “This is the man I told you about. He’s the one who will rule Yisharal.”
And Saul went over to Samuel in the gateway and said, “Where's the man who can see visions?”
“You’re look’in at him mate!” Sam said, “But I want you to come up to the high place and eat with me today, and in the morning I’ll answer all your questions. Don’t worry about your donkeys that ran off three days ago, they’ve already been found... and trust me buddy ...
... they’ll be the least of your concerns shortly … I mean who else has all Yisharal been desperately longing for? (ALL YISHARAL KNEW THE ANSWER TO THAT RIDDLE ….. A KING!) Everything in Yisharal is about to be given to you and your family Saul.”
“That's ridiculous, why the hell’re you telling me all this? Don't you know I’m from Benjamin, the smallest Tribe in Yisharal, and my clan is the least important.”
But Samuel took Saul and his servant into the dining room at the high-place and about thirty people were there for the dinner, but Samuel gave Saul and his servant the high places of honour. Then Samuel told the cook, “I gave you the best piece of meat and told you to set it aside. Bring it here now.” (PRIESTLY PORTION)
So the cook brought out the thigh with it’s upper part and set it down in front of Saul. “This is for you,” Samuel told him.
“Go ahead and eat it. I had this piece saved especially for you, and I invited all these guests here today to eat with you.” And after Saul and Sam had finished eating, they went down from the high-place and back into town. A bed was set up for Saul on the flat roof of Sam’s house and Saul slept there.
GUESTS OFTEN SLEPT ON THE FLAT ROOF OF THEIR HOST’S HOUSE, WHERE IT WAS COOL AND BREEZY.
About sunrise the next morning, Samuel called up to Saul on the roof, “Good Morning Mate. Time to get up eh! I’ll help you get started on your journey.”
So Saul got up, then he and Samuel left together and had almost reached the edge of town when Sam stopped and said, “Tell your servant to go on further a bit, and you stay here with me for a few minutes, so I can tell you what Yahuah has told me.”
And after the servant had gone, Samuel took olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head. Then he kissed him and said, “Yahuah has now ANOINTED you to be Ruler of His Inheritance Yisharal. You will indeed lead His people and deliver them from their enemies who are all around, proving that what I say is all true".
UP TO THIS POINT IN THE SCRIPTURE, ANOINTING WITH OIL TO GIVE DIVINE AUTHORITY WAS ONLY FOR THE PRIESTHOOD ETC, AND WE JUST SAW SAUL GIVEN A PRIESTLY PORTION OF THE SACRIFICED ANIMAL AT THE DINNER BANQUET. SO WE HAVE A MAN BEING CHOSEN AS THE KING OF YISHARAL BUT THERE'S CLEARLY A PRIESTLY ASPECT TO HIS POSITION AND STATUS ALSO.
ANOINTING WITH OIL IS A SHADOW OF BEING ANOINTED BY YAHUSHA'S SPIRIT. WHEN SAUL WAS ANOINTED BY SAM’S OIL HE WAS NOW OFFICIALLY A HEBREW KING/PRIEST, WHICH WAS NOW A LEGAL AND DIVINE POSITION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YISHARAL.
AND YAHUSHA, THE ALAHIM OF YISHARAL HAD NO INTENTION OF PUTTING SAUL IN CHARGE OF HIS PEOPLE AND THEN ABANDONING HIM ... OR THEM. SO THIS OIL OF ANOINTING INDICATED THAT THE KING OF YISHARAL WOULD BE (IN SOME FASHION) ON AN EQUAL STANDING WITH THE PRIESTHOOD, WHICH (APART FROM SAM) WAS NOW PRETTY MUCH REDUNDANT. SO THIS NEW KING (LIKE THE ORIGINAL PRIESTHOOD THAT MOSES ESTABLISHED) WOULD NOT ONLY RESTORE THE NATION BACK TO A CORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH YAHUSHA, ENFORCING YAHUSHA’S LEGAL CODE (TURAH) BUT OF COURSE HE WOULD OBEY THEM HIMSELF.
"Saul, when you leave me today, you’ll meet two men near Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. And they’ll tell you, “The donkeys you’ve been looking for have been found. Your father has forgotten about them, and now he’s worrying about you! He’s looking all over for you.” Go on from there until you reach the big Terebinth oak trees at Tabor, where you’ll meet three men on their way to worship Alahim at Bethel. One of them will be leading three young goats, another will be carrying three round loaves of bread, and the last one will be carrying a clay jar of wine. And after they say "Gday" they’ll give you two loaves of bread. Next, go to Gibeah, where the Philistines have an army camp. As you’re going into the town, you’ll meet a group of prophets coming down from the high-place of worship. They’ll be going along prophesying while others are walking in front of them, playing small harps, drums and flutes.
Then the Spirit of Yahuah will suddenly take control of you and YOU’LL BECOME A DIFFERENT PERSON and start prophesying right along with them.
After that, it will feel like 'life as usual' for a bit, but don't worry, Yahuah is with you now. And I'll meet you at Gilgal soon, so wait for me. It may take me a week or so to get there, but when I come, I’ll offer sacrifices and offerings to Yahuah and tell you what to do next".
HOW STUNNED WOULD SAUL BE? DOUBTFUL, A BIT SCARED, AND NOT TOO SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF ALL THIS. SO TO HELP ALLEVIATE SAUL’S DOUBTS SAM NOW GIVES HIM 3 PREDICTIONS THAT (WHEN THEY COME TRUE) WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT YAHUSHA IS IN CONTROL AND HOPEFULLY SET SAUL’S MIND AT EASE.
And as Saul turned around to leave Sam, Yahusha gave him a new heart, making him think and behave like a different person. And that same day, everything happened just as Samuel had said. When he arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him and the Spirit of Yahusha suddenly took control of him and right there in the middle of the group he began prophesying.
Some people who had known Saul for a long time saw that he was speaking and behaving like a prophet, and said to each other, “What on earth’s going on? Seriously? This guy? How can he be a prophet?” THEY WOULDN'T LET HIM HAVE IT !
“Why not?” one of them said, “Saul has as much right to be a prophet as anyone else!” And that’s why everyone started saying, “How can Saul be a prophet?” And after Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high-place of worship.
PROPHESYING IN THE SCRIPTURE IS USUALLY WITH MUSIC, TAMBOURINES, AND DANCING. HOWEVER HERE IT'S SIMPLY SPEAKING WORDS FROM YAHUSHA OR SINGING OUT LOUD, IN PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF HIM. AT OTHER TIMES IT'S SPEECH THAT COMES FROM SOMEONE WHO'S ALMOST IN A TRANCE, HAVING SOME KIND OF VISION OR SEMI-AWAKE DREAM FROM YAHUSHA. IN THE ERA OF THE PROPHETS IT WAS GENERALLY FOR A DIVINE WARNING OR ANNOUNCING A FUTURE EVENT OR A DIRECT INSTRUCTION TO A KING. IN LATTER TEXTS PROPHESYING WAS GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH TEACHING YAHUSHA’S WRITTEN WORD, OR (ESPECIALLY WITH JOHN) APOCALYPTIC REVELATION OF THE FUTURE COULD ALSO BE INVOLVED.
Later, Saul’s uncle asked him, “Where've you been? Did you go walkabout mate?”
“Nah, Looking for those flam’in donkeys. Buggered if we could find’em though, so we went to ask Sammy the Seer and he told us they’d already been found.” But Saul didn’t mention that Sam had chosen him to be the King of Yisharal.
And Samuel sent messengers to tell the Yisharalites to come to Mizpah and meet with Yahusha, for that's where national decisions (like war etc) were now discussed, and it's where a temporary dwelling for the Ark now sat.
When everyone had arrived in Mizpah, Samuel spoke these words from Yahusha, “I'm Yahuah your Alahim Who's delivered you from the Egyptians and from the other Nations that oppressed and abused you. Yes, I've rescued you from your troubles and hard times, but you've rejected Me and asked for a King. So alrighty then, each Tribe and Clan must come near the Tabernacle and I'll choose a King for you”.
YAHUSHA ISN'T OFFENDED THAT THEY WANT A NATIONAL LEADER TO KEEP THEM UNIFIED (BECAUSE HE'S BEEN BRINGING THEM TO THAT PLACE), IT'S THAT THEY WANT TO STEP ONTO THE GLOBAL STAGE, COMPETE WITH THE NATIONS AND BE POWERFUL AND RESPECTED BY HAVING A KING.
INTERESTINGLY, THE FIRST WORDS OF THE DIVINE MESSAGE SPOKEN BY SAM REMINDS US OF THE 1st COMMANDMENT: “I’M YAHUAH YOUR ALAHIM, WHO RESCUED YOU FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, THAT HIDEOUS PLACE OF YOUR SLAVERY, SO DON’T HAVE ANY OTHER DEITIES (MIGHTY ONES) IN MY FACE". EX 20. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STATEMENT IN SCRIPTURE ABOUT REDEMPTION.
YAHUSHA ANNOUNCED THAT YISHARAL WERE REDEEMED AND IT WAS HE WHO'D DONE IT, SO HE OWNS THEM AND THEY OWE NO ALLEGIANCE TO ANYONE BUT HIM. BUT NOW THEY'D REJECTED HIM AGAIN!
“DELIVERING” (YASHA) IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY DUTIES OF A KING (EVEN AN EARTHLY ONE), SO BY DEMANDING AN EARTHLY KING, YISHARAL HAD REJECTED THEIR DIVINE KING AND DELIVERER (OF ALL DISASTERS UP TO THIS POINT) AND DECIDED TO REPLACE HIM WITH A MAN (SAUL) WHO THEY THINK WILL DO A BETTER JOB MOVING FORWARD.
So Samuel brought each Tribe, one after the other, to the altar, and Yahusha chose (PROBABLY THROUGH CASTING LOTS) the Benjamin Tribe. Next, Samuel brought each clan of Benjamin there, and Yahusha chose the Matri clan. Finally, Saul (the son of Kish) was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. Then the people said, “O’ Yahuah, is Saul even here today?”
“He’s over here!" someone yelled out, "He's hidden behind the baggage.”
Then the people ran and got Saul and brought him into the middle of the crowd, who all gasped at his appearance, for he was more than a head taller than anyone else. “People of Yisharal, look closely at this gorgeous specimen of a man! Who else is like him in all the land? I mean how can he not be chosen by Yahuah!” Sam said (almost sarcastically) for Saul's physical attractiveness had absolutely sealed the deal for Yisharal. He looked how (they thought) a King should look (modeled after their pagan neighbours view of a King). Then the crowd got very excited and all shouted in one accord, “LONG LIVE THE KING! ... LONG LIVE THE KING!”
So Samuel explained all the rights and duties of a King and wrote them all in a book, placing it `before Yahusha', (INSIDE OR NEXT TO THE ARK) then he sent everyone home.
And Yahusha had encouraged some young men to become followers of Saul, and when he returned to his hometown of Gibeah, they went with him, as Sam said they would. But some worthless fools (HEBREW: SCOUNDRELS) said, “How can someone like this pathetic Saul rescue us from our enemies?” They didn’t want Saul to be their King because he was from Benjamin (A BUFFER TRIBE LOCATED RIGHT BETWEEN JUDAH AND EPHRAIM) and appeared to be loyal to the Northern Tribes (and they were from the South) ... so they snubbed him by not bringing any gifts. But Saul kept calm and let them have it. HE COULDN'T START RULING THE 12 TRIBES RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE OF THIS SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION. AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE HIMSELF WOULD BE NEEDED SO THAT THE PEANUT-GALLERY WOULD BE SILENCED, AND THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS ABOUT TO RAISE ITSELF ...
SAUL WAS EVENTUALLY A FAILED KING BECAUSE HE WAS ESSENTIALLY GIVEN THE TASK TO RULE YAHUSHA’S PEOPLE AS YAHUSHA WOULD, AND NO MAN WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO DO THAT!
SO A HUGE PART OF THESE OLDER `KINGLY SHADOWS' (THAT YAHUSHA ALLOWED) WAS TO SHOW YISHARAL THAT HE IS THEIR REAL KING, HIGH PRIEST, AND DELIVERER BEING THE TYPE (AND OF THE SUBSTANCE) THAT CAN'T EVER FAIL THEM.
CLEARLY YAHUSHA ANOINTS WHO HE SEES FIT, WHETHER ANYBODY ELSE LETS THEM HAVE IT OR NOT. INFACT THE REACTION OF OTHERS IS IRRELEVANT IN THE CHOOSING AND IN THE OPERATION OF THE ANOINTING, HOWEVER IF ANYONE TOUCHES THE ANOINTED ONE OF YAHUSHA - THEY'D BETTER WATCH OUT - FOR SERIOUS TROUBLE, PAIN AND CONSEQUENCES WILL AWAIT THEM !!
The Anoiting
HEBREW UNDERSTANDING : an oil-flask, pot, oil (as producing light), anointed oil, expansion, outspread (i.e. with outstretched wings), an unction (the act), a consecratory gift, ointment, usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah, something poured out, i.e. a libation; also a molten image; by implication, a prince (as anointed), drink offering, duke, prince(-ipal).
SCRIPTURE UNDERSTANDING:
"I have written this to you concerning those who led you astray. But the anointing which you have received from "HIM" stays in you, AND YOU HAVE NO NEED THAT ANYONE SHOULD TEACH YOU. But as the same anointing does teach you CONCERNING ALL, and is true, and no falsehood, and even as it has taught you, YOU STAY IN HIM. And now little children stay in Him, so that when He appears, we might have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. IF YOU KNOW THAT HE IS UPRIGHT, YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE DOING UPRIGHTNESS HAS BEEN BEGOTTEN OF HIM". 1 JOHN 2:26-29
Mouths of men have always been used by the enemy to go against the words of Yahusha. Men tell us they have been begotten by Yahusha and behave contrary to the Anointed Words. The Bride has to make up her own mind/heart, through the Anointing which teaches us all, whether to accept the words from their mouth. We are told in the texts above to STAY IN HIM, so I guess stepping out of Him will show us which is the wrong way to go. REMEMBER THE ANOINTING IS YOUR TEACHER !!
Verse 26 says, "I HAVE WRITTEN THIS TO YOU CONCERNING THOSE WHO LEAD YOU ASTRAY." Even back in those days, Satan was at work trying to stop people from "staying in Him." Apparently there seems to be a completely different belief/religion system, that uses the Scripture to CAPTIVATE THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF MEN AND WOMEN, BY TWISTING THE MEANINGS OF TURAH, to win them away from "STAYING IN HIM." We can only "stay in Him" by having this TEACHER ANOINTING. This is why we get immersed, because we need to receive the TEACHER ANOINTING to teach us "ALL" and there is no need that anyone should teach you, when you have the TEACHER ANOINTING. The Hebrew understanding of "stay in Him" means the open hand of Yahusha will give us power, means, and direction in our lives. There is just such a great array of applications, "the open (STAY IN HIM) hand," that Yahusha will put our way, if we stay in Him. . .