Read 1 Samuel 9 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
9:1-14 {s} Saul of Benjamin comes to Samuel looking for his father’s donkeys
9:15-20 {s} YHVH had revealed to Samuel that a man of Benjamin would be king
9:21 {s} Saul, the least of his father, the least of Benjamin, the least of Israel
9:22-27 {p} Samuel set Saul in the chief place at the feast
The Strong themes:
9:1-27 {sx3+p} Saul, a humble man, elevated by Samuel to the place of chief honor
1 Samuel 9:1-27 Chiastic Structure:
The Strong Theme begins to reveal a spiritual truth:
“So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Yeshua, in Mat 20:16
God chose someone to be king, the first position in the nation, from someone who was the least of his father’s house, whose father’s house was the least of the families of Benjamin, whose tribe was the least tribe of Israel. He chose the last, and promoted him to first. And here the Scripture illustrates another foundational principle of human governance:
But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Yeshua, Mar 10:42-45
Authority exists to serve those who are under it, not to oppress those who are under it. The authority of a king is authority delegated by God, it is not absolute. The king still retains his responsibility to submit to his absolute authority, who is God. The Scripture defines the king’s responsibilities and restrictions, and as we go through the history of Israel’s first king, we will see those responsibilities and restrictions come into stark relief.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Deuteronomy 17:14-20, The authority of the king – Christine Miller
Romans 13, The governing authorities – Christine Miller
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