1 Samuel 10:9–10: “So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.”

May 19th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Saul was not given to Israel because God wanted him to fail. Nor did God pick the worst possible specimen of humanity to give the nation as their king; He picked a physically superior man, whose appearance and stature seemed to perfectly suit the task he faced. Saul had all the requirements the people thought important in a king. This verse also says that God changed Saul’s heart, so obviously God wasn’t trying to sabotage the reign of this man. In fact, God prepared Saul for kingship by having the Holy Spirit come over him. Even though God knew Saul’s kingdom would fail, the failure would not be due to any lack on God’s part of giving Saul everything he needed to succeed. Here young Saul was even given the gift of prophecy as a confirmation of the Holy Spirit’s power on his life. Saul experienced a change, but then, over the next few years, he allowed human pride and sin to take over and choke out the life that God had given him.

The truth is none of us can succeed without Jesus Christ giving us a changed heart, a changed life. Here is a “recall notice” that sums up the issue well:

The Creator is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary key component: the heart. This defect is most commonly known as sin. Symptoms reported include: loss of direction, a lack of peace and joy, increasing selfishness, fearfulness, idol worship, and rebellion. The Original Equipment Manufacturer, who is not at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized replacement service free of charge to correct the malfunction. Jesus has already taken the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs on Himself, so no additional fee will be required or accepted. Surrender of defective heart will activate complete replacement protocol with guaranteed results. Please surrender immediately.

“LORD, we choose to humble ourselves before You this day. Please work through us, we ask, in Jesus’ name.”

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1 Samuel 10 KJV

¹ Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? ² When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?  ³Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: ⁴ And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. ⁵ After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: ⁶ And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. ⁷ And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.   ⁸ And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. ⁹ And it was so , that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.   ¹⁰ And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. ¹¹ And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?  ¹² And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?  ¹³ And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. ¹⁴ And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel. ¹⁵ And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. ¹⁶And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not. ¹⁷ And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; ¹⁸ And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: ¹⁹ And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay , but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. ²⁰ And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. ²¹ When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. ²² Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. ²³ And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. ²⁴ And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. ²⁵ Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. ²⁶ And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. ²⁷ But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.