The Captain of Israel

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? —1 Samuel 10:1

After telling Saul’s servant to go on, Samuel told Saul to stop and receive a message from God: Saul would soon be king of all Israel! “As evidence that this was done by divine authority, he foretold the incidents that would occur on the homeward journey and assured Saul that he would be qualified by the Spirit of God for the station awaiting him.” Saul would experience three specific signs or encounters on his journey home: The first encounter would occur by Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, where Saul would meet two men.

They would tell him his father’s livestock had been found, and his father was eager for his return. In his second encounter, he would meet three men going up to worship God at Bethel. One would be carrying three young goats for a burnt offering, another three loaves of bread, and the third a skin of wine for the sacrificial feast.

They would greet Saul and give him two of their loaves of bread.

The third sign would occur near the Philistine garrison at Gibeah.

Saul would meet a group of prophets chanting praises to God.

He would receive the Spirit of God and join them in their praises.

After these signs, Saul was to return home and wait one week for Samuel to come to him. Then Samuel would tell Saul what the Lord required of him.

“Evidence of the foreknowledge of God . . . encouraged Saul to accept the responsibility to which he was now called.” “To the humble and willing heart God multiplies evidence of the way in which to go. . . . And the beauty of it all is that He has a thousand ways in which to manifest these evidences.”