Sometimes the scriptures give us stories within the stories. Today’s lesson is one of those examples.
The people of Israel demanded a King. Samuel received a message from God to give them what they wanted. God then instructs Samuel to anoint Saul. You must hear the story, and we hope you hear the stories within the stories too.
There are some mysterious echoes hiding underneath these stories if you look closely at the details. We can begin to see them by looking at the events leading up to Saul’s anointing.
The amazing thing is that most of the parallels to these Old Testament stories are all New Testament stories. It makes the whole book of Samuel sound like a mysterious prophecy of the future of Israel. You need to be reading with the heart to see this.
REJECTING GOD AS KING
The story starts out with Israel rejecting God as their King. They say they want a man for their king. Their desire is to be like all the other nations. This rejection of God reminds me of the rejection Jesus experienced later on the way to the cross. People were tragically unaware of what they were doing.
Jesus was everything they needed. Yet, they were going to destroy him. Demonic hate was the driving force. As the people of Israel rejected God, their children rejected The Son of God.
The parallels are focused on rejection of God.
Since the days of Adam and Eve, mankind has been continuously rejecting God’s way for their own thinking. This is always a very bad trade-off.
THE SILVER SHEKEL
Saul and his servant wanted information from the prophet. Saul had no money to pay the man called the seer.
Samuel’s servant found a shekel of silver. He paid God’s prophet for the information they needed to find their donkeys.
My first thoughts are about the Israelites redeeming their first-born sons with a silver shekel.
We can also remember how Messiah was sold by Judas for some pieces of silver. This story runs parallel to stories we have heard about redemption.
Think about how Jesus was crucified, died, buried and resurrected by the power of God on the third day.
On the third day of their hunting, Samuel informed Saul that his donkeys are found. Once again, for the lost to be found took three days.
Three days were necessary to redeem us from our sins. Saul and his servant had been searching for three days at the time they met Samuel. Samuel’s discovery of Saul runs parallel to many factors involving redemption. He had found the man which God told him would govern Israel.
The beginning of this story of Samuel and Saul is about redemption.
THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
As Saul and his servant were seeking to find Samuel, they met some women drawing water from a well. Isn’t this parallel to the story of Jesus meeting The Woman at the Well?
Isn’t she just like all of us?
She is running to tell the people of the town she met a man who knew everything about her life.
Think about how Samuel met Saul. Samuel told Saul he knew who he was. Next, Samuel informs Saul his missing donkeys are found. Samuel knew everything about Saul. This meeting with the women drawing water by the well runs parallel to the woman at the well story. It has many similarities to this story of Samuel meeting Saul.
Also; think about how both stories speak of the relevance of salvation.
THE MEETING ON THE ROAD
What happened next?
Saul and his servant met Samuel along the road where they were searching. Remember how the men met Jesus on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection?
The people did not recognize Jesus. There was something about the breaking of the bread which led them to know He was Jesus.
Samuel did not recognize Saul. He did not know who he was. After God spoke to him Samuel realized that this was the man whom God said would rule his people.
Think of how in both instances people had trouble recognizing an important identity. In each case they knew one another after sharing a meal together.
And what did Samuel do next?
THE INVITATION
He invited Saul and his servant to come to a feast. This feast was on a holy day. The day was an appointed time. It was a time on God’s calendar for feasting. Samuel was the presiding priest. He sat them at the head of a table with 30 other very important people. Saul is seated in the place of highest honor.
Is this not parallel to the parable of the vineyard owner who sent out invitations to all who would come to the marriage of his son?
In these stories within the story we can see redemption, salvation, ascension, resurrection and sanctification.
THOU PREPAREST A TABLE
We can see the symbolism from Psalm 23 as Samuel seats Saul at the table . You can almost hear the words saying; “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies, thou anoints my head with oil, my cup runs over.”
These things happening to Saul make me think of The Wedding Supper of The Lamb. It is a huge event in the future of all of God’s children.
THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
Samuel tells his cook to bring Saul the choice piece of meat which he previously saved and set-aside for the guest of honor.
What did all of this mean?
How does this part of the story parallel with the life of Christ?
COMPARING KINGS
The process begins with a special meal for a King, which is symbolic of The Feast of Trumpets just before Passover.
THE UPPER ROOM
Remember how Jesus told his disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait?
This part of the story, where Saul goes up to the rooftop with Samuel is comparable to The Ascension of Christ after the Resurrection of Christ. They are going up to the rooftop in our story of Samuel and Saul.
PENTECOST
The next part of our story is this statement: “While they were going down to the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” Does this not remind you of what happened at Pentecost?
Jesus asked the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until he sent the Holy Spirit down to them.
In the next part of today’s story Samuel began pouring oil and anointing the head of Saul. He poured the oil and it ran over Saul’s face like running water. This is one more parallel symbolism that screams PENTECOST. Oil represents the flow of God’s Holy Spirit in the scriptures.
I do not want you to miss all of these parallel stories within the story. If you can see them now, you will see more later.
WHY DO WE SEE STORIES WITHIN STORIES?
Why was this story of Saul and Samuel written in this way which allows us to see so many of these types and shadows?
I cannot tell you yet. I’m praying to know one day. All I can tell you is I have seen other such passages in the scriptures that parallel the new and old this same way.
This is just more proof of God’s plan unfolding. We see clearly that God is still orchestrating everything that happens to Israel. None of these events were something which Samuel did on his own. God is in control of everything.
All of our lives happen in just the way God has arranged for them to be. God created each of us to be a part of His plan for eternity.
The people had rejected God but He had mercy on them.
He chose Saul to be the first King of the nation of Israel.
These stories within the stories are further confirmation that God has orchestrated the beginning of time all the way to the end of time. His patterns, designs and ways repeat themselves over and over again. They confirm that God is in control, even when we forget to honor Him and be thankful for his guidance. Sometimes God speaks to us through other people. This time God uses Samuel and Saul for his messages to come through to all of humanity through Israel.