Keith Green's song “To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice” has inspired me to read the stories of Saul in the book of Samuel. Reading about Saul has given me many valuable life lessons. Many scriptures from elsewhere in the Bible came to me as I read Saul's story.
Saul was little in his own eyes when the Lord elevated him to be king of Israel. The New Testament encourages us to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift us up. The scriptures say that the Lord dwells with those who have a contrite heart. Contrite means humbled by guilt and repentant for sins (having a broken spirit). We need to remember what we were when the Lord saved us. Paul listed several types of sinners, and then he reminded us that we were bound like those sinners by the power of Satan before Christ delivered us. If we remember that, we can humble ourselves and have compassion on those who are still bound by Satan. We can share with them that Jesus is able to deliver them from sin; He delivered us.
Samuel gave Saul signs of kingship. One of them was “The Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them [a company of prophets], and shalt be turned into another man.” Samuel continued and said, “Let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.” First Samuel 10:9 says that God gave Saul another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. John the Baptist told us that Jesus came to baptize us with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Jesus told us to receive the Holy Ghost, and we would receive power and be witnesses of Him. Jesus also said that His Holy Ghost (the Comforter) will teach us all things and remind us of what Jesus said. John called this anointing
an unction from the Holy One. He said, “The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you all things, and is truth and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” When God gives you a job, He'll give you the tools to do it. We must let His Spirit reign in us, so that we can fulfill what He calls us to do. The Lord made Saul king and gave him His Spirit and anointing to lead him.