Samuel has taken a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and declared: “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?” But anointing without confirmation leaves the heart restless. Saul departs not with fanfare but with three signs that God has prepared for him—encounters designed to strengthen a timid man and assure him that the Lord has spoken through the prophet. The first sign is two men by Rachel’s tomb who will tell him the donkeys are found. The second is three men going up to God at Bethel with offerings, carrying bread and wine. The third is a band of prophets at Gibeah of God, where the Spirit will rush upon him and he will prophesy with them. Each sign moves him deeper into God’s plan, each one affirming that what Samuel has spoken is true.
“Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.” (1 Samuel 10:6 BSB)
These signs are not magic tricks; they are covenantal confirmations. The Spirit’s coming upon Saul marks him for leadership, just as it had come upon judges like Othniel, Gideon, and Jephthah. But this transformation—”turned into another man”—raises questions about the nature of kingly empowerment. Is this the Spirit’s permanent indwelling, as it would be in the Messiah? Or is it temporary enablement for a specific task? The narrative suggests the latter. Saul prophesies, and the people marvel at the change: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” Some mock; some accept. But the Spirit’s work here is instrumental, not salvific. It confirms the office, not necessarily the heart.
The signs lead Saul to Gibeah, where he meets his uncle and later attends the public lot-casting that formally designates him as king before the assembly at Mizpah. He is found hidden among the baggage, a detail that speaks volumes. This man who will soon wear a crown now hides among the luggage—perhaps overwhelmed by the weight of the calling, perhaps humble in the moment, perhaps fearful of the public gaze. When brought forward, he is the tallest man in the crowd. Yet this external greatness cannot mask the internal struggle that awaits him.
Christ fulfills this passage in ways that both contrast and exceed Saul. Jesus too was anointed—not with oil but with the Holy Spirit. At His baptism, the Spirit descended like a dove and rested upon Him. The Father declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Where Saul received a temporary rush of the Spirit for kingly service, Christ received the Spirit without measure. Where Saul prophesied and the people marveled, Christ preached with authority and the crowds wondered, saying, “Never has anyone spoken like this.” Where Saul hid among the baggage, Christ humbled Himself yet took His place at the right hand of God. Saul’s anointing pointed forward to the greater Anointed One, the Messiah who would receive the Spirit forever and rule not by human standards but by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Application
Have you ever hesitated to embrace what God has called you to do? Saul needed signs to confirm what Samuel had already spoken. Do you find yourself seeking extra validation when God’s word has already been given? Trust that His call is sufficient without additional proof. If you sense a direction from the Lord, step forward in faith even when you feel inadequate or hidden. Are you waiting for more confirmation, or will you obey what you already know?
Cross References
- Acts 2:17–18 — “In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.”
- Isaiah 61:1 — “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me.”
- Luke 3:21–22 — “The Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 — “God anointed us, sealed us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit.”
Prayer
Lord, You are faithful to confirm Your call and strengthen those You commission. Forgive us for doubting what You have already spoken through Your Word. We thank You for Jesus Christ, the Anointed One who received the Spirit without measure and rules forever in righteousness. Give us courage to walk in the calling You have placed before us, trusting that Your Spirit is sufficient to equip us for every task. In His name, Amen.
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