"Saul among the Prophets", 1728, Illustration from Figures de la Bible.
ESV Study Bible Devotions
1 Samuel 10:9-11 - When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
As I journey through my ESV Study Bible, I now come upon Israel's first king. Young Saul has been sent out, by his father, to find some lost donkeys.
After much searching in the land, about to give up, he crosses paths with the prophet Samuel.
God tells Samuel that Saul is to be Israel's king, and Samuel whisks Saul off to a special dinner, fit for a king, and in the course of the next days tells Saul that mighty changes were about to come into his life, and anoints him as king.
Samuel tells Saul of various signs that God will give him to demonstrate this fact, and the next thing we know "the spirit of God rushes upon" Saul, he is given a new heart, and becomes a new man.
From my ESV Study Bible:
1 Sam. 10:9–10 In fulfillment of Samuel's prior predictions (vv. 2–7), Saul is given another heart and he prophesies, an action linked with the fact that the Spirit of God rushed upon him (cf. v. 6; 11:6). This might not be a permanent spiritual renewal or conversion, but Saul is confirmed as the one to deliver Israel (see 10:7, “do what your hand finds to do”; cf. 9:16) and is reminded of God's presence by means of this visible sign (cf. Judg. 14:6, 19; 15:14). Later the Spirit of the Lord “departed from Saul” (1 Sam. 16:14; 18:12).
It is perplexing to see this rushing of God, and then, at the end of Saul's life, the Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul.
I am not questioning this "transaction" as compared to the New Covenant's new birth. I am simply curious about whether we will be breaking bread with Saul some day.
What do you think?
