The people of Israel want a king. God in his mercy and his overall sovereignity prepares one for them. We get a first glimpse of him in this passage.
Saul has a number of striking attributes. He is from a prominent family (albeit from a small tribe), he is impressive - "a young man without equal among the Israelites" - and tall, standing a whole head taller than all the others.
We are introduced to Saul when he goes looking for his father's donkeys. While he obeys his father, we do not see fruit. The donkeys are not found by him and instead since he and his servant have been wandering for some time, he says that they had better start for home since his father would begin worrying about them.
Contrast this to David, who we will be meeting later - a young man who we see consistently and faithfully (and fruitfully) fulfilling his father's commands.
When Saul decides to go back, we start to get our first glimpse of who Saul is on the inside.
Saul's servant suggests that they meet the man of God who lives in the local town. Saul seems to have no idea about the greatest Judge - Samuel. Saul's spiritual poverty is further shown when he says that he has nothing to give the man of God. It looks like Saul is used to giving fees for spiritual services.
Contrast this ignorance with God's choice of Saul. Before he meets up with Samuel, God has told Samuel that the man to be made leader of Israel would meet Samuel the next day.
God had told Samuel that He had heard the cry of the people of Israel and that Saul would deliver the people from their Philistine oppressors.
Look at the difference between this first king of Israel - and the King of Kings - who was to come and fulfill the Kingship that God has established.
Jesus was born to a royal family - but one without any standing - a poor carpenter / builder (what we call a 'Mistry') who was unable to pay for a lamb to offer at his dedication in the temple. Jesus' family lived in an obscure part of the country and as a small child he fled with his parents into exile because an evil king wanted to kill him.
Jesus was not handsome. The only reference we have to his appearance is the prophetic picture in Isaiah 53.2b which says: "he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Jesus' appearance was plain (by our twisted human standards) in contrast to Saul's handsome, striking appearance.
Jesus, the King of Kings, knew his destiny. He was not like Saul who was chasing donkeys only to stumble upon a man of God. The gospel tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, in favour of God and man (Luke 2.52). As a 12 year-old Jesus knew enough of the scripture to be able to ask deep questions and amazed the religious leaders of the day. But yet, with all his knowledge he still humbles himself and obeys his earthly parents - returning to the dusty village of Nazareth.
Where are you and I in this picture? We are all much like Saul in so many ways. Dripping with talent and potential - but largely fruitless in our lives. In the presence of God's people but ignorant about the most basic spiritual truths. Being given so many privileges but unable to make any lasting use of them.
May we be transformed into who Jesus is.
As we continue to learn about Saul, let us do so with humility and fear - knowing that we are so very very like the man. And let us make real steps to allow God to change our hearts so that we may love him totally, even as his love is poured out into our lives.
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