1 Samuel 9: The Arrival of the King

The kingship of ancient Israel, the monarchy that would go on to become a model for the kingdoms of the Middle Ages and beyond, begins now.  In 1 Samuel 9 we are introduced to Saul, who, through Samuel's prophecies, is revealed to be the chosen one, the king that the Israelites pleaded for, and whom God chose to be the first king of Israel.  Thus was instituted a royal house of Israel.  This is a momentous event in Scripture.  No longer would God's chosen people be simply a wandering tribe, or a people ruled by just judges.  Now they would be subjects of an earthly king, citizens of a regal realm.  And as we saw in the last chapter, this isn't exactly how God intended it.  But as often happens on earth, men's wills and God's Will don't always align.  So God gives them a king, and He even does so in His own mysterious way, through a "chance" meeting between His prophet Samuel and a seemingly obscure Benjamite named Saul, son of Kish.  And it is Saul's humble background which produces ultimately a great irony.  For Saul will be anything but a humble king.  But here in 1 Samuel 9, he is actually a rather remarkable example for all of us what graciousness and humility ought to be.  When Samuel wants to include Saul in the great sacrifices and feast soon to take place, Saul humbly replies:  "Am not I a son of Jemini of the least tribe of Israel, and my kindred the last among all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?  Why then hast thou spoken this word to me?" (1 Samuel 9:21).  And Samuel's answer beautifully prefigures Jesus's words in the Gospel of Luke many centuries later: "Then Samuel taking Saul and his servant, brought them into the parlor, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited" (1 Samuel 9:22).  Those words of Christ must be repeated here, because Saul's and Samuel's actions are such a perfect illustration of that beautiful teaching:

"And [Jesus] spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them:  When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the highest place, lest perhaps one more honorable than thou be invited by him:  And he who invited thee, and him, come and say to thee:  Give place to this man; and then thou begin with blushing, to take the lowest place.  But when thou art invited, go sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee cometh, he may say to thee:  Friend, go up higher.  Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee.  Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted" (Luke 14:7-11).

Saul humbles himself, and is then exalted, not just at table, but as king.  But then, as king, he proceeds to exalt himself, and is very quickly humbled. 

Lastly, one interesting symbol that was brought to my attention was that of the shoulder of meat that was placed before Saul.  This cut was supposed to be reserved for a guest of eminence at the table.  So it is placed before the future king, and it represents the burdens and responsibilities that he will soon have to shoulder as the supreme head of a nation.