I Samuel 10

Hook

Most of us were taught that the Bible is a series of static "do’s and don’ts" or a dry list of historical kings who lived in a world too far removed to matter. When we opened books like I Samuel 10, we likely saw a confusing, dusty drama about a guy looking for lost donkeys who suddenly gets crowned king. It feels like a relic. But what if I told you that this chapter isn’t about ancient politics, but about the terrifying, messy, and exhilarating experience of "becoming"? You weren't wrong to bounce off it the first time—the language is archaic and the stakes feel distant. Let’s strip away the Sunday School varnish and look at the real, human anxiety pulsing underneath.

Context

• The "Chosen" Myth: We often assume being "chosen" by the Divine means a clear, ego-boosting path to success. Saul’s experience is the exact opposite—it is a quiet, private, and deeply confusing initiation.
• The Misconception of "Royal" Authority: We think of kingship as power and status. In the ancient Hebrew context, being anointed as nagid (ruler/leader) wasn't a promotion; it was a surrender of one’s previous, predictable life.
• The Anatomy of a Sign: Samuel gives Saul specific, mundane signs—meeting people with bread, hearing music, finding lost items. The "divine" isn't a lightning bolt; it’s a series of coincidences that force you to reframe your reality.

Text Snapshot

"Samuel took a flask of oil and poured some on Saul’s head and kissed him... The spirit of GOD will grip you, and you will speak in ecstasy along with them; you will become a different person... And when they came there, to the Hill, he saw a band of prophets coming toward him. Thereupon the spirit of God gripped him, and he spoke in ecstasy among them." I Samuel 10:1-10

New Angle

Insight 1: The "Imposter Syndrome" of Transformation

When we look at Saul hiding among the baggage I Samuel 10:22 at the moment of his public crowning, we tend to see a coward. But look closer. Saul had just experienced a radical internal shift—he was given "another heart" I Samuel 10:9. In our adult lives, we often experience these moments of profound change—a new career, a shift in identity after becoming a parent, or a sudden, unwanted maturity. Like Saul, we often want to hide among the baggage. We feel like the "son of Kish"—just a regular person from a regular family—and we look at our new responsibilities and think, Who am I to do this?

The Malbim notes that the anointing wasn't just a ceremony; it was a "merging of spirits." Saul’s transformation wasn't a change in his resume; it was a change in his capacity to handle the weight of his own life. When the people ask, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" they aren't just surprised; they are witnessing the dissonance between the person they thought they knew and the person who is now emerging. For us, this is a reminder that growing into a new role—whether as a leader, a partner, or a person of integrity—always involves a period of being "unrecognizable" to our past selves and our peers. You are allowed to be terrified of your own evolution.

Insight 2: The Sacredness of the Mundane

The most striking part of this chapter is the instructions Samuel gives Saul: he will meet men with bread, wine, and donkeys. These are not grand, cosmic signs. They are the stuff of daily life. The medieval commentator Radak points out that the kiss Samuel gives Saul is a "kiss of greatness" I Samuel 10:1, one of the few moments in the tradition where a kiss signifies an elevation of status rather than mere affection.

In our modern, secularized view, we wait for "the big sign" to know if we are on the right path. We look for a burning bush or a massive pivot in our career. But Samuel suggests that the divine "grip" is found in the middle of our errands. When you find yourself in a moment of transition, look for the "bread and the wine"—the small, recurring patterns in your daily life that signal you are exactly where you need to be. The "spirit of God" doesn't necessarily take you away from your life; it forces you to inhabit it with a different intensity. You are being asked to lead your own life, even if, like Saul, you’d rather just go back to looking for the donkeys.

Low-Lift Ritual: The "Transition Scan" (2 Minutes)

This week, pick one transition you are currently facing (a new project, a difficult conversation, a change in family dynamics). Take two minutes to sit quietly and ask yourself:

1. Where have I been "hiding among the baggage" lately? (Where am I playing small because I’m afraid of being seen as "changed"?)
2. What is one "sign"—a small, mundane detail—that suggests I am actually ready for this, even if I don't feel like it?

Write down one thing you are doing that is "different" from who you were a year ago. Acknowledge it, not as a burden, but as your own form of "anointing."

Chevruta Mini

1. Why do you think Saul kept the kingship a secret from his uncle even after being anointed? Is it possible to be "chosen" for something big while still feeling like you haven't earned the right to speak about it?
2. When people in your life have changed—grown, evolved, or taken on new roles—have you ever been the person asking "Is Saul also among the prophets?" How do we react when people we know well start acting like "different people"?

Takeaway

You don't need a formal coronation to start acting with the weight and purpose of a leader. You are constantly being "anointed" by your circumstances, your challenges, and your quiet shifts in perspective. Stop waiting for the baggage to clear before you stand up. You are already a head taller than you realize.