The Scared King Who Imprisons
Today, continuing in my reading of the Israelite Monarchies introduced Saul, the first king over Israel. 1 Samuel 9-10
were very interesting to read. There were two points of interest for me in the text. First was the term Yahweh used to described Saul’s function as king over Israel in 1 Samuel 9 and then Saul’s actions when Samuel had called the entire nation together to publically appoint Saul as king in 1 Samuel 10.
First point of interest for my reading came in 1 Samuel 9:17. The author of Samuel uses the qal imperfect verb יַעְצֹר. It’s a word that means to restrain, but the idea has more to do with detainment or imprisonment. Why does Yahweh use this term to express how Saul is to rule over Israel as his prince? Is this to be a good thing, as in Saul is to imprison Israel under the rule of Yahweh? Or is this a bad thing, as in Saul will be a harsh ruler over Israel and ultimately pointing to Yahweh’s rejection of Saul’s house? Is the author of the text alerting the reader to Saul’s future, that Israel will suffer under Saul’s rule because he is a king like the nations and not a true “Son of God” who becomes an extension of Yahweh’s kingship over Israel? I tend to think that this latter option, a negative view of Saul’s reign by the author and Yahweh. We as readers–when reading the Hebrew–would see that Saul is not God’s choice of a king over his people but rather reflects the people’s desire to one like the nations to rule over them.
The second point of interest comes from 1 Samuel 10:20-24. Samuel has told Saul that Saul will be Israel’s first king, God has chosen him to defeat the Philistines. Then Samuel gave Saul a series of signs that will demonstrate Yahweh’s choice of Saul as king. So as Saul journeys home, all of the signs come to pass, including Saul prophesying at Gibeah under the direction of the spirit of Yahweh. When Saul finally gets home, he reports why it took him so long to return, but doesn’t tell his family about him being anointed as king over Israel.
Samuel calls all of Israel together at Mizpah to anoint and appoint Saul as their king before the whole nation. So Samuel, by way of lots, singles out the tribe of Benjamin, then the clan of Matri, then the house of Kish, and then calls for Saul. But Saul is nowhere to be found. So God tells Samuel that Saul is hiding amongst the “equipment” (NET) or “baggage” (ESV).
What I find so interesting is that Saul hides. My question is why hide in that moment? I don’t get the sense from the narrative to this point that Saul is just so humble that he doesn’t want the attention and humbly accepts the role of king. It seems that he’s scared for some reason. I want to know what his emotional state was at that moment, knowing that he is going to be king, and hears the call coming and decides to hide. And if it was fear that drove him, why was he scared? I’m no psychologist so I don’t know how to break down a person’s psychological makeup. But I want to know here.
I have to admit, that if Saul is hiding because he is afraid of the role he is about to take and the responsibility it carries, I find a little bit of Saul in myself. I don’t know why, but whenever I face tough decisions in life, my initial response is to hide from them. It could even be said to hide with the “baggage” of my books, friends, family, video games. I hide too. And as such, reading this story I am reminded that I am not the right person to rule over God’s people. I am a coward.
But God has not chosen me to be Israel’s king. He has his king, David. No a king even greater than David. He has carried me through death and into new life. He has given me the Spirit of Yahweh to create in me obedience to him. So that when those fears come, I can fight them. I am free from having to try to be king, I serve the King. I obey his will and so there is no fear because the decision is made for me. I only have to follow what the King directs.
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