Daily Devotions
Filled with the Holy Spirit
"Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you..."
Text: 1 Samuel 10:6
THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES
The period of the Judges lasted about 350 years. Samuel was the most godly and spiritual of all the Judges. His focus was prayer and an emphasis on the Word of God.
When the sons of Samuel failed to live up to the high moral standard that Samuel epitomised, Israel asked Samuel for a king to rule over them, just like all the other nations (1 Samuel 8:6). Samuel was deeply grieved that Israel had asked to become a monarchy.
THE MONARCHIAL PERIOD
Israel demanded a king who would rule over them. Samuel gave a strong word of warning that a king can become despotic, but his words fell on deaf ears (1 Samuel 8:10-21). Nevertheless, the Lord made provision for the first king to have a taste of what it means to be anointed by the Spirit of God.
Samuel was sent to a man called Saul. The initial impression of Saul was actually quite good. He showed proper humility when he spoke about how he was from the small tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:21). He was surprised when Samuel declared that he would be anointed “commander over (the) people Israel” (1 Samuel 9:16). Samuel went on to say to Saul that the Spirit of God would come upon him.
“After that you shall come to the hill of God where the
Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come
to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down
from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine,
a flute and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.
Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you,
and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion
demands; for God is with you.”
1 Samuel 10:5-7
A CAREFUL EXPLANATION
It was obvious that Saul was not a very spiritual person. Samuel patiently took the trouble to explain what Saul would experience shortly.