And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
The word was spoken after Saul had been anointed as captain over Israel, and the signs promised to meet him on his journey were to confirm his calling and strengthen his faith, while God's presence and the power of the Spirit would qualify him for the position awaiting him. What Samuel foretold came to pass exactly, and that fulfillment confirmed Saul's divine appointment and proved that God was with him.
When the signs arrived, the Spirit of the Lord came and rested upon Saul as he met the company of prophets, so that he joined their praise and prophesied with them. In that moment he declared divine truth with unexpected fluency and wisdom, displaying the change and ability belonging to his new calling.
Once the signs had come, he was to act as circumstances and occasion required, trusting with confidence that God was with him. That assurance meant God's presence, guidance, and help in action, and that he was not left to face his old natural tendencies alone but was to move forward under divine direction. The command to act was bound up with the coming of the Spirit to qualify him for his new station, for God gave him another heart and changed his heart and spirit, making him another man. That inward change fitted him for his work as king, gave him influence, and gave him the Holy Spirit as guide and helper in the place where he could develop the qualities needed to rule.
The Spirit was given to enlighten his understanding and soften his heart, accompanied by faithful instruction and reproof, showing what God is ready to do for His workers. This Spirit-wrought change stands in contrast to a change produced by a different source. To succeed he needed to remain humble, fear God, trust Him, learn His will, and continually seek divine wisdom. Then grace would develop his ruling qualities, strengthen his good qualities and weaken his evil tendencies, enabling him to serve Israel successfully and honorably and to be a blessing. Instead he later failed by presumptuously following his own judgment, and his long-standing habits of resisting submission made him ready to rebel against divine authority. Had he obeyed God in all things he would have been a blessing to Israel, but by abandoning his allegiance to God he would bring woe rather than blessing.
The word was spoken after Saul had been anointed as captain over Israel, and the signs promised to meet him on his journey were to confirm his calling and strengthen his faith, while God's presence and the power of the Spirit would qualify him for the position awaiting him. What Samuel foretold came to pass exactly, and that fulfillment confirmed Saul's divine appointment and proved that God was with him.
When the signs arrived, the Spirit of the Lord came and rested upon Saul as he met the company of prophets, so that he joined their praise and prophesied with them. In that moment he declared divine truth with unexpected fluency and wisdom, displaying the change and ability belonging to his new calling.
Once the signs had come, he was to act as circumstances and occasion required, trusting with confidence that God was with him. That assurance meant God's presence, guidance, and help in action, and that he was not left to face his old natural tendencies alone but was to move forward under divine direction. The command to act was bound up with the coming of the Spirit to qualify him for his new station, for God gave him another heart and changed his heart and spirit, making him another man. That inward change fitted him for his work as king, gave him influence, and gave him the Holy Spirit as guide and helper in the place where he could develop the qualities needed to rule.
The Spirit was given to enlighten his understanding and soften his heart, accompanied by faithful instruction and reproof, showing what God is ready to do for His workers. This Spirit-wrought change stands in contrast to a change produced by a different source. To succeed he needed to remain humble, fear God, trust Him, learn His will, and continually seek divine wisdom. Then grace would develop his ruling qualities, strengthen his good qualities and weaken his evil tendencies, enabling him to serve Israel successfully and honorably and to be a blessing. Instead he later failed by presumptuously following his own judgment, and his long-standing habits of resisting submission made him ready to rebel against divine authority. Had he obeyed God in all things he would have been a blessing to Israel, but by abandoning his allegiance to God he would bring woe rather than blessing.