The elderly prophet Samuel pours oil from a small horn onto the head of the tall young man Saul, who kneels before him on a sunlit hillside outside an ancient Israelite city, with rolling hills and a small group of onlookers visible in the background.

Davidic CovenantOld Testament

Saul Anointed King

The People Get the King They Wanted

Israel has a problem. The people are looking around at the other nations and they want a king — a tall, strong, impressive king they can see with their own eyes. They are tired of trusting in a God they cannot see. So God tells His prophet Samuel, 'Give them what they are asking for. But warn them: this is not what is best for them.'

Now, there is a man in Israel named Kish, and he has a son named Saul. Saul is exactly what the people have in mind — he is taller than anyone else in all of Israel, handsome and strong. One day, some of his father's donkeys wander off, and Saul and a servant go searching for them. After days of looking, they have not found a single donkey. The servant has an idea: 'There is a man of God in this city — Samuel the prophet. Let us go ask him!'

When Saul arrives, God has already spoken to Samuel. The day before, God told him, 'Tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. You shall anoint him ruler over my people Israel.' So when Samuel sees Saul walking toward him, he is not surprised at all. God is in control of every step.

Samuel invites Saul to eat with him and tells him something astonishing: 'The donkeys you lost three days ago have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and your father's family?' Saul can barely believe it. He comes from the smallest tribe and the least important family. Why would God choose him?

The next morning, Samuel pours oil on Saul's head. This is the anointing — a sacred act that sets a person apart for a special purpose God has chosen. The oil running down Saul's head is a sign that God's Spirit is being given to him for his work as king.

Later, Samuel calls all of Israel together. Tribe by tribe, clan by clan, God narrows the choice until Saul is selected. But Saul is hiding among the luggage! When they find him and bring him out, the people shout, 'Long live the king!'

Israel has their king. He is tall and impressive, just as they wanted. But something is already a little off. A king chosen to look like the kings of other nations is not quite the same as the king God truly wants to give His people. God is patient. He is keeping a covenant promise — and one day He will send a far better King, one born not to impress eyes but to rescue hearts.

Christ in This Story

Saul's anointing with oil points forward to the Lord Jesus Christ, whose very title 'Messiah' means 'Anointed One.' Where Saul was chosen because of outward appearance and ultimately failed as king, Jesus is the perfect, eternal King who never fails. Saul was anointed to rule a human kingdom that would crumble, but Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to establish a covenant kingdom that will never end. Israel's desire for a king was a shadow of humanity's deepest need — a need that only King Jesus fully satisfies.

Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, anointing with oil was a well-documented royal and priestly ritual. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Ugarit and Egyptian records show that pouring oil over a person's head was a widely understood sign of consecration — setting someone apart for a role ordained by divine or royal authority. It communicated that the person now carried a special status and responsibility. For Israel, this act was given specific covenantal weight by God through His prophet, making it distinct from pagan rituals in that it signaled dependence on Yahweh, not merely political appointment.

Saul comes from the tribe of Benjamin, which is significant. Benjamin was the smallest tribe and had a troubled history (see Judges 19–21), nearly being wiped out entirely. That God selects a Benjaminite first — rather than someone from the powerful tribe of Judah — reminds readers that God often works through unexpected people and places. The casting of lots described in 1 Samuel 10 was a recognized method in Israelite culture for discerning God's will, similar to practices seen elsewhere in the ancient world but understood by Israel as placing the decision directly in God's hands (Proverbs 16:33).

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are always in control, even when people make choices that are not Your best. Thank You for sending Jesus, the perfect King who never fails and never hides. Help us to trust Your King, Jesus, with our whole hearts. Amen.