The Spirit has given us this passage because he wants us to see a pattern that will prepare us for the coming of the true King. With the ordination of Saul, a pattern is established that will help us to embrace the Christ and follow him when he comes.

To start with, we learn that the true king must be chosen by God. The Lord determines who will rule over his people. And throughout the Old Testament he has given us various clues about this king. He will be from the line of Judah, born in the town of Bethlehem. When he comes, there will be nothing in his physical appearance to make us desire and follow him. He will not be tall and impressive, but ordinary. The people asked: can anything good come from the town of Nazareth? Despised and rejected, when God’s chosen king arrived he did not fit in with the plans of a people who walk by sight.

The true King, like Saul, must be chosen by God. He must also be equipped by God and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit came upon Saul to strengthen him for his calling and the Spirit will come upon the true King to do the same. As Isaiah 61:1–11 confirms, it is the Spirit that equips God’s Servant to bring good news to the poor and bind up the broken-hearted. The Spirit strengthens him to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners. Throughout his ministry on earth, the true King was led and empowered by the Spirit. Into the wilderness and onto the cross, there was not a moment in his life where he was not filled with the Spirit. The true King must be equipped by God.

Then we come to his rule, the true King will be ruled by God. After Saul is revealed, Samuel explains the rights and duties of kingship. Lex Rex, the law of God, is to rule in Israel and his king must be subject to it. Saul cannot do as he pleases. A vice-regent under God, there is a limit to his authority. God’s king must be ruled by God’s law. The true King then will be the One who is circumcised on the eighth day as the law requires. He will be the king who submits to his parents. The king who studies God’s Word day and night so that he grows in wisdom and stature. The King who does good on the Sabbath even though it contradicts the laws and commands of men. The King who fulfills all righteousness—perfect obedience throughout his life; he submits to the will of the Father in all things, even death on a cross. The true King is ruled by God.  

Finally, the true King will be a man who fears God rather than men. Saul hides himself from the people because he is frightened of them. But the true King, the King from the root of the stump of Jesse, will have the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, says Isaiah 11. He will not be afraid of political leaders. He will not be afraid of religious leaders. He will not allow men to stop him from doing what is right. For him it will mean death and rejection, but that is the way of the cross. Suffering now, glory later. The true King will live in the light of eternal realities—the fear of the Lord. Remember the words of Jesus from Matthew 6: Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

The pattern of Saul’s ordination is a pattern that prepares us for the coming of the true King. The King who is chosen and equipped by God. The King who is ruled by God. The King who fears God above all. That is the King who can lead us in worship. That is the King in whom we can find true safety. That is the King that God wanted to give his people from the beginning. A beautiful and glorious King.