Saul: The Anointed

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen People. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Samuel, you have led us well, but your years are advancing. Though I do not want to insult you. Your sons do not walk in your ways, but no one to take your place. The elders, and I request that you appoint the king to judge us. 00:00:18 Speaker 3: What do kings bring tyranny? Change burden? Is another pharaoh you would have over you. 00:00:30 Speaker 4: Heed the people's voice in everything. They ask what but why? Surely they have not rejected you. They have rejected me and desire that I should not reign over them. Obey their voice and make them a king. Take heart, Samuel, for I will guide you in this. Even in their wicked ways, my purposes shall prevail. Tomorrow. At this time I will send you a man from Benjamin. He is the one who will reign over the people, the one they have begged for. He shall restrain them, deliver them from their enemies, and bear the weight of their ingratitude. 00:01:29 Speaker 5: The anointing oil runs warm, but the weight of it can crush a man's soul. Selloh, my friends, from here in the Holy Land of Israel. I'm l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and Welcome to the Chosen People. This story begins in a fractured land, a people with one God but no king. Tribal rivalries pull at the seams of unity, and the head of Israel trembles under the weight of longing for justice, for leeleadership, for deliverance. But what happens when human desire overtakes divine wisdom? Is it possible to gain everything you ask for yet lose the very thing you need. Now, let's meet the man chosen to be Israel's first king. I know you've heard of him. Let's talk about Saul. 00:02:23 Speaker 1: The plains of Benjamin lay beneath the midday sun, a patchwork of green fields and shadowed hills that stretch toward the borders of Ephraim. In the heart of these lands stood the estate of Kish, a wealthy farmer and merchant whose name carried weight among the Benjamites. His lands were vast, his herds numerous, and his lineage respected, at least by Benjamite standards. By the stables, Saul, the son of Kish, worked under the merciless heat. His bare arms glistened with sweat as he hefted a new wooden post and drove it into the earth with a solid thud. The fence had been broken the night before, and several of his father's donkeys had escaped into the hills. Saul's broad shoulders strained as he worked, the curves of muscle beneath his sun brown skin tremored. 00:03:24 Speaker 4: With each thud. 00:03:26 Speaker 1: Saul was a striking figure, taller than any man in his tribe, with dark, intelligent eyes and the chiseled features of a warrior. His reputation preceded him wherever he went. Men admired his strength, women whispered of his handsomeness. 00:03:45 Speaker 4: Even now. 00:03:46 Speaker 1: As Saul carried the broken post to the woodpile, a group of young women passed by with clay jars balanced on their heads. They slowed their steps, giggling behind their hands as they watched him work. 00:04:01 Speaker 4: A Hinno woman is a lucky woman to be betrothed to such a magnificent creature. 00:04:07 Speaker 6: Oh what I wouldn't do to be his betrothed. 00:04:11 Speaker 5: My mother tried to arrange it, but a heinoum beat us to the punch. 00:04:15 Speaker 1: Saul, pretending not to notice the women's swooning, smoke to himself. He raised the axe high, its blade catching the sun and brought it down with a sharp crack. His satisfaction was interrupted by the sound of his father's voice. 00:04:32 Speaker 7: Saul, what is the meaning of this? While in the Lord's name happened in this fence? 00:04:40 Speaker 6: Something must have spooped the donkeys last night they brought the fence. I mean, I fixed it, but many of them are still missing. They must have likely wandered off into the hills. 00:04:49 Speaker 7: He'll be a fool boy. The fence can be repaired anytime. If you don't find those donkeys soon, they may be lost or stolen. I swear, Saul, here's your head. Take one of the workers and go after them before they stray too far. 00:05:07 Speaker 6: As you wish, Father, Tavi and I will leave immediately. 00:05:11 Speaker 1: Saul tugged a loose shirt over his head and gathered his belongings into a leather satchel. He packed dried figs, bread, and a newly tanned water skin. He also took the seal of his father's household, a mark of ownership over the donkeys. Tavi, Saul's right hand man, joined him. Together they climbed into the hills surrounding the estate. The sun beat down on their shoulders as they passed through the countryside, calling out for the missing animals. The hours stretched on, and the search led them beyond Benjamin's borders into the hill country of Ephraim. Here the land grew lush and fragrant with the blooms of early spring. A breeze carried the scent of wild flowers, and Saul paused at the crest of a hill, stretching his arms and taking a deep breath. 00:06:08 Speaker 8: Hmm. 00:06:10 Speaker 6: Even donkey chasing has its rewards. I get to be free from my father's hounding. 00:06:15 Speaker 1: For a few moments, Tavi chuckled but said nothing. They passed through the regions of Shalisha and Shalem, stopping in each village to inquire about the donkeys. Saul's reputation as a fighter and leader preceded him. The villagers welcomed him warmly, and the women in particular seemed eager to linger in his presence. Saul greeted them all with humility, but in his heart he relished the attention. Yet, for all their searching, the donkeys remained elusive. By the time they reached the region of zoof the sun had begun its descent. Saul's steps slowed as weariness crept into his limbs. 00:07:00 Speaker 6: We should return, my father will begin to worry more for us than for the donkeys. 00:07:06 Speaker 1: Tav hesitated, shielding his eyes as he scanned the horizon. His gaze settled on a cluster of buildings nestled in the hillside. 00:07:15 Speaker 6: Wait a second, I know this place. 00:07:18 Speaker 3: One of the merchants told me about a man of God who lives here. See here, they say everything he speaks. 00:07:24 Speaker 6: Come to pass Tabby. We lost our donkeys, not the ark of the Covenant. Why would a seer of God care care about a few missing donkeys? 00:07:35 Speaker 3: How would we know if we don't ask, we're already here. 00:07:39 Speaker 6: What harm could it do? Even if we go to him, we have nothing to offer. A man of God would expect a gift or an offering. 00:07:47 Speaker 3: Right, I have a solution to that as well. 00:07:49 Speaker 1: Master Saul tav rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a small piece of tattered cloth. As he unfolded it, Saul saw a quota check of silver gleaming in the fading light. 00:08:02 Speaker 3: I never go anywhere without it. It's always good to be prepared. I'll give it to the seer if it means we might find the donkeys. 00:08:11 Speaker 6: What would I do without you? 00:08:12 Speaker 3: Tavy very little. All that muscle left you with little room for a brain. 00:08:18 Speaker 1: Saul tugged Tarby under his arm and ruffled his hair. The two shoved each other, then jogged down to the city below. The city was nestled in the crook of a hill. As they descended the slopes, they came upon a well where several young women were drawing water into clay jarss. Saul leaned against the stone rim of the well, his smile easy and disarming. 00:08:43 Speaker 6: Greeting, sisters, we've come to seek the seer. Is he Is he here? 00:08:49 Speaker 1: One of the women turned toward him, her eyes wide with surprise. In her haste to answer, she still water down her garment and flushed red hanions giggled as she fumbled with her jar. Saul, ever, the charmer offered her a cloth from his satchel. She took it with trembling hands, avoiding his gaze as she stammered, yes. 00:09:13 Speaker 3: My lord, he's here. You must be swift. 00:09:17 Speaker 4: Though he has come to the city for a sacrifice at the high place, the people will not eat until he has blessed the feast. 00:09:25 Speaker 1: Saul inclined his head in gratitude and turned toward the city gates. Tave followed close behind. 00:09:32 Speaker 3: That charm of yours can get you just about anywhere, can't it. 00:09:36 Speaker 6: We all have to work with the gifts we've been given. 00:09:40 Speaker 1: As they approached the base of the high Place, an old man in worn robes emerged from the shadows, his stride slow but purposeful. Saul stepped forward, his commanding presence impossible to. 00:09:54 Speaker 6: Ignore, Sir, do you know where we might find this seer? We heard he's coming to make us sacrifice. So who's asking, salved son of Kish and. 00:10:06 Speaker 3: What you want with the seer? 00:10:10 Speaker 6: We were hoping he'd help us find my father's missing donkeys donkers? 00:10:17 Speaker 3: Do you really need a profit to find a few donkeys? Are you really not help us? 00:10:24 Speaker 6: We've looked everywhere else, and I'd prefer not to return to my father empty handed. Can you please direct us to the seer? 00:10:32 Speaker 3: We have some silver to offer him. 00:10:34 Speaker 1: The old man stopped and looked up at Saul, his weathered face unreadable. For a moment, the silence stretched between them. 00:10:45 Speaker 3: I am who you seek. 00:10:47 Speaker 1: Samuel's eyes had seen many things, wars fought for pride and vengeance, blood spilled over faith and folly, and men who claimed power in defiance of Heaven's will. Yet, as Samuel stood at the city gates, gazing up at the man before him, a peculiar weight settled in his chest. This soul of Kish was a man apart. His stature alone spoke volumes, broad shoulders, a chest that rose and fell with steady confidence, a face crafted to inspire loyalty. His voice carried an air of command. 00:11:25 Speaker 6: But there was. 00:11:26 Speaker 1: Something untested in him, an immaturity that Samuel suspected, even Saul himself did not recognize. The lord's voice had been clear the day. 00:11:37 Speaker 4: Before to morrow. At this time, I will send you a man from Benjamin. He is the one who will reign over the people, the one they have begged for. He shall restrain them, deliver them from their enemies, and bear the weight of their ingratitude. 00:12:00 Speaker 1: And here he stood, Saul of Kish, bearer of a warrior's frame, yet a stranger to the kind of battle that would test his soul. Saul cocked his head to the side, taking in Samuel with a perplexed look. No doubt Saul had expected more from such a renowned prophet. Saul had likely expected a grand figure clad in gold threaded robes bearing jewels to proclaim his authority. What he saw was an old man in plain garb, his weathered face shadowed by the weariness of years. 00:12:39 Speaker 3: I am the seer your. 00:12:41 Speaker 1: Seeking, Samuel shrugged and turned on his heel. 00:12:45 Speaker 3: Come with me to the high place. You will share a meal with me, and in the morning I will tell you all that is in your heart. 00:12:59 Speaker 6: Um a great seer. I came only to ask. 00:13:03 Speaker 3: Your donkeys are safe, soul of kish They weren't found not long after your departed from your father's house. 00:13:13 Speaker 1: The words stopped Saul in his tracks. He turned to Tavi, who looked just as bewildered. Saul opened his mouth to ask the obvious question, but was cut off again. 00:13:25 Speaker 3: How do I know you came to ask about the donkeys? How do I know your name? Stupid questions? I must here. It's my job to see such things. Now it's your job to listen. Come. 00:13:41 Speaker 1: I've been expecting you, Samuel pressed on. Saul padded briskly, behind, what. 00:13:49 Speaker 6: Do you want with me? 00:13:51 Speaker 3: It's not about what I want, but the people. As it turns out, you're the one whom the entire nation has been wroning after the hope of Israel. 00:14:04 Speaker 1: Saul had an inkling of what Samuel was getting at Groans for a king had been heard from every corner of Israel. Saul replied, with feigned humility. 00:14:15 Speaker 6: I I am of the tribe of Benjamin, the least of the tribes of Israel. My father's plain the small I'm a nobody. 00:14:24 Speaker 1: Samuel turned his sharp gaze, pinning Saul in place. 00:14:29 Speaker 3: False modesty does not suit a man of your stature. Your father is a man of means. Your name is known among the tribes, and you stand here before me, head and shoulders above the rest. Do not speak as if you're nothing. God does not waste his anointing on men without purpose. 00:14:51 Speaker 1: Saul said nothing, and for once his commanding posture faltered. Samuel may have been an older, smaller man, but Saul somehow felt small. Walking beside him, they continued up the hill without looking back. The high place was alive with the flicker of torches and the hum of voices. The smell of roasted meat mingled with the fragrant herbs that burned in offering. Inside the large hall, thirty men reclined at a long wooden table, their murmured conversations ceasing as Samuel entered. Saul followed the prophet hesitantly, his eyes scanning the room. The men stared at him with curiosity, some whispering to one another. Samuel ignored them all, leading Saul to the head of the table. Sit at the head, Samuel offered no explanation. The prophet merely gestured for Saul to take his place, then seated himself to the right. A servant brought the choicest portions of meat and bread, placing them before Saul with quiet reverence. Saul's appetite returned with the first whiff of the food, and though he tried to eat with decorum, his hunger betrayed him. Samuel meanwhile sat back, answering questions from the other men, but saying little to Saul himself. The seer's face was inscrutable, and Saul could not shake the feeling that he was being watched or judged. When the feast ended, Samuel led Saul and Tave back into the city. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting silver light over the narrow streets. Samuel stopped before a small home, gesturing to the rooftop. 00:16:45 Speaker 3: I have made a price for you to rest. In the morning, you will go on your way. 00:16:52 Speaker 6: Uh, thank you, great seer. 00:16:56 Speaker 3: Call me Samuel. I'm a prophet, but I'm still a man. Remember young song, No title ll of ates you beyond humanity, all but dust, and to the dust who we shall all return. 00:17:13 Speaker 1: Samuel left unceremoniously, and the two companions scaled the stairs on to the roof. The beds on the roof were simple, nothing more than MAT's in a single lamp burning low at its head. Tavi lay near by, snoring softly, but Saul remained awake. He stared at the moon, his heart restless. The words Samuel had spoken echoed in his mind, the hope of Israel. He could not sleep. Something was shifting within him, something he could not yet. Neighn dawn broke, casting the hills in golden light. Samuel roused Saul with a firm nudge. 00:18:00 Speaker 3: Rise, Saul, tis time for you to go. 00:18:05 Speaker 1: The three men walked toward the city gates, the streets stirring with the first signs of life. As they approached the edge of the city, Samuel tugged at Saul's sleeve. 00:18:17 Speaker 3: Have your servant to go on ahead, You and I must speak alone. 00:18:23 Speaker 1: Saul obeyed, and Samuel led him to a stream that curved lazily around the city. The old man gestured for Saul to sit on a smooth stone by the water's edge. Then from his robes, Samuel withdrew a flask of oil. Saul watched in silence as Samuel uncorked the flask and lifted it high. His lips moved in a whisper, his words too soft for Saul to hear. It was not the kind of prayer Saul was used to. This was intimate and powerful. It was as if Samuel were speaking directly to someone right there by his side. When the prophet's hands steadied, he poured the oil over Saul's head. The fragrant liquid spilled down, soaking into his hair and trickling over his shoulders. Samuel placed his hands on either side of Saul's face, pulling him close until their foreheads nearly touched. 00:19:27 Speaker 8: The Lord has amurdered you. You will reign over his people's soul. You will deliver them from their enemies. This oil is a sign of his favor. 00:19:41 Speaker 3: What his spirits will. 00:19:43 Speaker 6: There is a true mark of your calling? 00:19:48 Speaker 3: How can this be? 00:19:51 Speaker 1: Samuel straightened, lifting Saul to his feet. 00:19:56 Speaker 3: As you return home, signs will follow. They were confirmed the Lord's hand upon him. But witness, spirit comes in your soul, who will become a man? 00:20:12 Speaker 1: The prophet's words rang in souls ears as he walked away, the oil still clinging to his skin. He had come in search of donkeys. He was leaving with a destiny. 00:20:29 Speaker 5: What does it mean to be chosen? To be set apart? Not for privilege, but for purpose. Today's story is a story of calling, of anointing, and of how fragile the human heart can be when confronted with power. The people demand a king, and it's not an innocent request. It's laced with rebellion. We want to be like the nations, they say. It's not that they doubt God entirely, but they no longer want his invisible reign. They craves something tangible, a symbol, a man, and God says, yes, He gives the chosen people what they ask for, even as he warns them of the consequences. Enter Saul, a man of striking stature, tall, handsome, strong, the very image of what we think a king should be. Saul's story begins with what seems like a trivial episode, but it's one that reminds us we never really know the ways in which God works, the ways in which he will guide our lives. We begin by learning that Kish, Saul's father, has lost some donkeys, but instead of just sending his servants to search for the donkeys, which would have been normal, Kish sends his son Saul, along with one servant. The two end up in a place called suf, the same place where the prophet Samuel is, and it just so happens that the servant knows exactly where Samuel lives and take Saul there, which leads to Samuel anointing Saul as king. So it would seem that Saul became the first king of Israel all because of some lost donkeys. But in this seemingly trivial story, Jewish tradition sees the hand of God turning a trivial incident into one of great importance. What an important lesson for all of us as we maneuver our lives and everything we encounter every day. I know I've seen this happen in my life many times. I've been in a totally unrelated meeting where I happen to meet someone who helps me find a more efficient way of helping the poor and needy that the Fellowship serves. I am always looking for new ideas of how the Fellowship can help bead more people, clothe more people, provides shelter for more people, partner with the government that we can get funding from them to do our life saving work. And I often say that wherever I am, it's because God put me there so that I can better do his work and I can more effectively help fulfill his plans. And we say that here Saul had no idea that looking for that lost donkey would make him the King of Israel, but it did because that was the way that God wanted it to take place. In this story, Saul is anointed by Samuel, but his reaction is one of hesitation, even fear. He hides when it's time to step into his role. In Jewish thought, there's a fascinating tradition around leadership. The Midrash teaches that God often chooses reluctant leaders Moses, Giddy, and Jeremiah because they understand their inadequacy. They are less likely to wield power as a weapon. But Saul he does exactly fit that mold. He doesn't reject the role out of humility, but out of fear. Like Saul, we often find ourselves caught between the call of God and the echo of Our insecurities are fear of failure. And yet God moves even in our fears, even in our flaws. He anoints, he calls, He works all things towards his purpose. But the question remains, will Saul lean into God's strength or his own? And what will become of a people who want their king to reflect the world rather than their creator. Before we go today, there's something else about Saul that I'd like to discuss. Saul's lineage. For centuries, Israel had a clear tradition that its king must be from the family of Judah. This is based on Jacob's bless to his children. The skeptor will not depart from Judah is what it says. Basaul was from the tribe of Benjamin, not Judah. So why was he chosen to be the first king of Israel? Now, out of all the sons of Jacob, Benjamin had a unique distinction. He was not only the youngest son, but he was the only one born in the Holy Land of Israel. Benjamin's eleven older brothers were born while Jacob lived in Lavan's house, and where was that in Paddan Aram? But Benjamin was born in Bethlehem. And because Benjamin is born in Israel, the holiness of the land granted him an extra degree of privilege and merit, which is exactly why the Temple would later be built in his territory. This very unique connection to the Holy Land also explains why Benjamin's descendant, Saul, was chosen to be Israel's first king. What do you do when God gives you what you ask for? This is one of the most unsettling questions in the Bible. When Israel demanded a king, they weren't just asking for leadership. They were rejecting God's leadership, and what they wanted most would ultimately lead to their undoing. Yet God's response isn't wrath, It isn't even distance its participation. Even as the Chosen people rebel, God enters into their story to redeem it from within. Saul's story warns us of the dangers of misplaced trust, trust in appearances, in strength, in human solutions to spiritual problems, but it also reveals God's relentless patience. He doesn't abandon Saul or Israel even when they falter. His purpose unfold layer by layer, leading us towards something greater than we can ever imagine. Saul is the king that the people wanted, but not the king that they needed, and his story reminds us that God's leadership is not like the kings of the nations. His kingship is not about damination but about redemption. 00:27:26 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey dot Com app today. This Prey dog com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabaga and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvado, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, KAYLEB Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.