Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on a head of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God.” (1 Sam. 9:27)
Character is often exhibited by one’s response to authority.
If you’re a parent, you know that a huge part of bringing your children up to be responsible adults is instilling in them the importance of respecting those whom God has placed over them. This will help them, not only in interacting with society, holding a job and being properly balanced, but also and most importantly, in submitting their young lives to the wise Heavenly Father.
Saul must have had good training in this area. He passed the test. He could have refused to do what Samuel told him. He could have disregarded the prophet as crotchety, senile and irrelevant. He might not have wanted to send his servant on and stay behind with the old man of God. But he did. He honored God’s man and the instruction he gave.
And you know the rest of the story.
The very next verse, 10:1, has Samuel pouring the oil of anointing on Saul’s head and proclaiming that he was chosen by God to be king. Had Saul not been willing to adapt his plans to those of one over him, he would not have been present for his own anointing. In fact, it is doubtful that God would have chosen him in the first place had this attitude not been part of his character.
But to honor those who are over you is to bring honor to yourself. Take it from Saul, first king of God’s people, Israel.
Hold those who are in authority in high honor.
Valorie Quesenberry is a pastor’s wife, mother, author, speaker and editor of a publication for Christian women. She has a passion to communicate biblical truth for today’s issues.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
