Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here for a while.” (1 Sam. 9:27)
Expanded Passage: 1 Samuel 9:26-27
Character is often exhibited by one’s response to authority. If you’re a parent, you know that a huge part of bringing up your children to be responsible adults is instilling in them the importance of respecting those whom God has placed over them. This respect 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 their wise heavenly Father.
Saul must have had good training in this area. He could have refused to do what Samuel told him or disregarded the prophet as crotchety, senile, and irrelevant. Saul may 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.
You know the rest of the story.
In the very next verse, Samuel poured the oil of anointing on Saul’s head and proclaimed that he was chosen by God to be king. If Saul had not been willing to adapt his plans, he would not have been present for his own anointing. In fact, God may not have chosen him in the first place had this attitude not been part of his character. We do well to learn from Saul in this moment, to see that honoring those who are over you also brings honor to yourself.
Hold those who are in authority in high honor.
Valorie Quesenberry is a wife, mother, gramma, speaker, and author of several books including the Sisters in Faith Bible Studies (WPH).
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
