Is The Power And Presence Of God Enough For You?

What we ask for is not always what we need.   ~~~   1 Samuel 10:5 In verse 5, Samuel says to Saul, “After that, you shall come to Gibeath-elohim (hill of God), where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophet coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flue, and lyre before them, prophesying. Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you!” So on the hill of God is a garrison, or a group of Philistine soldiers. When you get there, Saul, the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you are to do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. That is a strange phrase, isn’t it—“do what your hands finds to do.” What is Samuel getting at in telling Saul this? Well, we see a similar phrase in Judges 9:33, and there it has to do with military advancement and attack. Could this be why Samuel mentions the Philistine garrison? Here is an opportunity, Saul, for you to have faith in God, the power of God upon you, and let him move through you to attack the enemy, from whom you are to deliver your people. But we do not hear of that taking place. We see a little bit of military might later on in Saul’s career, but here it seems we get a sneak peak on what it is going to be like in the majority of Saul’s reign, and that is that Saul spiritually yellow. He is a spiritual coward, unwilling to trust the LORD’s presence and power in his life. So Israel is getting what they asked for, but it is not at all what they need.