Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I Samuel Chapter 10
Metaphysically Interpreting I Samuel 10:1-8
10:1Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not that Jehovah hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance? 10:2When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found; and, lo, thy father hath left off caring for the asses, and is anxious for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? 10:3Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the oak of Tabor; and there shall meet thee there three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 10:4and they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread, which thou shalt receive of their hand. 10:5After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying: 10:6and the Spirit of Jehovah will come mightily upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 10:7And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shall serve thee; for God is with thee. 10:8And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come unto thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.
May 23, 1920: I Samuel 10:1
When Samuel anointed Saul king what was the significance of the kiss which he bestowed upon him? This act typified a spiritual union. It was the joining of the spiritual judgment to the will, which would sooner or later result in the will being spiritualized and awakened to its supreme power.
August 17, 1930: I Samuel 10:1
What was the significance of the kiss that Samuel bestowed upon Saul when anointing him king? This act typified a spiritual union. It was the joining of the spiritual judgment to the will, which would sooner or later result in the will's being spiritualized and awakened to its supreme power.
Metaphysically Interpreting I Samuel 10:9-16
10:9And it was so, that, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. 10:10And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them. 10:11And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? 10:12And one of the same place answered and said, And who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? 10:13And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
10:14And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel. 10:15And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 10:16And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
Metaphysically Interpreting I Samuel 10:17-27
10:17And Samuel called the people together unto Jehovah to Mizpah; 10:18and he said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you: 10:19but ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saveth you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before Jehovah by your tribes, and by your thousands.
10:20So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 10:21And he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was taken; and Saul the son of Kish was taken: but when they sought him, he could not be found. 10:22Therefore they asked of Jehovah further, Is there yet a man to come hither? And Jehovah answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the baggage. 10:23And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 10:24And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom Jehovah hath chosen, that there is none like him along all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, Long live the king.
10:25Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before Jehovah. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 10:26And Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and there went with him the host, whose hearts God had touched.10:27But certain worthless fellows said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.
July 3, 1927: Samuel 10:17-25
What does Saul represent in man’s consciousness? Saul signifies the personal will developing spiritual consciousness.
What does the tribe of Benjamin symbolize? Benjamin means “son of the right hand.” The hands represent the executive power of the mind; the right hand represents the direct active officer of the will. The tribe of Benjamin signifies the combined executive thoughts of the mind.
In the unfoldment of the soul, what is represented by the Israelites' choosing Saul as king? The Israelites' choosing Saul as king pictures man's higher thoughts giving will the first place in consciousness. However, man's will should always be guided and governed by divine inspiration, his higher judgment (represented by Samuel the prophet). When man places his will ahead of his best judgment and makes his will the supreme dictator of his consciousness, he is sure to experience discord and bondage.
What is the significance of Saul’s [being] tall of stature? Personal will plays an important in body building. Saul is represented as tall physically to illustrate the importance of the will’s activity in the physical world.
When the people sought, Saul, he hid himself among the baggage. Give the metaphysical meaning of this incident. Meekness and humility make the consciousness receptive to the inflow of spiritual ideas. Saul was an initiate and it was essential that he be free from egotism and arrogance.
Why did the children of Israel want a king, instead of the judges who had long ruled them? The children of Israel clamored for a king, because they envied the warlike victories and the glamour and parade of the barbarians who surrounded them.
Were the children of Israel warned against the autocracy of kings? Samuel reminded them that they had been saved from the calamities and the distresses of Egypt. However, they wanted a king, and Jehovah yielded to their desire. Saul apparently was the best material to be found in the tribes of Israel.
Why has Saul always been a puzzle to Bible students? The will a most complex phase of the mind; it often perplexes the most astute. For this reason the character of Saul has always been a puzzle to Bible students. A study of one's own personality, however, will reveal something of Saul’s character. Sometimes Saul followed his own impulses entirely; at other times he carried out the word of the Lord in some degree.
September 11, 1938: I Samuel 10:21-25
How was Saul chosen king, and what is the significance of the choice? Some form of casting lots was the method used by Samuel in choosing Saul. Saul seems to have been chosen for his physical fitness and his impressive stature rather than for his mental and moral qualifications. “Thus saith Jehovah ... ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saveth you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us.”
What type of man is fitted to rule over other men? One who is in control of his thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and who has the breadth of view that comes from lack of self-centeredness, is fitted to rule others.
August 10, 1952: I Samuel 10:24-27
Should one faculty be supreme in the life of the individual, or should all the faculties be developed equally? Equalized development of the faculties is better, but where error is strongly entrenched, the will sometimes deals with it more effectually if it is allowed full sway. This is illustrated by the people's demanding a king over them, because Samuel was old and his sons “walked not in his ways.”
What is the most important function of the will? To overcome error in the life of its possessor and to establish spiritual direction over his life. The will, too, must be freed from the dominion of the self.
How is the work of the will in overcoming self indicated in the text of this lesson? In the words “And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. And Saul also went to his house to Gibeah.” The important work of each one is in his own consciousness.
Can anyone work out his problems and gain dominion over life through will power alone? “How shall this man save us?” Not through the personal will. Through divine will or good will it is possible to arrive at such a victorious outcome.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 02-02-2014
