The donkeys had strayed, and so Kish sent his son Saul, along with a servant, to find them and bring them home. They searched a wide area, persisting for many days, and finally gave up, reckoning that by now Saul’s father Kish would be more worried about lost boys than about lost donkeys. Just before they turned back they thought they would check with the prophet Samuel, who perhaps could help them with divine insight regarding where the donkeys had gone (I Samuel 9:1-6).

It turns out that by divine revelation, Samuel knew all about Saul (9:15-17); he welcomed Saul and his servant, fed them, and hosted them overnight. In the morning, Samuel sent the servant on ahead, and made known to Saul “the word of God” (9:27). This word included anointing Saul to be king over Israel, to deliver them from the hand of their enemies (10:1). It also included several signs by which Saul would know that this promise of kingship would come true: especially that on his way home he would meet a band of prophets, singing and making music in an ecstatic frenzy of worship, and that the Spirit of the Lord would move Saul to join right in with them (10:1-7).

God gave Saul a new heart (10:9), and Saul met the band of prophets, and he was empowered by the Spirit of God and joined in with them (10:10). This surprised some of the onlookers: “What has come over the son of Kish?” they asked. “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (10:11). This line would actually become a proverb (10:12), indicating a sense of astonishment at how unlikely an event would be – perhaps an equivalent of our contemporary phrases “once in a blue moon” or “when hell freezes over.”

It seems that people knew Saul well enough to recognize how very odd it was to imagine him singing and dancing on the road in vibrant public worship, proclaiming the glory of God. They knew Saul: he was the kind of lad much more likely to hide bashfully among the baggage (10:22). Yet when God has moved in your heart, when the Spirit of the Lord has empowered your soul, great transformations can take place. You might find yourself, just like Saul, singing exuberant praise to the Almighty.

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Ah Lord God! So often we hold back from expressing our hearts’ devotion to you. We are afraid of embarrassing ourselves before the gaze of others, fearful of appearing awkward. Yet you are the one who changes our hearts; you are the one who fills us with your Spirit. Set us free to worship you, heart and soul and mind and strength.