Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I Samuel Chapter 9
Metaphysically Interpreting I Samuel 9:1-27
9:1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 9:2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. 9:3And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. 9:4And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
9:5When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us. 9:6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go. 9:7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 9:8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9:9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) 9:10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
9:11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? 9:12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place: 9:13as soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goeth up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him. 9:14And they went up to the city; and as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
9:15Now Jehovah had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, 9:16To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 9:17And when Samuel saw Saul, Jehovah said unto him, Behold, the man of whom I spake to thee! this same shall have authority over my people. 9:18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is. 9:19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer; go up before me unto the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day: and in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart. 9:20And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not they mind on them; for they are found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for thee, and for all thy father's house? 9:21And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou to me after this manner?
9:22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest-chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, who were about thirty persons.9:23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 9:24And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold, that which hath been reserved! set it before thee and eat; because unto the appointed time hath it been kept for thee, for I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
9:25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he communed with Saul upon the housetop. 9:26And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 9:27As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still first, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.
July 12, 1908: I Samuel 9:17-27
Saul was a child of Nature. Had he lived in this country he would have been called a “cowboy.” He was hunting his father's drove of asses, and not finding them, dropped in to consult Samuel, a prophet, who was also evidently a finder of lost property. Samuel was impressed with the young man, and being informed by the Lord that Saul should be made king, the prophet anointed him. These were crude days in the history of Israel, long before Jerusalem was built, and before the people had developed power in any direction.
Saul means personal will. He represents the consciousness in its natural estate. It is willful and stubborn, shy and impulsive, yet very brave under great stress. The will is a very complex phase of the mind and its paradoxes often perplex the most acute. The character of Saul has always been a puzzle to Bible students and ministers. A study of one's own personality will reveal the character of Saul. He is that in us which lies very close to sense-consciousness. When the personal will is wholly given up to sense life, it is a Gentile. When it recognizes Jehovah and has a semblance of spiritual understanding, it is an Israelite.
Saul was recognized by the Lord and selected by him to be king. Yet there was not strict adherence by Saul to the spiritual law. He consulted soothsayers and mediums, when he could not at once get a response from the Lord. People who are under the dominion of personality are very liable to be led away from the Great Universal Truth, through a desire to know temporal things instead of eternal. When you are very anxious to know the future, and slyly seek the so-called wisdom of the public medium, or clairvoyant, you are under the dominion of wavering human will. When we are sure of our premise in God, we do not fear the outcome, and always know that we shall succeed in every good work.
– UNITY magazine.
July 7, 1918: I Samuel 9:17-27
What does Saul represent? Saul represents the Will of man in its natural state. When it is exercised without regard to spiritual law, it is the active factor in personal consciousness.
What is the office of Will? It is the executive faculty of mind.
What do the Israelites in this lesson represent? They are the natural, pure forces of mind which have not yet come into the positive Truth consciousness.
Why was Saul chosen king to rule over the Israelites? The Will is a very important factor of mind, and in the development of the soul it must be given freedom of choice, the right to direct the other faculties.
Why did Samuel take Saul up “unto the high place”? Before entering upon its work of passing judgment and commanding the thought-people, the Will must receive the anointing of the Lord. Saul was a child of nature. Children must be taught to exercise the will in conjunction with good judgment and understanding.
How does this anointing of the Will take place? The Will must identify itself with the wise prophet, who represents man's higher judgment. Thus Divine Inspiration is imparted. Why did Saul consult soothsayers and mediums? The personal Will is impatient, and seeks light and help and satisfaction from outer sources. This seeking for Truth in personal ways weakens one's higher nature, and the spiritual law is lost sight of.
What is the right course in the exercise of the Will? The Spirit of Truth must be acknowledged as the One Authority, and the Will identified with the Will of God.
May 23, 1920: I Samuel 9:15-21
How did Samuel know that Jehovah, through him, was to appoint a king over Israel? Jehovah revealed it to him, evidently by the “inner voice.” It is the Lord who appoints every true leader and gives him access to the confidence and love of “his followers.”
What does the word “Saul” typify? The word “Saul” typifies the Will. The children of Israel had not yet exercised the executive power of Being, and this was necessary in order to round out all the faculties of the perfect man.
How was this special need forcibly impressed upon the children of Israel at this time? Under the spiritual Judges, the Israelites (real thoughts) prospered. But they were overrun by the Philistines (outer sensual thoughts); therefore, they felt the need of a general, a king representing the executive power to protect them from invasion.
Are there any high or low in rank in the sight of God? No. God is no respecter of persons. The Almighty always selects the one for a special work who has opened the inner precincts of the soul to the inspiration of Spirit, and is therefore prepared to carry forth the edicts of Divine Mind.
From a spiritual viewpoint, could Saul be considered a good leader for the Israelites? No. Saul, to appearances, was not a godly man nor did he come from godly parents. In other words the will in its unregenerated state is not a good leader, but it must be raised to a higher spiritual state of consciousness through spiritual discipline.
August 17, 1930: I Samuel 9:15-17
What is the meaning of the word Samuel? The word Samuel means “heard of God.” Samuel represents the inner voice in man that brings to his consciousness spiritual discernment.
Samuel discerned that through him Jehovah was to appoint a king over Israel. Explain. Jehovah makes known His desires to man through the inner voice. Often when man apparently is not even thinking of spiritual things the desires of Jehovah break forth in consciousness, and man follows the leadings that come to him. It is in this manner that the Lord, working through the consciousness of men and of nations, appoints every true leader and gives him access to the confidence and love of his followers.
What does Saul typify? Saul typifies the will. The children of Israel had not yet exercised the executive power of Being, and this was necessary in order to round out all the faculties of the perfect man.
Are there any of high or low rank in the sight of God? No. God is no respecter of persons. The Almighty always selects for a special work the one who has opened the inner precincts of his soul to the inspiration of Spirit, and is therefore prepared to carry forth the edicts of Divine Mind.
From a spiritual viewpoint could Saul be considered a good leader for the Israelites? No. Saul, to all appearances, was not a godly man, nor did he come from godly parents. In other words the will in its unregenerate state is not a good leader, but it must be raised to a higher spiritual state of consciousness through spiritual discipline.
April 13, 1947: I Samuel 9:1-2
Through what faculty is power normally expressed? Through the will. The expression “will power” is common.
In this lesson what represents the will? The king. A king always represents some phase of will.
What phase does Saul represent? He represents the evolution of the personal will from humility to extreme arrogance and consequent lack of judgment.
Does Saul's genealogy reveal any justification of Samuel's choice of him for king over Israel? Yes. Most of Saul's recorded ancestors represent power in some form. He was in the tradition of power, and if he had turned his will to constructive channels, he could have proved a wise and beneficent ruler.
August 10, 1952: I Samuel 9:1-2
Why were Saul's ancestors for five generations mentioned in the beginning of the text for today? To show that will rests on faith (conviction), endurance, strength, or qualities implying these traits in consciousness. Saul had immense will power, but he made little attempt to align his will with the divine will.
What is essential in the training of the will? Faithfulness in continuing the effort, as in any other training.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 02-02-2014
