(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
1 Samuel 9:1–2, “Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice 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.”
Samuel was praying to the Lord to give Israel a king. While this was happening we are introduced to a character who fitted all the physical characteristics that one would expect of a king. The king, in those days, would be expected to lead his armies into battle so who would be better than the tallest man in the Land? This man, Saul, was tall and good looking and, no doubt, would inspire the people and make them feel courageous under his leadership. Later, we see that the Lord chose another king, not because of his physical characteristics but because of his spiritual characteristics. (Compare 1 Sam 16:7, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”) Whenever a person wants to lead the Lord’s people that person must be qualified in an emotional and spiritual way rather than physically or materially for bad leadership will always lead to the destruction of any group of the Lord’s followers. The group may continue and look prosperous but when judged by the behaviour according the Lord’s standards they may just be leading people away from the Lord.
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