1S10-16: Twelve Ways Saul’s Life Overlaps With The Coming Messiah

In considering Saul’s life from a prophetic perspective, here’s what you gotta know.

In many ways, Saul’s life overlaps with the coming Messiah or the ideal king of Israel.

So let’s take a look at some of these patterns.

But while examining these similarities, keep in mind, there is one glaring difference between the two men.

Saul was a flawed human being while Yeshua was NOT.

Saul was born from the flesh of man with an Adamic sin nature.

Yeshua was born from the Spirit and anointed by the Almighty since the beginning of time.

So with that perspective in mind, let’s get started.

PATTERN ONE:
“Both Men Were Born To Small Families In Small Villages”

Saul hailed from the village of Gibeah and belonged to the family of Kish.

Yeshua hailed from Nazareth and came from a humble family of carpenters.

PATTERN TWO:
“Both Men Were Humble And Obedient To Their Parents”

Saul was diligent in following his father’s instructions to search for the lost donkeys when they went missing.

In Yeshua’s case, aside from that incident when he as a young boy of twelve went to Jerusalem for the Passover, and on the return journey, he stayed behind without his parents’ knowledge, Yeshua always appeared to honor his parents.

He still returned with them to Nazareth and growing up likely worked as a carpenter alongside his earthly father.

And one of the most poignant moments highlighting Yeshua’s care for his mother is found in John 19:25-27 when He was on the cross.

He entrusted His mother to the care of the apostle John, showing concern for her well-being even in His final moments.

PATTERN THREE:
“Both Men Were Given The Mission To Search For Their Father’s Lost Possessions”

And Saul was tasked to search for his father’s lost donkeys…

And Yeshua was to search for and save the lost sheep of Israel.

PATTERN FOUR:
“Both Men Ran Into Some Mysterious ‘Prophet’ Out In Some Remote Location Who Had Been Expecting Them”

In Saul’s case, it was Samuel.

In Yeshua’s case, it was John the Baptist.

PATTERN FIVE:
“Both Prophets Immediately Recognize The Man As The One Whom God Has Sent To Be Ruler Over His People”

Samuel immediately understood and accepted that God had chosen Saul to be king…

And John the Baptist knew that God had sent Yeshua to be the Messiah and King over Israel.

PATTERN SIX:
“Both Prophets Anointed The Chosen King In A Simple Ceremony”

Samuel anointed Saul in Ramah by pouring oil over his head…

And John baptized Yeshua in the Jordan River.

PATTERN SEVEN:
“The Holy Spirit Descended Upon Both Men After Their Anointing”

In Saul’s case, this happened when he ran into a group of prophets.

With the Messiah, it happened immediately after he was baptized by John.

In Yeshua’s case, we’re told…“heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him“.

PATTERN EIGHT:
“After Being Empowered By The Holy Spirit The Anointed Both Men Begin To Prophesy And Do Mighty Deeds In The Father’s Name”

With Saul, again it happened when he ran into that group of prophets.

With Yeshua, were told that after his baptism, he went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

PATTERN NINE:
“Both Men Were Taken To High Places To Face Their Arch-enemies”

In Saul’s case, it was the Philistines.

In Yeshua’s case, it was Satan.

PATTERN TEN:
“Both Men Were ministered To By Mysterious Beings At A High Place Called The Hill Of God”

In Saul’s case, again it happened at the high place where he encountered the group of prophets.

In Yeshua’s case, it happened after being tempted by the devil

PATTERN ELEVEN:
“Both Men Hid Their Identity As The Chosen King From The Public At Large Until The Right Moment”

In Saul’s case, when Samuel gathered the people at Mizpah to publicly reveal the new king, Saul was hidden among the supplies, then Samuel cast lots to select the tribe, clan, and finally, Saul himself to reveal God’s choice to the people without explicitly announcing it.

In Yeshua’s case, he told his disciples he was the Messiah but to keep that fact under wraps for the time being.

PATTERN TWELVE:
“The Majority Of Israel Did NOT Have Faith In Either Saul Or Yeshua And Didn’t Accept Them As Saviors”

In Saul’s case, when it was finally revealed he would be King, some folks were excited but many others were skeptical (1 Samuel 10:24-27).

In Yeshua’s case, pretty much the same thing happened.

While many Israelites accepted him, the official establishment in his day rejected him…and we all know what the result of that was.

So there you’ve got the 12 patterns.

Let’s transition over to the takeaway.

So here’s the big picture I want you to catch in this ultimate comparison between the failed Messiah of King Saul and the successful Messiah of King Yeshua.

First, Saul is the first earthly king of Israel and Yeshua will be Israel’s last earthly king.

But there’s an even bigger picture I want you to catch here.

It’s a picture of a historical circle reaching its full culmination.

Notice how YAHWEH is Israel’s original king and deliverer?

But then, because of the people’s rebellion, starting with Saul, Israel will have to suffer through a series of flawed and failed kings?

Finally, after all of these failures, as history comes to a close, notice how the God of Israel will appear once again…

He will take back control from the failed earthly ruler (the anti-Christ at that time) and once again God Himself will re-assume His rightful place on the throne with His Son sitting at his right hand.

Now ain’t that the coolest thing you’ve heard all this week?

Oh, and just to be clear, when I say the “God of Israel”, I’m talking about YAHWEH here homies, not Yeshua, these are two SEPARATE beings, one is God and is NOT…

Ya feel me on this point?

See ya all next time.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

“And crying out with a loud voice,
‘Salvation belongs to our God
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb!'”
-Revelation 7:10