DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links and a discussion forum 2014 June 14
The Conversion of Saul (c. 1545)
Tintoretto (1518-1594)
Renaissance Style
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C., USA
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: 1 Samuel 10 describes the conversion of Saul. The painting above presents the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the namesake of Saul the son of Kish. I chosen this New Testament themed painting to represent the Old Testament event described in the chapter below because of the striking comparisons and contrasts between the two men. Both men were named Saul. Both were prominent among their peers. Both had a conversion experience -- in the case of Saul the son of Kish, the conversion was from an ungifted man to a man gifted for leadership and empowered by the Spirit of God for that purpose. In the case of Saul of Tarsus, the conversion was a spiritual one -- from an unregenerate man to a regenerate man; and he was gifted for spiritual service. Both persecuted a key ruler of Israel. Saul, the son of Kish, persecuted David who was the LORD's choice to found the dynasty from whom the Messiah came. Saul of Tarsus persecuted that very Messiah, who was a descendant of David, according to the flesh, and is the eternal King of Israel and of all the earth.
Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on Saul's head, telling him that the LORD had anointed him "to be captain over his inheritance." He told Saul that several events would happen after they parted company. First Saul would learn that the asses which he sought were found and that his father was now looking for him with concern. Second, some men would give him two loaves of bread. Finally, he would meet a company of prophets and would prophesy with them. And the Spirit of the LORD would come upon him and he would be changed in to another man, (meaning, in Saul's case, that he would receive the spirit of a ruler). And, when that happened, said Samuel, Saul was to "do as occasion serves you" and then go to Gilgal and wait for Samuel for seven days (1-8). After Saul left Samuel, all of these signs came to pass; and a saying arose in Israel -- "Is Saul also among the prophets?" Afterward, Saul went to Gilgal to wait for Samuel (9-13). Saul's uncle asked him where he had been; and Saul told him he had gone to see Samuel when he could not find the asses. And he told his uncle that Samuel had said that the asses were found; but he told his uncle nothing of the other things which Samuel said (14-16). And Samuel called Israel together and said the LORD spoke the following words (paraphrased): 'I delivered you from Egypt and from the kingdoms that oppressed you, but you have rejected me and asked for a king, so gather now and present yourselves by your tribes' (17-19). So Samuel caused all the tribes to draw near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken. Then the family of Matri was taken. And Saul was taken. But Saul hid himself; and the LORD revealed where he was hidden. When the people fetched him, everyone saw how tall and handsome he was; and they shouted, "God save the king" (20-24). Samuel then told the people how the kingdom would be and wrote it in a book. And Saul went to Gibeah with "a band of men, whose hearts God had touched." But certain men of Belial despised him and brought him no presents. But Saul held his peace (25-27).
1 Samuel 10
1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2 When 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 the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 After 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 company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8 And 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 to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
9 And 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 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among 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?
12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14 And 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 no where, we came to Samuel.
15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
22 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
23 And 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.
24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
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