The Holy Spirit Transforms Lives

1 Samuel 10:6: "The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you."

This chapter is the account of Saul, a Benjamite, being anointed king by the prophet Samuel, under the direction of God. The Israelites had cried out to the LORD to have a king so that they could be like the other nations; and God granted them their request, although He knew that these obstinate people were rejecting Him as their Sovereign Ruler (1 Samuel 8:7-8). When Samuel first approached Saul, Saul questioned Samuel's declaration that the Benjamite was to be made king. He said, "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" (9:21).

But because God had ordained Saul to be the first king of the Israelites, the Holy Spirit came upon Saul in power; and as a result of that divine encounter, Saul was transformed into a different person. First Saul's heart was changed (10:9). Saul realized that this calling was from the LORD, who would give him the strength to fulfill that calling. Secondly, Saul was anointed with unique gifts. In I Samuel 10:10, one reads that Saul received the ability to prophesy with the prophets before the people. Such a transformation was quite noticeable to the people and they said, "What has happened to the son of Kish?" They were amazed at the transformation that had taken place through the power of God.

God then changed the hearts of the valiant men of Israel, who received confirmation in their spirits that God had appointed Saul to be king. When God calls one to a task, He will raise up His followers to affirm such a calling in one's life.

Saul quickly faced a serious issue when his people were faced with an invasion by their Ammonite enemies. The once timid personality who previously questioned God's decision to anoint him as king, would now under the power of God make a demonstrative statement to his people that they would fight to protect their brothers in Jabesh Gilead. Saul took two of his own oxen and cut them into pieces and had the pieces distributed throughout Israel. Packaged with the pieces of flesh was a dictate that anyone who would chose not to support Saul and Samuel would see the same fate for their livestock. If there were any who questioned Saul's leadership, they were silenced now by this declaration. Scripture says that the "terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they turned out as one man" (1 Samuel 11:7). God had changed the hearts of the people to respect their new leader, and the people were unified under this new king.

After their military victory, some of the early supporters of Saul wanted to put to death those who once questioned Saul's calling as king; however, Saul demonstrated mercy to his subjects in his kingdom. Saul declared that no one would be put to death, for the LORD had brought victory to the Israelites. Saul knew that it was not his own innate abilities that had brought the deliverance of the Israelites at Jabesh Gilead, but it was the power of God working through the king and his people. Thus having received mercy from God through the military victory, Saul now wanted to continue that mercy to his people.

This entire story brings to mind the passage in the New Testament found in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new had come!" Just as king Saul was transformed in his heart, in his giftedness, and in his bestowal of mercy to others, so too the follower of Jesus Christ experiences these same blessings through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts are changed to be receptive to the direction and leadership of the Lord in our lives. God then blesses us with demonstrative gifts to be used to transform lives and further His kingdom. Lastly, God gives us the ability to project mercy to others, since we have received God's grace through Jesus Christ.

God initiates these blessings in our lives, and to Him is all praise due for His abundant grace and love.