Israel desired a king like all the other nations. The Lord chose Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. Samuel had anointed Saul privately but the prophet wanted to publicly reveal to Israel their first king. As the tribes gathered together and Samuel made his pronouncement, the tall handsome young man could not be found. It was Saul’s first public appearance, and yet he doesn’t come out from behind the curtain. Again the prophet announces his name and again, no Saul. Does Saul have a strong case stage fright or the jitters? What ever the case may be, Saul is nowhere to be found.
“And when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff” (1 Sam. 10:21-22). Saul was hidden among the stuff. Israel’s crown awaited him, but he was hiding among the stuff. The royal diadem of Israel anticipated Saul’s debut, but he was hiding among the stuff. Israel’s king was hidden among the stuff.
The word “stuff” in the Hebrew is translated as “baggage.” Saul was hiding from a crown among the trifles of baggage. Could there be anything in the baggage that was worth more than the crown and power of kingship and royalty? Whatever it was, it was of little importance, but enough to keep Saul from claiming what God had chosen for him.
Talk to people about their own souls and you will find their souls are of little value compared to drugs, alcohol, partying, revelry, supposed success and earthly riches. They have traded the crowns of glory for earthly stuff that will never fulfill them. A royal crown awaits them, but they are hidden among the stuff.
The apostle Paul wrote, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Cor. 9:25). Corruptible crowns will eventually end up in the trash heap of stuff, where moth and dust reign.
The tribes of Israel eagerly awaited the man who would become their leader. To no avail he didn’t come on his own accord, but they had to go and fetch him. The word “fetch” in the Hebrew means to “grasp,” “seize,” “take,” “obtain,” or “capture.” Hidden among the stuff is potential and possibilities, but it’s got to be seized and claimed.
Beloved, are you hiding among the stuff? Then come out from underneath the baggage claim your crown.