Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance? When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel's tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, "What shall I do about my son?" 1Samuel 10:1-3

The servant of Kish who accompanied Saul moved ahead of the two men as instructed. Saul was ready to receive the word from the Lord from Samuel. Surprise, surprise, the word of the Lord came in the form of a flask that was filled with oil. Samuel poured the oil on the head of Saul and then kissed him. Saul did not have time to protest or show any reaction. I am sure he was taken aback by the unfolding events.

The words that Samuel spoke alongside the private anointing were even more puzzling. “Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?” Now there was no doubt about what had happened. All along, Samuel had talked in prophetic language to Saul about what God had in mind. But the anointing with oil sealed everything.

In the tradition of the Hebrew people, anointing was a special event to set apart people or things for God’s use. Ordinary instruments were changed in the presence of God through the rite of anointing into extraordinary. Yes, one could say that this was just symbolic; but to the people of God something happened when people submitted themselves to God’s anointing. 

Oil has always been symbolic for the presence of the Holy Spirit. So the pouring of the oil on an individual was accompanied with power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, Samuel invoked the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit on Saul that faithful morning. The fragrance of the oil was something that Saul could not hide from his servant or from anyone who came close to him.

There is something about the anointing which Christians have received through the outpouring of the power of the Holy Spirit. There is a fragrance that accompanies all those who have received the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is not a fragrance to be detected by the sense of smell but it is a demonstration of the power of God that makes ordinary people dare to be bold for God.

Samuel made sure that Saul had some concrete things to confirm what the Lord had done that morning. Saul might not have felt anything. Saul needed was an assurance not based on feelings but the fulfillment of the word of God. The emotions could be there or not, but our faith should never be based on how we feel but on what God has said. Saul was going to meet two men at Rachel’s tomb who will have a word for Saul and the servant concerning the lost donkeys and how Kish was now worried about his son.

When the Prophet’s word comes true then Saul would be left with no option but to believe that the words that accompanied the anointing would also come true.

Blessings