Have you seen the sticker parents can put on their child’s car that says: Caution, Driver in Training? What do you think when you see that sticker? You probably give them a lot of space. You don’t want to cut them off. No sudden movements or else you could have a big problem.

Saul is about to have the label: Caution, Royalty in Training. He will head home after Samuel anoints him as the next king of Israel. Saul will need to pay special attention to the lessons he is about to learn.

Samuel outlines Saul’s experience the next day as he makes his way home. He says he would meet two men near Rachel’s sepulcher, three men on the plain of Tabor on their way to Bethel, and a group of prophets outside a Philistine garrison. It seems random, doesn’t it? However, there may be more to the encounters than meets the eye.

These encounters signal to Saul that he needed to remember his humble past, honored purpose, and heroic partnership. Rachel died in childbirth when Benjamin was born. She was unable to have children until the Lord gave her Joseph and then Benjamin. As you map out the line of Benjamin, you will find that it is only by the Lord’s mercy that Saul was able to be anointed as king.

Not only the humble past but the honored purpose. Tabor means broken and these men Saul meets were on their way to meet God at the house of God. This is the name of the place Jacob encountered God when he was running from Esau. Saul needed to remember that as Jacob was chosen to serve the Lord, he too must fulfill the calling of God in his life.

Finally, the heroic partnership is illustrated by the group of prophets in front of the garrison of the Philistines. The Lord has already said that Saul was supposed to deliver the people from the hand of the Philistines. How would he overthrow Israel’s enemy? This would only come through his partnership with the Lord which the Lord was eager to provide through His Spirit.

Saul has plenty of time to mull these things over in his life. He will meet Samuel at Gilgal which was the location Joshua consecrated the children of Israel when they entered the Promised Land. Everything about Saul’s life has been choreographed with the brand new beginning Israel could experience if he would remember these lessons.

While you may not be royalty in training on this earth, as a true follower of Christ, you are sons and daughters of the King of kings. As one saved out of your sin, rescued from destruction, you have a humble past. In order to engage the honored purpose for your life, you must be broken. “Blessed are the poor in spirit...Blessed are they that mourn.” This brokenness helps you align with the honored purpose you have to serve the Lord. Finally, parade in front of the enemy’s garrison through the partnership of the Holy Spirit who has been given to you as the earnest of things to come.

As royalty in training, let us learn these lessons and please our Lord and Savior.