1 Samuel 10:9-13 He Got Religion

 ”When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” And a man of the place answered, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.“

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

a. When he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart. Samuel could not give Saul another heart. Only the Spirit of the LORD could do it. To demonstrate this, God did not grant this change of heart to Saul until he left the presence of Samuel. God wanted Saul to honor and respect Samuel but to never look to him in the place of the LORD.

i. God gave him another heart: Samuel did not give it. Saul did not even give it to himself. The new heart was a gift from God. We also can have another heart from the LORD but we must receive it from Him. We can’t receive a new heart from anyone except God, and we can never make a new heart in anyone else.

b. Is Saul also among the prophets? This phrase became a proverb describing astonishment that someone was now deeply religious. As some used to say, “He got religion?” Saul was an unspiritual man who became very spiritual at the time when the Spirit of the LORD came upon him.

c. But who is their father? This question asked, “Who is the source of the inspiration upon the prophets?” If God was their inspiration, it wasn’t strange that God inspired an unlikely man like Saul.

d. When he had finished prophesying: Saul prophesied without ever being recognized as a prophet. This shows us that someone can receive prophecy as a gift from the Holy Spirit without really being a “prophet” in the sense of having that office or title.

He Got Religion 

Religion can mean many different things to many people, but how does the Bible define it?

”Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.“

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

But the Bible also warns us of comprised religion!

”See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.“ ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Then there is idolatry!

”The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.“ ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭44‬:‭13‬ ‭BSB‬‬

The list goes on, verses having a life changing relationship with Jesus.

Take Saul of Tarsus for example, he was a religious Pharisee of tradition. Hunting down people of the Way, imprisoning and murdering them until he saw the Light from Jesus on the road to Damascus and was converted into Paul. 

He definitely got religion and everyone noticed!

Do people say of you, (he or she) got religion?

Blessings