Introduction:
Don’t miss the subtleties in this passage. *
Once again, notice God’s sovereignty.
1 Samuel 9 NLT
Saul Meets Samuel
9:1 There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.
3 One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.” 4 So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere.
5 Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!”
6 But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
7 “But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”
8 “Well,” the servant said, “I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!” 9 (In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go and ask the seer,” for prophets used to be called seers.)
10 “All right,” Saul agreed, “let’s try it!” So they started into the town where the man of God lived.
11 As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is the seer here today?”
12 “Yes,” they replied. “Stay right on this road. He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship. 13 Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won’t begin eating until he arrives to bless the food.”
14 So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship.
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.”
18 Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. 20 And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”
21 Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests. 23 Samuel then instructed the cook to bring Saul the finest cut of meat, the piece that had been set aside for the guest of honor. 24 So the cook brought in the meat and placed it before Saul. “Go ahead and eat it,” Samuel said. “I was saving it for you even before I invited these others!” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 When they came down from the place of worship and returned to town, Samuel took Saul up to the roof of the house and prepared a bed for him there. 26 At daybreak the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, “Get up! It’s time you were on your way.” So Saul got ready, and he and Samuel left the house together. 27 When they reached the edge of town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead. After the servant was gone, Samuel said, “Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God.”
Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 9 NLT
Saul Meets Samuel
9:1 There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin.
- Kish, Saul’s father, was a wealthy influential man from the Tribe of Benjamin.*
The first subtlety.
Genesis 49:10 NLT
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants,
until the coming of the one to whom it belongs,
the one whom all nations will honor.
- A long line of kings from Judah would retain the scepter.
1 Chronicles 5:2 NLT
2 The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation,
Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin.
The promised Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah.
He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.
The second subtlety.
- Saul’s qualifications listed here in the scriptures: (all external appearance)*
Handsome
Tall
Compared to David’s qualifications.
1 Samuel 16:18 NLT
18 One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the Lord is with him.”
A talented harp player.
A brave warrior.
A man of war.
He has good judgment.
Also, He a fine-looking young man.
The Lord is with him.
3 One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.” 4 So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere.
- Saul was sent on a mission to find some lost donkeys belonging to his father.
Lost donkeys meant lost wealth. Saul was chosen to oversee the task of finding these lost donkeys.
Lost donkeys straying from home. Perhaps symbolizing the Israelites straying from God.*
Saul looking for his dad’s lost donkeys.
David, a shepherd, caring for his fathers’ sheep.
5 Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!”
6 But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true.
In the O.T. a messenger of God was referred to as “a man of God”. This phrase is use over 70 times in the O.T. This title would be used for a prophet of God.
To be a true prophet means “everything he says comes true”.
- When they were Unable to find the donkeys, Saul’s servant suggested that they get some help from a prophet of God.
Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
This suggestion came from Saul’s servant, not from Saul. *
Saul’s servant appears to be more perceptive than Saul.
7 “But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”
It was a common practice to give a gift to a prophet for his service.
Saul must have been under the impression that the prophet (Samuel) would not help them if they didn’t give him something.
Saul may have been thinking that advice from a prophet of God could be purchased.
8 “Well,” the servant said, “I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!” 9 (In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go and ask the seer,” for prophets used to be called seers.)
- Saul’s servant was seeking guidance from God. *
10 “All right,” Saul agreed, “let’s try it!” So they started into the town where the man of God lived.
11 As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is the seer here today?”
12 “Yes,” they replied. “Stay right on this road. He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship. 13 Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won’t begin eating until he arrives to bless the food.”
The role of the prophet (bless the sacrificial meal). *
14 So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship.
The worship of the Lord at “high places” was acceptable at this point in time.
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”
God’s sovereignty.
- God instructed Samuel to anoint Saul to be the leader of His people, Israel.
God is going to give the people what they are asking for. *
Remember: Be careful what you ask for.
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.”
- The Lord revealed to Samuel that Saul was the divine choice for king of Israel.
18 Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer!” Samuel replied.
God’s sovereignty.
“Go up to the place of worship ahead of me.
For “a public sacrifice up at the place of worship” (verse 12).
We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way.
- Saul met Samuel and Samuel invited Saul to eat with him at the place of worship.
20 And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”
Not particularly a good thing.
1 Samuel 8:19-20 NLT
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”
- The hope of Israel was that someone would rescue them from the Philistines. *
He will rescue them from the Philistines. (Verse 15)
21 Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”
At this point in the story Saul is being humble.
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests. 23 Samuel then instructed the cook to bring Saul the finest cut of meat, the piece that had been set aside for the guest of honor.
This took place at the place of worship where public sacrifices were offered. (verses 12, 19, 25)
This piece of meat was frequently intended to be used as an offering and would have been eaten by the priest. (Samuel?) *
This indicates a distinct honor and the sacredness of Saul’s kingship.
Exodus 29:27 NLT
27 “Set aside the portions of the ordination ram that belong to Aaron and his sons. This includes the breast and the thigh that were lifted up before the Lord as a special offering.
Numbers 18:8 NLT
8 The Lord gave these further instructions to Aaron: “I myself have put you in charge of all the holy offerings that are brought to me by the people of Israel. I have given all these consecrated offerings to you and your sons as your permanent share.
24 So the cook brought in the meat and placed it before Saul. “Go ahead and eat it,” Samuel said. “I was saving it for you even before I invited these others!” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
- Saul was given the finest cut of meat that had been set aside for the guest of honor.
25 When they came down from the place of worship and returned to town, Samuel took Saul up to the roof of the house and prepared a bed for him there.
Saul spent the night at Samuel’s house.
26 At daybreak the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, “Get up! It’s time you were on your way.” So Saul got ready, and he and Samuel left the house together. 27 When they reached the edge of town,
Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead. After the servant was gone, Samuel said, “Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God.”
Special revelation from God, given to Samuel and intended for Saul.
At this point in time, revelations from God were rare.
- Samuel received a special message from God for Saul. (Next lesson)
