Text: I Samuel 9
Theme: God often causes our insignificant circumstances and choices to intersect with His life changing paths.
Intro:
- Before we get into the text this morning, I want to give you a brief summary of the previous chapter which provides the context for our chapter.
a. I Samuel 8:1-3
Samuel elected his own sons as judges over Israel, but his sons chose not to follow Samuel’s example and instead used their positions of power to get more money, taking bribes and perverting judgement.
b. I Samuel 8:4-5
The elders of Israel came to Samuel and asked him to make them a king instead of having Samuel’s sons rule over them.
c. I Samuel 8:7
God revealed that the people had not rejected Samuel but had rejected God as their king.
d. I Samuel 8:9-20
Samuel gave the people a solemn warning regarding what sort of king they would end up with, but the people insisted on having a king.
e. I Samuel 8:21-22
God told Samuel to harken to the people’s voice and to make a king for them. - This morning, we will look at Saul’s first encounter with the prophet Samuel, and consider the, sometimes strange, ways of God in ordering our path to align with His will.
I. Saul’s Life Before Meeting Samuel (Vs 1-5)
- Saul was a man from the tribe of Benjamin whose fathers name was Kish.
a. I Samuel 9:1 Kish… a mighty man of power. “The word power best stand for wealth here. The word translated “power” has different meanings (Strength, army, wealth). Here the best meaning for this text is obviously “wealth.” “Saul… was sprung from an affluent family, whose landed property was situated at Gibeah, about four miles north of Jerusalem, afterwards known as Gibeah of Saul.””[1] Saul, The Rejected king; John G Butler, 2008; Published by LBC Publications, Clinton, Iowa 52732; Pg 34-36
b. The tribe of Benjamin was the smallest of the tribes, partly due to the fact that, more recently, the tribe of Benjamin had nearly been wiped out in a war with the other tribes after the tribe of Benjamin refused to punish the wicked men in their midst. - Saul’s physical appearance is described in verse 2
a. He was “a choice young man.”
– This means that Saul was in excellent health. One might say, he was in the prime of his youth.
– As a young man in his prime, who was used to working in the family business, Saul was probably a fit and strong man.
b. He was a “goodly” man, “and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he.”
– This refers to his outward appearance, meaning that he was an exceptionally handsome guy.
– In fact, he was the most handsome guy in all of Israel, which would likely have appealed to the Israelites idea of a king. - Saul’s father owned some donkeys which had gone missing.
a. “Lost donkeys remind us that God often uses the ordinary in life to work providentially for the fulfilling of His will.”[1] Saul, The Rejected king; John G Butler, 2008; Published by LBC Publications, Clinton, Iowa 52732; Pg 33
b. At this point in time, Saul was a man who was submissive to the authorities God has placed over him.
– “Saul’s obedience was immediate and complete. He did what he was told to do. That’s wisdom. It is too bad that Saul did not continue this exemplary obedience after he become king, for it was his failure in obeying God’s orders that resulted in the rejection of his dynasty by God.”[1] Saul, The Rejected king; John G Butler, 2008; Published by LBC Publications, Clinton, Iowa 52732; Pg 39
c. Saul searched far and wide for these escaped donkeys but all to no avail.
– The search was eventually abandoned due to a greater concern for Saul and his servant.
– “To invest all that time and energy (in) looking for the lost animals suggests that he wasn’t a quitter. There was a certain amount of modesty in Saul (v. 21; 10:14–16), but there was no indication of spiritual life.”[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Successful, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications, 2001), 49.
II. Saul’s Decision to Go Meet Samuel (Vs 6-14)
- The servant’s wise request (Vs 6)
a. Saul had ended his search for the donkeys in the land of Zuph.
– According to I Samuel 8:4, Samuel’s home was in Ramah which was in the land of Zuph.
– The nearness to Samuel’s home prompted Sauls’ servant to suggest seeking Samuel’s help in knowing which was to go from here.
b. When we think we ought to be heading in certain direction and for certain reasons, sometimes God will intervene and show us the real reason, He wants us to go this way.
– “Saul’s home was in Gibeah, which was about five miles from Ramah where Samuel lived, and yet Saul didn’t even know what all Israel knew[1]” that the man of God lived here. [1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Successful, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications, 2001), 49.
c. Saul was like so many people today, he wasn’t necessarily opposed to religion, but he had no real interest in knowing God personally. - The need for a present (Vs 7-10)
a. Saul was happy with the suggestion to seek out Samuel, but he knew that they didn’t have anything to give the man of God.
– “Presents of bread or meat were as common as presents of money.” (Cp. Ezek. 13:19; Hos. 3:2.)[1] Unfortunately, they didn’t even have any bread left to bring as a gift for Samuel. [1] Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament: I Samuel to Esther, ed. F. C. Cook, J. M. Fuller (London: John Murray, 1879), 22.
b. The money wasn’t a bribe or a payment for services provided, but it was customary for the prophet to live off the gifts that people brought to him and so it would have been culturally inappropriate to appear before Samuel without having something to offer him out of respect for his role.
c. Saul agreed with the servant and decided that they should go to see Samuel. - The arrival at Ramah (Vs 11-14)
a. These men had been on the road for some time now and so they arrived at the city toward the end of the day.
b. Even in the timing of their arrival at the city we can see the hand of God. God had orchestrated events so that Saul arrived right at the time when Samuel was heading up to the feast to bless the food.
c. Samuel was heading up to the high place in the city.
– The high place was usually a hill either within or just near the city that had a shrine on top of it. This place was dedicated unto the Lord and was used for making sacrifices to the Lord.
III. Saul’s Strange Meeting with Samuel (Vs 15-27)
- Samuel was prepared by God for the meeting (Vs 15-17)
a. God had foretold the arrival of Saul whom He had chosen to be the captain over Israel.
– During the time of the judges, God used Samson to judge the Philistines. Even though Samson was a self-serving man, God used Samsons selfishness for the national good of Israel. In a similar fashion, although Saul would ultimately be disobedient to God, God would still use him to judge the Philistines for a time.
b. This is one of the aspects of the sovereignty of God.
– God is able, in His sovereignty, to allow man to make his own decisions and to even rebel against God, all the while God remains in overall control and still guides things to the conclusion He intended. - Saul was brought by God to meet Samuel (Vs 18-21)
a. Having entered the city, Saul approach a man to ask for directions to the seer’s house.
– Once again, we see the hand of God in this as the man who Saul was speaking was Samuel himself.
– I am reminded of the Servant of Abraham who went to seek a wife for Isaac. When he came to the well and asked the young lady there for water, it turned out to be Rachel, the daughter of Abrahams brother. And the servant said, “I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”
b. Saul discovered that the Seer knew much more than Saul had expected.
– “Samuel’s response to Saul’s request must have shocked the young man. Saul discovered that he was speaking to the man he was seeking, that he would feast with him that day, that Samuel had a special message for him, and that the missing donkeys had been found and returned to his father. Furthermore, all the desire of Israel was fixed on Saul, because all Israel wanted a king. Saul didn’t understand what Samuel was saying, but everything would be explained to him the next day.[1]”Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Successful, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications, 2001), 50.
– It’s no surprise that Saul was immediately inclined to back out of this. He was probably thinking, “What have I got myself into?” - Samuel showed Saul was chosen by God (Vs 22-27)
a. The hall upon the high place was clearly large enough to seat at least 30 people as well as having room around for the cook to move about in.
– The hall upon the high place was clearly large enough to seat at least 30 people as well as having room around for the cook to move about in.
b. To add to all of this, Samuel instructed the cook to bring Saul the special portion of the fellowship offering which belonged to the priest.
– This portion of meat was usually set aside for the priest, but in this case, it was given to Saul and Samuel to Saul to set it before him and eat it. No doubt, Saul would have been hesitant in eating this portion of the meat, since this was out of the ordinary.
c. The phrase “Samuel communed with Saul” means that Samuel gave Saul an explanation for the strange happenings that night.
– In the morning, Samuel prepared to anoint Saul and send him on his way.
Conclusion:
- I want to close with the words of this hymn by William Cowper.
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
Vs 1 – God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. Deep in the dark and hidden mines, with never-failing skill, He fashions all his bright designs and works His sovereign will.
Vs 2 – Oh, fearful saint, new courage take: the clouds that now you dread are big with mercy and will break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace. Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
Vs 3 – God’s purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour. The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan His work in vain. God is his own interpreter, and He will make in plain.
Chorus – So God we trust in You. O God, we trust in You. When tears are great and comforts few, we hope in mercies ever new, we trust in You.