The
Book of First Samuel
Chapter 9
[1] Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was
[2] And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly:
and there was not among the children of
1)
Notable Background (V 1,2)
Samuel
warned the king will take from the people but they reject God, and desire a
king
Saul,
the son of
Physical Image and Outward Appearance- Tall
and handsome (looked like a kingly young man)
Strong and of great stature
* Yet, Nothing is said
of his spirituality
[3] And the asses of
[4] And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through
the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he
passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they
found them not.
[5] And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul
said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father
leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
[6] And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and
he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither;
peradventure he can shew us our way that we should
go.
[7] Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring
the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and
there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
[8] And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand
the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to
tell us our way.
[9] (Beforetime in
[10] Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come,
let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
[11] And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going
out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer
here?
[12] And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make
haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the
people to day in the high place:
[13] As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before
he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come,
because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden.
Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
[14] And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city,
behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
2)
Navigating from the Barnyard (V 3-14)
Saul is looking for his fathers lost donkeys
(obedience), and takes a servant with him to do so
God has a purpose in those lost donkeys (Saul seeks donkeys, a bunch of
donkeys seek a king)
They look high and low, but without
results......
Saul thinks that they must return, with or
without the donkeys, before his father worries
The servant suggests that they seek out the
man of God and he’ll guide them to the donkeys
They want to bring an offering to the man of God, the servant has a 1/4 of a shekel to give
Maybe they think if they give it is to pay
some kind of a fee OR maybe for an honor
But Samuel is not a fortune teller, He is the Prophet of God
Saul
seeks direction and Samuel is said to be in the city for sacrifice,
thanksgiving, prayer and blessing
All of this is the providence of God, leading
Saul to Samuel
[15] Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
[16] To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of
Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain
over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the
Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto
me.
[17] And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall
reign over my people.
3)
Notice Beforehand (V 15-17)
The Lord had told Samuel, the day before Saul
came to town (“tomorrow about this time”)
God would send a man of Benjamin to be
anointed the king over
When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said this is
the man.
[18] Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell
me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
[19] And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto
the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee
go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
[20] And as for thine asses that were lost three days
ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the
desire of
[21] And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite,
of the smallest of the tribes of
4)
Novel Business (V 18-21)
Saul approaches, seeking the seer (the first
man he speaks to is he)
Samuel invites Saul to eat with him and will
let him go the next day
He proves his office as speaks of things he
could not have known:
#1 (Donkeys, lost three days ago) #2(Donkeys
Are found ) #3 (Saul to be king)
Samuel
hints at Sauls destiny to
the office of king (all the desire of
God is giving what
Sauls humble
response and modesty(I Sam15:17). His family was
actually very prominent
I think it is false humility, I believe Saul
thought he was worthy of becoming king
[22] And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest
place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
[23] And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion
which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
[24] And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it
before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is
left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time
hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did
eat with Samuel that day.
[25] And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel
communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
[26] And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day,
that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up,
that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
[27] And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul,
Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a
while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
5)
Nighttime Banquet (V 22-27)
30 persons bidden (v13) & gathered
Saul is given the seat of honor and served the portion
of honor
The left shoulder is an emblem of government Is
9:6 (The right shoulder is for priest
Lev 7:32)
How will Saul handle honor
? Will it go to his head?
Saul & Samuel spoke into the night
(Instructions)
I can hear “Saul, you have the image, the
humbleness, the support of the people but if you
don’t give your
heart to serving God and submit to Him as your king, you aren’t fit to be king.”
The servant of Saul to go on without Saul
Samuel will give the word of God to Saul
privately
The opportunity for Saul to say I will be
good and I will serve as good appoints me
Queen