1 Samuel 9

In this service: An introduction to our Employment Ministry (28:00) and a special message from Supervisor Pat Herrity (32:00).

Ever struggle to see God's hand in day to day life? Walk through 1 Samuel 9 with us and catch a glimpse of how God silently works through the mundane events of your life to do the marvelous.

In a world controlled by God’s providential will, wise people understand that He works through all life events to accomplish lofty purposes. Take, for instance, what occurred in Minnesota in the later 1800s.

An elderly British surgeon and his two medically trained sons worked in Rochester. When a devastating tornado struck the area, many died, hundreds were injured, and one small outlying town was almost wiped off the face of the earth. After the brutal storm moved out of the area, the three doctors wasted no time attending to the wounded.

The men's work touched the local citizens so much that they were offered money to fund a hospital. The men agreed in 1889, they founded the new hospital. What was the name of the elderly surgeon? William W. Mayo. His sons were William J. and Charles Mayo. The result of their medical endeavor is now called The Mayo Clinic, and it has over 500 of the most skilled doctors in the country and together they treat more than 200,000 annually.

And you think the Mayo family just happened to be in Rochester, Minnesota, and not in London, England? I don’t believe in chance at all because the Holy Scriptures clearly show that God’s providence reaches all levels of life. Hannah, Samuel’s mother, expressed this timeless truth when God gave her a son despite years of being barren:

⁶ The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. ⁷ The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. ⁸ He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and He set the world on them (1 Sam. 2).

God also moved a medical family from England to America to bless countless people during and beyond their lifetimes. This is how God operates. He quietly and lovingly positions people, especially His saints, to have the opportunity to obey Him to advance His kingdom plans.

Chapter Nine of First Samuel is a case study of God's providential placement. Chapter Eight ended with unresolved tension regarding God's agreement to the people’s demand for a king. Samuel sent the people home instead of telling them what God said; hence, the people were left wondering what was happening. Chapter Nine begins to slowly answer their implied question by unfolding God’s providential plan to give them an earthly king.

As you study this historical narrative, you will learn that Israel’s story is yours. Like them, you face various enemies or trying situations and look for victories or at least some reprieve. Like them, you might even make a less-than-optimal decision in your quest to head to higher ground. Realize in all of your successes and failures that God is still on His throne, guiding all the events of your life to fulfill His perfect will. We know this is true because this is the spiritual truth we encounter in this eye-opening chapter.

Watch how the Holy Spirit develops this teaching.

The Problem (1 Sam. 9:1-5)

Since we just selected a new President to lead us, we are all familiar with the lengthy, complex process. Once the nominees are finally chosen and announced at the conventions, campaign season starts, and the general election ends in November.

This is not how God set up the selection of Israel’s first king. He used a bunch of lost donkeys to strategically position the man for the new national leadership role. God could have used elephants, but they did not reside in this region. So, the donkeys were the key players in this providential story.

¹ Now there was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. ² And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people. (1 Sam. 9)

Samuel introduces us here to the future king of Israel, Saul. Verse one informs us that he came from good stock since his father was a “man of valor.”  While the phrase גִּבּ֖וֹר חָֽיִל can denote a person of great military prowess, Keil and Delitzsch are correct in equating it with success in owning much property.[1]  Hence, Saul came from a wealthy family.

Saul's physical stature is described at the outset to pave the way for why the people wanted him as their first king: he looked the part by being tall, dark, and handsome. If you wanted a king like the nations, one who would hold your enemies in check, why not have one who was muscular and loomed above everyone else? While ensuing stories about his life and leadership would reveal he had some redeeming inner qualities, he was what we would call an empty suit for the most part. He was mainly external, with little internal character greatness.

After dropping the future king into the story, the Holy Spirit now guides us to how the Heavenly Father guided the future king to his eventual discovery and coronation:

³ Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, "Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys." ⁴ And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. ⁵ When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, and let us return, lest my father cease to be concerned about the donkeys and become anxious for us."(1 Sam. 9)

I wonder how the donkeys escaped? Did someone leave a barn door or a gate open? Who knows, but this I do know. Give a donkey an opportunity to bolt, and they will. But these donkeys did not bolt on their own. God providentially used them to accomplish His purposes, much like He used the two cows to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel at Beth-shemesh. Humorous, isn’t it? The same God who controls the movements of cows and donkeys is the same God who knows the exact number of hair on your heads (Luke 12:7) and who makes this promise: “²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8).

Because the donkeys represented a tremendous financial loss, Saul’s father sent his macho son and a servant out to find and retrieve them. It would be a mission both would never forget, especially Saul. He headed out to find donkeys, and instead, he discovered that God had something greater waiting for him: a kingdom to rule and reign over. Mark this well: Those insignificant events occurring in your life right now are probably significant. Stay loose and stay tuned.

After covering much of the land of the tribe of Ephraim, which was located just north of the land holding of the tribe of Benjamin, and covering land in his homeland of Benjamin, Saul stated they had better head home lest his father start worrying about them more than the lost donkeys. I think this little tidbit gives us a small snapshot of Saul’s character: He would be a man who would take a mission, but he would not necessarily desire to fulfill it—more on that as we study his life. Small statements about how you respond to difficulties you face reveal your character.

Not wanting to call it quits, Saul’s servant helps him stay on course and task by means of . . .

The Proposition (1 Sam. 9:6-7)

The servant was more politically and spiritually attuned than Saul, which is another small observation about his character:

⁶ And he said to him, "Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out."(1 Sam. 9)

At this juncture, we do not know this “man of God” is Samuel, but we are about to discover his identity. Before that occurs, permit me to offer an observation: Even though Saul was raised not too many miles from Samuel’s base of political and spiritual operations in Ramah, it appears he was clueless about Samuel’s impact on the nation over the years. Think about this. Saul’s home was in Gibeah, only five miles from Ramah, where Samuel lived, yet he was oblivious to the political and spiritual record of one of Israel’s most outstanding leaders. This is interesting and sad. Why? Recall the words from First Samuel 3, verse 20, and you will see what I mean:

²⁰ And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD (1 Sam. 3).

I guess Saul never got the memo, either because he was not interested in politics and spirituality or because he was too self-absorbed with his looks and coolness. Either way, this is not exactly the man you would choose for your first king, but that is the way God led the nation because they wanted a ruler like that of the Gentile nations.

Not wanting to offend the “man of God,” Saul made this statement:

⁷ Then Saul said to his servant, "But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" (1 Sam. 9)

This is not a bribe or a form of payment for prophetic services. It was akin to our modern cultural practice of bringing a housewarming gift to someone when invited to dinner. It was, therefore, just a small way to show a modicum of respect, which begins to show the relationship between the future king and the prophetic office. While the king would lead the nation, he would be responsible for leaning on the wisdom and insight of God’s prophets. Study Israel’s history (1-2 Kings; 1-2 Chronicles, plus all the major and minor prophets), and you will see they frequently acted like Saul by disregarding or modifying the prophetic word. At the outset, Saul at least showed some much-needed respect. Again, he had no idea that his encounter with the prophet would not be concerned so much with donkeys but with a king and kingdom.

With Saul’s approval, the two devise what I call . . .

The Plan (1 Sam. 9:8-10)

We learn some interesting factoids from this exchange:

⁸ And the servant answered Saul again and said, "Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us our way." ⁹ (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, "Come, and let us go to the seer"; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.) ¹⁰ Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was. (1 Sam. 9)

We learn several things from this historical snapshot.

One, the servant was financially prepared as opposed to the son of a wealthy landowner. This tells us, again, about Saul’s character. He did not think ahead and plan for contingencies. It is not a great trait in a leader of a nation. He flew by the seat of his tunic.

Two, the dynamic duo realizes this “man of God” can see things because he is connected to God. Once more, this is a latent way the inspired author reminds us of how future kings should respond to the prophets among them. They should seek their wisdom and counsel before acting because these men saw things clearly when God gave them a word. Unfortunately, this is a truth not many kings would seize. Instead of balancing the political with the spiritual, they would historically be consumed with the power of the political . . . to their detriment, I might add.

Armed with a plan devised by his servant, Saul made the executive decision to head to Ramah. It was a good choice. The trip would change his life forever.

The Positioning (1 Sam. 9:11-14)

Just like the donkeys just happened to wander off, and just like Saul and his servant were sent to locate and retrieve them, the dynamic duo of donkey hunters just happened to encounter some young ladies from Ramah who knew precisely where the “man of God,” Samuel, happened to be at that precise moment.

¹¹ As they went up the slope to the city, they found young women going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?" ¹² And they answered them and said, "He is; see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today. ¹³ "As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once." ¹⁴ So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place. (1 Sam. 9)

And you think this all occurred by chance? Far from it. The Lord’s fingerprints were all over this encounter. And note how the women were not a bunch of old women, but young ones. They would be more apt to want to stop and talk with the best-looking man in the nation, right? Do not tell me God’s providential plans are not planned to the tee. Think about the perfect timing of all of this: No sooner did the dynamic duo enter the outskirts of Ramah than they just happened to encounter some young ladies fetching water who just happened to know that Samuel, the man of God, just happened to be walking RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM IN THE DISTANCE.

Amazing. Jaw-dropping. Eyebrow raising. Breath-taking. Without a central place of sacrifice, Samuel had established one on a high hill above Ramah, and this just happened to be the day and time he headed there to offer sacrifice to God. And that just happened to be when Israel’s future king was looking for the prophet. None of this was coincidental.

You know that, right? It is the same in your life. There is divine purpose, meaning, and direction, even in something as mundane as attempting to find some missing donkeys. Are you paying attention? Saul was not. But God was about to arrest his attention, and the same might be in store for you.

Before the author tells us what happened when Saul and his servant ran ahead and caught up with Samuel, he pauses and informs us that a day before this occurred, God spoke prophetically with Samuel:

The Prophecy (1 Sam. 9:15-16)

Samuel knew God was going to replace him, and a day before it occurred, God told him who his replacement would be:

¹⁵ Now a day before Saul's coming, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel saying, ¹⁶ "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he shall deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me." (1 Sam. 9)

Ah, now we know that the lost donkeys were part of God’s providential plan. He used them to send Saul, the future king, to Samuel. Interesting and funny. God could have just given Saul a verbal word, but He chose to guide him in an unusual fashion to arouse his skill of spiritual discernment. Indeed, God’s ways are not ours, and His thoughts are above ours, as Isaiah quickly reminds us (Isa. 55:9).

By divine revelation, Samuel learned that the next day would be pivotal for the nation's life, for the king would arrive. Samuel also learned he would need to anoint this unnamed man for the new role, and then God added that this individual would be skilled at dealing with the Philistines. Why did God say this? He said it because He had heard the prayers of His people, and He had compassion for them. Even when they rejected Him as king, despite how He had given them victories in battle, He still sought their welfare. Now, that welfare would be on the shoulders of their king.

The entire narrative changes starting in verse 17. What seemed to be a mundane retrieval mission of some lost donkeys turns out to be the selection of a new king. Ironic. Saul went out unaware of how God worked in and through the mundane occurrences in his life, and in one encounter with a godly man, he started to become fully aware of God’s more excellent plan for and calling on his life.

The Pick (1 Sam. 9:17-20)

Now, back to the story.

As Samuel saw Saul, God spoke to him:

¹⁷ When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people." (1 Sam. 9)

The opening word, “Behold,” hinneh, in Hebrew is emphatic and rightly so. God’s statement that this man would “rule” over Israel is from atsar (it is the highlighted word).

‎הִנֵּ֤ה הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ זֶ֖ה יַעְצֹ֥ר בְּעַמִּֽי (1 Sam. 9:17)

According to Holladay’s Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the OT (Hol6504), this is primarily a negative, not a positive word:

עָצַר: qal: pf. ע׳, עָצַרְתִּי, עֲצָרַנִי; impf. יַעְצֹר, יַעֲצָר־, אֶעְצֹר, נַעְצְרָה, יַעֲצָרְכָה, תַּעְצְרֵנִי; inf. לַעְצֹר 2C 22₉, וַעְצֹר ! Jb 4₂, עָצֹר; pt. pass. עָצוּר, עָצֻר, עֲצֻרָה: hold back, hinder: — 1. detain 1K 18₄₄; w. b® restrain Jb 4₂; — 2. imprison 2K 17₄, keep away 1C 12₁; — 3. keep imprisoned Je 33₁, shut up Je 20₉; — 4. keep, retain (strength) Dn 10_8•16; — 5. close, shut: womb Gn 20₁₈ (w. b®±ad), Is 66₉ (w. acc.); w. acc. & milledet prevent s.one fm. bearing Gn 16₂; °iššâ ±­ƒûrâ woman removed (fm. sexual relations) 1S 21₆; — 6. keep within bounds = rule 1S 9₁₇; — 7. check (riding) 2K 4₂₄; — 8. ±¹ƒûr w®±¹zûb 1K 14₁₀ mng. uncert.: slave & free? married man & bachelor? minor & of age? « comm.

Why did the Spirit choose this word? I think he chose it to denote that Saul would lead the nation, but he would hold it back from what they thought it should be, and from what God desired. In other words, they would not get a premier leader because he would have so many personal issues. This pernicious propensity would motivate God to move the kingship to a man who would not hold the nation back. We know that young man’s name: David.

In any event, once Samuel saw Saul, the story changed direction  quickly:

¹⁸ Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is." ¹⁹ And Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind. ²⁰ "And as for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's household?" (1 Sam. 9)

I would have loved to have seen Saul’s face. Do you not know he was utterly shocked? He went looking for some lost donkeys during a time of political turmoil, and the next thing he knew, the key leader of the nation invited him to a meal. In addition, the “man of God” informed him that the donkeys were found, but what was of more importance was that Israel had found Saul.

And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's household?"

I like the way the NIV translates this verse:

²⁰ As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?" (1 Sam. 9 NIV)

In other words, “Son, do you not know that all of Israel has been looking for you? Is not your family the family everyone wants to know about?”  Saul desired to find a few donkeys merely, and Israel desired to find a king. God worked providentially through all these mundane events to introduce Israel to their new leader when they least expected it. I am convinced the Lord is working the same way in your life. What you think are unrelated dots are slowly being connected so you can see exactly what He has for you to accomplish for Him. The question is whether you will do it or not.

Saul’s response was predictable. I label it . . .

The Perplexity (1 Sam. 9:21)

Read on, and you will see what I mean:

²¹ And Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?" (1 Sam. 9)

The two largest tribes in Israel were Manasseh and Ephraim. Benjamin was the smallest, most insignificant tribe. And Saul’s family was not even of the finest pedigree within the tribe of Benjamin either. His father had wealth and land, but that was about it. There were so many more important Benjamites than those associated with Kish. All of this led Saul to a logical question: “Why, then, do you speak to me in this way?”  Yeah, why did Samuel talk about Saul as if he, this nobody from Nowheresville, was somebody on a national level? It was because Saul was the man of the so-called hour.

The humble country boy was about to become the noble king of the nation. If Saul had had a mature walk with God, he would have never said this because he would have known from Israel’s history that God specialized in taking nobodies from Nowheresville and using them to touch lives for Him. Because Saul was spiritually shallow, however, the purpose of all of this sudden attention eluded him.

Without answering his question, Samuel turned to elevate this future king in a section that I have titled . . .

The Privilege (1 Sam. 9:22-24)

The man who did not have any money to give to the prophet to honor him would now be honored with a meal to end all meals. I love the irony.

²² Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men. ²³ And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, 'Set it aside.'" ²⁴ Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, "Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people." So Saul ate with Samuel that day. (1 Sam. 9)

I am sure the entire dining experience floored this country-bumpkin. He sat at the head of the table. Shocking. He received a choice and a massive leg of meat to devour. He received special treatment. He was informed they had been waiting for him. Hugh? God’s providence is written all over the festive dinner fit for a king. At this point, however, the king did not fully understand what was going on, and neither might you as God works in your life through various mundane events. Hold on and watch God unfold His plan to use you in a way you never anticipated.

After a night of festivities, Samuel started guiding Saul to call of God on his life. The final section shows us this much:

The Pause (1 Sam. 9:25-27)

Narrative tension closes this section just as we encountered in chapter eight. It serves to create an air of intrigue and excitement regarding what is about to unfold:

²⁵ When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. ²⁶ And they arose early; and it came about at daybreak that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, "Get up, that I may send you away." So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. ²⁷ As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Say to the servant that he might go ahead of us and pass on, but you remain standing now, that I may proclaim the word of God to you" (1 Sam. 9).

In ancient Israel, people slept on the roofs of homes because they were flat and cooler. So, at sunrise (great leaders get up and get going, right?), Samuel aroused Saul and walked with him to the edge of town to send him on his way. But before he turned him loose, Samuel paused to tell him he had a new word from God. That word would change his life forever, but it is not given until chapter ten.

In the meantime, wise people stop and focus on the message from this historical and divinely inspired message:

God works silently through the mundane events of your life to accomplish the marvelous.

You might be looking for donkeys while God guides you to something greater he wants you to do for Him. Will you do it as He discloses it to you?

In his NIV Application Commentary on 1 & 2 Samuel, Bill T. Arnold tells an inspiring, challenging story. I will summarize it for your consideration.[2]

On January 10, 1948, Marcel Sternberger jumped on a train in the Brooklyn subway to visit a sick friend. The train was full, but a man quickly jumped off, allowing Marcel to happen to sit down.

Sitting next to Marcel, a Hungarian, was a man reading a Hungarian newspaper. He struck up a lively conversation with the man in Hungarian, and within the next thirty minutes, the gentleman, who went by the name Paskin, told his tragic story of suffering and loss during WWII.

Before the war, Paskin said he was a law student. Eventually, he wound up in a labor battalion and was sent to Ukraine. Later, the Russians captured him and forced him to bury dead German soldiers.

After the war, he walked hundreds of miles on foot to his home in Debrecen, Hungary. While there, he discovered his entire family was gone, and strangers lived in the apartment once occupied by his mother, father, and siblings. When he reached the apartment where he and his long-lost wife used to live, strangers lived there too. Neighbors also informed him that his entire family was dead. His wife was presumed dead because the Nazis had taken her with the family to Auschwitz.

Marcel thought the story sounded very familiar as he listened to the stranger. Why? He had recently met a young woman at the home of some friends who had lived in Debrecen. She had spent time in Auschwitz, but the Germans eventually made her work in a munitions factory. Her family, too, had died in Auschwitz. After the war, she fled to  New York by boat in 1946. Marcel was so captivated by her story that he wrote down her name and address. Her name? It was Marya.

Turning to Mr. Paskin, Marcel asked, “Is your first name Bela?”

Shocked, Mr. Pasking said, “How did you know?”

Marcel continued, “Was your wife’s name Marya?”

As the blood rushed out of his face, Bela said, “Yes! Yes.”

At the next station stop, both men exited the train and walked to a phone, and Marcel made a phone call that would change the lives of Bela and Marya until they died.

And you think this all happened by chance? I think not. The God of great providence road the rails that day to ensure people were connected so great things would occur. The same God is riding the rails in your life, too. Granted, at times, it might seem like a mundane, maybe even a monotonous ride, but it never is because He always positions you for something marvelous.

[1] C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Commengtary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & II Samuel, vol. 2 ( Grand Rapids: William Be. Eerdmans, 1984), 87.

[2] Bill T. Arnold, The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Samuel (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003), 171-172. For the original story, see Paul Deutschman, “It Happened on the Brooklyn Subway,” Reader’s Digest (May 1949), 45-48.