We are introduced to a family of the Benjamites and a man named Kish who was evidently wealthy and a man of position. He had a good-looking son named Saul, who was head and shoulders taller than anyone. Here was the ideal man – wealthy family, taller and better looking than all others, but nothing about his relationship with God (v1,2).
Man looks on the outward appearance, as usual, but God looks upon the heart. Our first introduction to Saul was that he was looking for lost donkeys. Interestingly his successor (David) was looking after sheep.
His father had told him to go and search for the donkeys. He and three servants went to quite a few places without success and were on the point of giving up (v3-14) when they neared a city where Saul knew that there was a man of God, which in God’s providence was Samuel, on his journeys (v15). Perhaps as a last resort he suggested that they ask him for directions. It was custom to take a present, so they got together what they had – a quarter of a shekel of silver. As they went up the hill towards the city, they met some young women on their way to draw water. They asked if the seer(prophet) was in the city, and they said that he was just ahead of them. It was God’s providence that they arrived on the same day for Samuel was apparently making a ‘flying visit’, and verse 14 seems to indicate that Samuel was coming out to meet them. The LORD was already working because He had told Samuel (“in his ear” (v15) an interesting phrase!) the day before, that a man of the Benjamites was going to meet him, and not only to help find his donkeys, but to anoint him king over Israel (v15-17). God had prepared the way even to the very hour – ‘at about this time’, to the precise timing, and to the identity of the particular man.
Saul approached the gate and met Samuel, who identified himself as the seer (prophet) who Saul had come to see (v18-21). Samuel invited him to go to the house for a meal and he would speak with him the following day. He said that he would tell them what they wanted and that their donkeys were safe. Samuel told him that he was to be chosen as the king. Saul answered in humility that his family were least and couldn’t understand why he should be chosen.
At the house Samuel had Saul seated in the place of honour among the thirty or so persons present (v22-24) and told the cook to bring the special portion for Saul. I suppose it was to see Saul’s reaction to receiving the place of honour and the special portion of food.
It is worth considering what our reaction would have been to this. It would show our true character.
Samuel spoke with Saul from early morning and told him what God had said. It is vital that we speak God’s Word to those who we come into contact with. He had told Saul to send his servants on ahead. Samuel didn’t waste time with idle chatter but spoke the words of God (v25-27). These words would be preparation for what was to follow. It was a high calling and absolutely necessary that he follow God’s instructions.
