The Unsuspecting Man that Would be King
7 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 As for your donkeys that 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 house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”
1 Samuel 9:17–21 Read More
God Gives the Grace to Do Things As We Do Them
Samuel knows that his days are numbered and that God is about to show him the future king of Israel. Saul knows that the Lord is real and that there are prophets in Israel.
One day ago, God told Samuel that he would see the future king of Israel and that God would point him out. Also, one day ago, Saul realized that his father was no longer worried about the donkeys but was going to be worried about Saul! The best idea was to track down a prophet, ask him where the missing donkeys were, and get the job done or go home.
There are a lot of times that we feel super confident about God’s calling or a decision while we’re in church with the music blaring and our hands in the air. Yes! I’m called to Timbuktu, Lord, send me! Then about 4 weeks later when we see the price of plane tickets, the number of vaccinations we need, and a car bombing, we’re not so sure. Walking out our faith in obedience is hard, but God wants us to be wildly victorious.
God Helps Us In Our Weakness
Samuel and Saul are men with struggles and doubts too. When God wanted them to do something, He threw in some things to strengthen their faith. Instead of Samuel needing to track down Saul, God brought Saul right up to him. “Where is the seer?” is just like Luke Skywalker saying “I’m looking for a Jedi Master” to Yoda. There wasn’t much Samuel could do except to do what God told him.
Saul doesn’t mention anything to Samuel about the donkeys. He asked “Where is the house of the seer?” and the answer he got was a whopper
I’m the seer you’re looking for, so…
Come eat with me, because I know you don’t have anything to eat tonight and you are going to see how God provides for you, and…
Don’t worry about the donkeys you are looking for, they have been found, and…
All of the desire and excitement in Israel points to you.
Samuel pretty much did the whole seer/prophet job right there to show his credentials. Saul wouldn’t have believed a thing he said if he hadn’t mentioned the donkeys. The hospitality for dinner could just be hospitality, but this business of all of Israel wanting him? That’s far out!
The Holy Spirit is a Counselor of Encouragement
God helps Saul believe that the words of Samuel are really true. That helps Samuel see that Saul really is the one. The instant burst of humility and shock from Saul is an encouragement to Samuel.
God wants us to succeed. He took away the rule of law so that we could live and walk by grace. His Spirit in us is a better guide than a prophet in the Old Testament, and look at how blunt and clear God worked through prophets like Samuel. Enjoy God today and look for ways that He is encouraging you to follow Him.
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