I Samuel 9 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson

            In I Samuel, we can divide the book into these three subjects:

Samuel chapters 1-8

Saul      chapters 9-15

David   chapters 16-31

            Even though Samuel continues to play a big role in this book, we now look at Saul, the first king of Israel.  This is a rather unusual way to introduce the first King of Israel.  Saul comes from a rather well-to-do family.  His positive physical description comes early in the narrative.  Is he chosen to be the King because he is good or good looking?  One word in the original can be translated either way.   He starts out good.  Will it last?

            As we see so often in the Bible, God leads and directs His people through everyday, common life events.  In this case, Kish’s donkeys were lost so Saul and the head servant go looking for them.   They travel throughout the area finding no donkeys until Saul is ready to call the search mission off until his servant remembers that there is a man of God in the area.  As well-known as Samuel is currently, why doesn’t Saul know where Samuel lives?  Why is Saul ignorant of this great prophet?   Since everything that the prophet says comes true v. 6, maybe the man of God can tell the two where the donkeys are.

            Another problem arises; they have no gift to give the seer.  Well, Saul doesn’t but the servant does.  Saul does not seem to be leadership material, but it is still ambiguous. We can tell Saul does not know Samuel and vice versa.  We are told information to fill in the gaps.  The prophet is one who sees visions.  Well, Samuel would not be able to see Saul except that God told him yesterday (9:15ff).  Then the “seer” must be told again that Saul is right in front of him. 

            You notice the beginning of a familiar literary convention with woman at the well.  We expect the man to draw water for the women, for them to run how and tell their family and he ends us marrying the girl.  But this is not what happens.  There are some of the same elements but not the same pattern.  “The type-scene has been aborted.  The hero swings away from the girls to hurry after the man of God who will launch him on his destiny of disaster.  This is probably a deliberate strategy of foreshadowing”  (Robert Alter.  The Art of Biblical Narrative.  P. 60). 

            Saul does not know about Samuel and not surprisingly does not recognize him in v. 18.  Samuel reassures Saul and end with a rather cryptic saying that Saul does not quite know to take such honoring.  His comeback is “Why such honor for someone from the least of the tribes?”  The rest of the chapter is how Samuel eats with Saul and the chapter ends just before Samuel anoints Saul in 10:1

            Notice how God arranges all the details of this chapter.  He is sending Saul to just the right place at just the right time.  We are seemingly on an endless chase after donkeys but that is not God’s purpose.  He is calling a King.  And for a while this seems good.  Saul seems humble, he looks like what a king should look like, and this might work out well.  Maybe. 

            God is providing a king even when the nation of Israel asked for all the wrong reasons.  Samuel is there though he is disappointed on many fronts.  This is all a forerunner to the coming of Christ.  Next comes King David.  Yet, even in the calling of Saul, God is intimately involved in Saul’s entire kingship even though He does not approve of much of it.

            God uses those of us who have problems, flaws, and sin.  Because those are the only kind of people He can find.  There aren’t any others.  We should not use that truth to keep sinning but to understand our holiness matters in our lives, ministries, and work.  God cares deeply about our holiness, but our sin cannot thwart His will.

            Observe as well, how Saul appears to be just the right person.  It is not until the next chapter that we see the cracks in the “armor.”  Saul did not tell his uncle about him becoming a king 10:16, was hiding in the baggage when Samuel was recognizing Saul before the nation in 10:22.  This rise and then precipitous fall of characters in Samuel’s book is repeated with Eli, slightly with Samuel, and then Saul and to some degree with David. 

            Father, you weave the events and people of our lives toward Your will.  You have goals and purposes that I will never understand this side of heaven.  Why You use me is a complete mystery to me.  Yet I am glad to submit to Your will in all things.  Everything You say and do is perfect.  You have orchestrated the kingship of Israel that points to the true King.  We are never disappointed in Your rule, decisions, and judgments.  Although we lack understanding and sometimes misunderstand Your ways, we can always trust You.