1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, "Please, take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." 4 So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. 5 When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us." 6 And he said to him, "Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go." 7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" 8 And the servant answered Saul again and said, "Look, I have here at hand one fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way." 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: "Come, let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet 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. 11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?" 12 And they answered them and said, "Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place. 13 "As soon as you come into the city, you will surely 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 about this time you will find him." 14 So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to the high place. 15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, 16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to me." 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people."
Saul at First Glance (v. 1-2)
First Prize in a Beauty Contest
Saul’s story might have turned out differently. He was from the weakest tribe, decimated by its earlier rebellion (Jud. 20-21). And yet, from weakness the Lord gave strength. “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from west, nor from the south. But God is judge: he puts down one and sets up another” (Ps. 75:6-7). By raising up Israel’s first king from the tribe of Benjamin, the Lord was raising the dead. Saul had nothing to commend him but being “tall, dark, and handsome.” He looked the part of a king. This was exactly what Israel wanted – someone to look the part, so that it could be like the other nations. Israel wanted a strong captain to deal with the ever-present Philistine menace of giants. Saul could never be Israel’s righteous king. His only qualification was that he was the winner of the Israelite beauty contest. This is exactly what sinners want – not someone to probe their heart with truth but someone to please their eyes with outward beauty. All sinners and false religions love beautiful externals. They do not want sermons that examine the heart, worship that demands faith, or leaders that point out their wrongs. Keep it on the surface and all will be well. Many parent like this. They demand that outward order be kept in the home, but they never show their children what makes them tick and disciple them to seek union with the sin-slayer, Jesus Christ. Unless the idols of our hearts are exposed, however, we are only playing at morality and religion. The fruit will be bitter in the end.
A Man Not after God’s Own Heart (1 Sam. 13: 14)
The Lord is a magnificent surgeon of the human heart and of the hearts of nations. So many will die under Saul’s reign, and Saul himself will end in horrible ruin. Why? He was not a man after God’s own heart. Why did the Lord allow Israel to languish under Saul’s reign? It was not all bad, but the heart of the nation was not right with the Lord. In giving them a king like Saul – beautiful on the outside but a nasty narcissism and haughty idolatry holding court within – he was showing them that their worldly hearts must be changed. This was his covenant – not everything bright and beautiful on the outside, mountains of gold and rivers of silver, national supremacy and blessing, but circumcised hearts to love the Lord their God (Deut. 10:12; 30:6). The nation needed to be born again. His covenant with them was not an automatic guarantee of blessing. The presumptuous and worldly certainly viewed his covenant in this way, for they rested in the externals without ever examining their hearts and turning to him in faith and repentance.
His promises must be received by faith, and he always throws true faith in the fire. The Lord tries our hearts to expose our idols and lead us to seek him, so that we learn to weep over our own sins and those of our children and nation. God’s promises rightly received never breed contentment with external blessing and beauty, for true faith wants God himself and craves his fellowship. This is the reason that the Lord gave Saul to Israel for its first king – to reveal the misery of the human heart and the danger of resting in external religion and the beautiful trappings of blessings while being dead in sin and at war with the Lord. Saul was Israel. Saul was what a worldly and wicked people wanted and deserved. A godly man after his own heart is a gift of his grace, and it will be some years before he gives this gift to Israel (1 Sam. 13:14). A man whose heart is right with the Lord is one that is desiring him, broken over sins, trusting his promises, obedient to his word, and loving his worship. He will be his true and useful servant in the home, the church, and the nation. He is not a perfect man, for only the Lord Jesus Christ is that King perfectly, but a Christian man or woman is like him in this – a heart like his – lowly and meek, tender and gracious, learning obedience, desiring to do those things that please the Father.
Lost Donkeys a Strange Path to the Throne (vv. 3-10)
Little Family Dramas and Overruling Providence
A day that began like any other for Saul – a quick breakfast, the days’ directives from his father, but then some of their donkeys went missing. They were needed for work on the farm, and Kish, Saul’s father, told Saul to take a servant and find them. Saul’s upbringing was not terribly dissimilar from David’s – working on the family farm, obscure, little to break the daily routine. But the Lord orchestrated this little drama of the lost farm animals to bring Saul to Samuel, and thus set in motion the whole chain of events that would lead to Saul being anointed king of Israel – all from some lost donkeys! This is the main story of these lines – that the Lord works all things according to the counsel of his own will, working out his purposes quietly yet certainly through a million means that are all acting according to their own nature and will. And yet, his is the master plan. Saul and the family servant walked almost the whole territory of Benjamin and did not find the donkeys. Saul began to worry that his father would now start worrying about him. Let us never doubt that our loving Father is working out his holy and wise purposes through all the details of our lives, even things we lose and gain, people that come in and out of our lives, blessings and difficulties, good health and debilitating disease. Without this confidence in his wise hand governing all, life is unbearable and ultimately meaningless. His plans and providences give us structure, meaning, and security to our lives. He is working good for us through every little thing.
Let Us Seek the Man of God
Saul and his servant arrived at a local city that the servant recognized as the home of the “man of God,” Samuel. It is remarkable that Saul did not know who Samuel was. He was “of Israel” but not “a true Israelite” (Rom. 2:28-29). His family was completely secularized. They kept up the trappings of religion but knew nothing about the great works of the Lord through Samuel for his people. We should remember how little the unbelieving world knows of the Lord’s great works in the church, the weekly blessings of worship that we enjoy and take for granted, and the great forward progress of the gospel. Unless an unbeliever happens to have a Christian in his family, he will usually be completely ignorant of our way of life, which should fill us with pity and indicate how much labor is necessary to make a disciple of Jesus Christ. Saul knew little if anything of the true, inner life of Israel. But his servant at least knew enough to suggest that they seek help in finding the lost asses by consulting the local “seer,” the prophet. They had a little silver as a gift to give. Those who partake of spiritual blessings should willingly share their physical blessings with those who minister to them (Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:14). Samuel would have helped them without such a gift, but we should be very thankful and supportive of the gospel ministry in our midst! Saul’s servant was more pious than Saul, which is a portent of things to come. Saul was beautiful and strong on the outside, but empty of spiritual good on the inside.
Behold the Man! (vv. 11-17)
Random Advice Brought Saul and Samuel Together
Even Saul’s, “Come, let us go,” hardly inspires confidence that he has any real desire to seek God’s prophet. Like the kingship, Saul fell into Samuel’s path. He was not resolved upon a godly path. On their way to the city, they happen upon a young girl drawing water, who tells them that Samuel is in the city for the high feast day. The people of the city will not eat the feast without Samuel’s blessing – and Saul apparently did not know it was a feast day. He was not a religious man and not even a faithful Israelite. She told them where to find the seer. Between Saul’s servant and this servant girl, the Lord sent two people to tell Saul – go to Samuel. This piece of “random” advice brought Saul and Samuel together. The Lord directs our steps – not generally only, but specifically. “The whole disposing of the matter is of the Lord” (Prov. 16:33). He can dispose of all the matter because he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass (Eph. 1:11; Rev. 1:1). And since his plans for those who love the Lord are good (Jer. 29:11; Rom. 8:28), we can live with great confidence under his sovereign purposes, knowing that whatever happens to us is part of his plan and will actually turn out for our good in the long run, even if painful in the short. And when we are seeking to be led by the Lord, let us attend to this lesson of the water girl – go seek the prophet. Let the Lord directs us according to the secret things that belong to him (Deut. 29:29). Let us be about obeying him and seeking his word and the counsel of those whom he raises up to teach us his ways so that we might walk in his paths.
The Lord’s Wondrous Mercies to a Rebellious People
The Lord prepared Samuel for meeting Saul. It is a beautiful and memorable revelation that the Lord gave to his prophet. It must have cheered his aging heart, for he had been wounded by the people’s rejection. Their words stung him as a father also, for his sons had not been faithful. He was like the Lord – a faithful father trying to lead unfaithful children. But notice that the Lord calls Israel “my people” three times. They had forgotten him, but he could not forget them. This is a wondrous mercy and testimony to his persevering grace. We are his people not because of any good in us but because he is full of mercy and will finish the good work he begins in us (Phil. 1:6). This is so much clearer now that the Lord Jesus has come. We cannot look at the cross with the smallest faith without being struck by this truth – the holy Father and his blessed Son love us like this? The Son of God incarnate was willing to die for us? We are his people? We are so filled with sin that were he to mark even one iniquity, we must be instantly condemned and sent to suffer forever in hell. But he does not. He has chosen us in his grace, and he will never forsake us.
He also promises to send his people a captain. He is very aware of the Philistine threat. Today’s media is atheistic and the Christian’s response to it often betrays a streak of atheism – as if the Lord is not in charge. Or, we think we have put our finger on the real “rulers” of the world and cause of all the agitation and trouble around us. All the while, we forget that the Lord knows this and controls it. The wicked with the devil at their head cannot move an inch without the direction of the Lord. Thus, whatever wicked men are doing to stir up trouble and remake the world in their own image, the Lord is nevertheless so governing them and all things that their evil schemes promote his good purposes. He has already ordained and will send to us the captains we need, when we need them. He begins in the home, by raising up Christian men to be faithful fathers and lead their families in the Lord’s ways. Are you being that faithful leader, Christian man? Humble, Christ-like, prayerful, obedient, under authority yourself so that those under you are shown an example of Christ’s humility? Are you listening to your captains in the church, the pastors and elders whom the Lord raises us to shepherd you, or are you by your stubbornness making their oversight a grief to them and ineffectual for you? The Lord never takes us to himself without sending captains to help us.
He also told Samuel that he has looked upon his people and heard their cries. What condescension! We do not think often enough that the Lord humbles himself to look at what happens on the earth (Ps. 113:6). Yet, he looks upon his people with steadfast love and enduring faithfulness. And he hears our cries. The Lord’s words to Samuel are drowning in mercy. And this was despite their rejection of him – never, never has there been love like this – the very people who have thrown him away like a piece of trash, he loves them as his treasure. In evil and troubled times, we must rehearse these truths to our weary faith. Wait! However the world looks at us, we are God’s beloved children (Eph. 1:4-5), chose by him in Christ before the world was made. He will always help us, for he hears our cries. Why would he hear our prayers? Why would he take any notice of us at all? And yet, he is so concerned about us that he helps us and sends us a Captain. Here, Samuel is told, there he is. It will be Saul. He proved to be a very poor captain. The Captain of our salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 2:10). He will never fail us but will prevail over us and our foes.
Are You a Person after God’s Own Heart?
Our age wants to look good on the outside but gives little thought to the inner man, the heart. This is what the Lord values, sees, and tests. He does not see as man sees (1 Sam. 16:7). What men highly esteem is an abomination to him (Luke 16:15). This should greatly convict us of our worldly standards of judgment and beauty. Are we truly children of our Father in heaven? Or do we remain children of disobedience, or at least so enamored with the world that we do not give our hearts to him fully and are thus double-minded and unstable?
When we think about Saul, the question presses us – are we people after God’s heart? Are we bearing the image of our heavenly Father? Or do we follow our own desires? Do we crave outward beauty and blessings? Or do we seek after purity in the hidden man of the heart, a meek and quiet spirit before the Lord? He values this so highly, and not just in godly women. It was our Savior’s heart – meekly, lowly, gentle (Matt. 11:29). To be a person after the Lord’s heart does not mean we are perfect in every way or that we like ugly things and chaos in our homes. It means that we live before his face – honestly and humbly, without hiding our faults or excusing our sins. To be after God’s heart is to be his trusting and repenting children, turning away from the world and its outward show and seeking his refining grace within. After his heart means that we desire to be like him and are willing to be chastened and refined so that we may be more like our Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Wherever we are in life, whatever our responsibilities, we must learn never to rest in mere external beauty and peace. It is never enough to look the part, to look like all is under control but within there is nothing but disorder and rebellion and frustration against the Lord. When the inner man is being conformed to Christ’s image (Rom. 8:29), the outward man will manifest the fruits of righteousness in word and action.
This is because Jesus Christ is the true King that has come. All these promises that the Lord made here to Samuel about Israel being his people, hearing their cries, raising up for them a captain, and all the rest, these are fulfilled in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). Even as godly as David was, he could not make other people godly. He could not change Israel’s idolatrous and worldly heart. He could not always keep his own heart true and pure. Thus, Saul shows the utter failure of the world to provide any help to us in the areas that matter most – our heart loves, inner beauty, and a right heart before the Lord. We must have a righteous King to rule over us. We do! The Father has sent his Son and made him to be our Head and Captain. And this is the reason that Christians are not hopeless about heart sins, lusts, and the things that plague us. There is relief in Jesus Christ – not in our feelings about him, formulas, and even principles of piety, however useful these may be if rightly applied. But they are useful only if seen in their connection to him and as actually empowered by him. He is the Captain who delivers from heart slavery to sin and self. Has he delivered you?
When he delivers, the package may not yet be outwardly beautiful. Often, it is not, for he does not normally choose the worldly wise, powerful, and beautiful (1 Cor. 1:28-32). He chooses the weak and lowly, the despised in the eyes of the world. The world wants a king like Saul, like itself, a leader who lacks the moral authority to challenge its rebellion because the leader himself is enslaved to his sins. The Lord Jesus frees us from this slavery. He begins making us beautiful within – faith, hope, love, joy, and peace. He makes us gentle and kind, peace-loving and peace-making, merciful as we have received mercy. And his kingly work of renewal does not depend upon what is happening in the world, as if anything the world is doing is lasting or important. His kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy within us is lasting and important. Thus, we must not lose heart in the battle but continue coming to our King. He knows the truth about our inner heart, but he loves us anyway. He has given us his Spirit to renew and sanctify us so that we will more and more bear the image of the heavenly, anticipating the glory that is coming when he appears (2 Cor. 4:17-18; Col. 3:4).
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