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1SAMUEL
CHAPTER 9

1 Now 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 son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. 3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

In the last chapter we saw how the people of Israel wanted to be like the people of the world and have a king. God is going to give them a king, and He's going to give them one like the world - worldly.
One notices first about Saul's appearance. He is of the tribe of Benjamin, which is a tribe respected as warriors (verse 1). Saul is head and shoulders taller than everyone else (verse 2). Third, he is a good son who demonstrates obedience to his father and concern for his father's things (verse 3).
Saul also depicts diligence in his assignments (verses 4-5).

6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

We see in Saul a wilingness to listen to good advice. His servant offers wisdom in requesting that they visit Samuel. Saul is concerned that there is no offering to give Samuel, but the servant is very kind, and offers out of his own pocket. These two must have had a very good relationship, and trust was on both sides of that relationship.
Notice the statement in verse 9. Usually the seer (Hebrew - Ro'eh) is thought of as a foreteller. He received vision and insight from God and shared it with others. The prophet (Hebrew - Nabhi) is generally considered a forthteller. He received word from God and declared or proclaimed it.
The Scripture says, "..he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer." There are different Hebrew words translated seer and prophet. However, we might generally say that before a person could proclaim a truth from God, he must receive one.
The seer, or prophet, is known as "a man of God." I think this is relevant to today. If a man is proclaiming a truth he says he received from God, then he certainly should be "an honorable man." He should live with honor and integrity and conduct his affairs with decency and order and self-discipline.

11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? 12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: 13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him. 14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.

On the way to the city, Saul and his servant passed a well. It was customary to find young women daily at the well drawing water for home purposes.
They asked these women directions to find the seer (Samuel).
Another point we see in these verse which will be useful in understanding some Scripture in the future is that the people were patient when it came to the seer. If the seer had indeed been invited,they would not eat until he had come and prayed for God to bless the meal.
The seer (Samuel) was also a judge and prominent minister to people. His time was not always his own. And often those who needed his help could delay him.
The people realized this, and patiently waited on him when he was invited or expected.

15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

Here is an exposition on prayer. Samuel had spoken to God, and God had spoken to Samuel. Prayer is a two-way communication.
Communication is incomplete unless talking is accompanied by listening. Samuel had told God the people wanted a king. God had told Samuel He would provide a king. And, when the appropriate time came, God told Samuel to be LOOKING for a specific person who would be that king.
When we ask God to do something, we are assured by the Word of God that He will always answer. So we should be LOOKING for God to answer our prayers.
Samuel was looking; and when Saul came, he KNEW this was the man.

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is. 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. 20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

Saul didn't recognize Samuel, but Samuel recognized Saul! And Samuel requested (in a demanding sort of way) that Saul eat with him and not leave until the next day.
Samuel assured Saul that the donkeys which had been lost were now found. Then Samuel tells Saul the "desire of all Israel" is upon him. What a JOLT that was to Saul!

21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

Saul speaks of himself in a very humble way. He says he is of the smallest tribes and of a small family of that tribe. Humility is a good character trait.

22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

Samuel took Saul to the "head of the table," so to speak. There he gave Saul a very special portion of meat from the sacrifice. It was the shoulder portion.
According to Leviticus 10, this shoulder portion (coming from peace offerings) belonged to the priest and his sons. Samuel, in his own way, was accepting Saul as a SON. Samuel was the leader of all Israel. Saul was to BE the leader of all Israel. Here, at the sacred feasting table, Samuel was passing on to Saul the leadership of this great nation. Samuel could have despised Saul, because he detested the fact that Israel wanted to be worldly and have a king. But instead, he ACCEPTED Saul, and showed him great honor.

25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

In the cool of the evening, Samuel and Saul sat getting to know each other on the roof of the house. And the next day, Samuel awakened Saul early to send him home to his father.

27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

Samuel walked part of the way with Saul and his servant, then he asked Saul to send the servant on ahead while they talked some more. Samuel told Saul the PURPOSE of his desire for them to be alone. The purpose was that Samuel wanted to reveal God's WORD about Saul.
We'll get to THAT in the next chapter.

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