1 Samuel 9:15-27 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 9:15-27. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Samuel 9:15-20 (NIV)
15 Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel:
16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me.”
17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”
18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
20 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father’s family?”
On verses 15-20: Saul was on a mission to find lost donkeys. Little did Saul know that Samuel was on a mission to find Saul and anoint him king over Israel. In the same way, God is on a mission to find you and to give you a new purpose for living.
At the time, Saul looked at himself as just a man from the tribe of Benjamin, the son of his father Kish. But God saw in Saul a leader, a deliverer, and the answer to the prayers of a generation. Likewise, God’s vision for your life is greater than what you yourself can imagine. He wants to use you to be a blessing to others.
1 Samuel 9:21-27 (NIV)
21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited–about thirty in number.
23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.”
24 So the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.'” And Saul dined with Samuel that day.
25 After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house.
26 They rose about daybreak and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way.” When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together.
27 As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”–and the servant did so–“but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God.”
On verses 21-27: It didn’t make sense to Saul that Samuel would show him such amazing kindness. After all, Saul came from the tribe of Benjamin, which was not only the smallest tribe of Israel numerically, but also the tribe with the worst reputation in Israel. That is because earlier in Judges 19-20, men from the tribe of Benjamin committed a heinous crime, gang raping a woman from the tribe of Judah (Judges 19). Because of this, all the other tribes of Israel went to war against the tribe of Benjamin and nearly wiped the entire tribe of Benjamin out (Judges 20).
It was from this infamous tribe that Saul came, and from the smallest clan within the tribe no less. Yet by exalting Saul as king over Israel, God was proving that “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. ” (1 Samuel 2:8a)
What can we learn from this? Just as Samuel showed Saul incredible grace, God has shown us incredible grace too. As Samuel invited Saul to his home, prepared a meal for him, and anointed him for a high calling, God has invited you to be with Him. He has prepared a table before you and anointed you for a high calling (Psalm 23:5).
Father, thank You for the incredible grace You show me every day and for the calling You have on my life. May I never take Your grace or calling for granted. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
