King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 9 notes
1Now 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.
2And 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.
3And 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.
4And 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.
He did not know there was a divine hand upon the whole situation, steering him away from home to the throne. God being in charge of it all.
5And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6And 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.
This servant was under Spirit influence without knowing, and they did just as the Lord had said to Samuel before...
I can imagine the angels of God suggesting thoughts and the right emotions to compel them to come to the man of God.
They met even the right people to direct them on their course.
So all this while they were being led by the divine hand 🖐️ of God to bring them to this point.
At times when they felt tired, a sudden wave 🌊 of strength and of hope comes to them, and they continue their journey.
They were thus led until they came to this point of wanting to turn back, but the very thought of having come this far without success was not appealing.
So once more an idea came 💡, an idea to consult a known seer of the town, and consulting they did.
I just am wondering, who chose this servant? Of all the servants, one was chosen who knew the prophet and his track record. When the hand of God begins his work, it is just so beautiful.
7Then 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?
8And 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 enquire 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.)
Before which time? The author of this book, what time did he live in?
10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11And 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?
12And 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:
13As 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.
14And 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.
15Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16To 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.
Oh my God.
The confidence with which the Lord spoke.
The Father of all flesh, unto whom shall all flesh come.
They thought they were chasing donkeys but did not know they were under an influence.
I suspect the donkeys themselves were led - Obviously.
17And 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.
18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.
19And 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.
20And 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?
21And 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?
God likes using seemingly insignificant people - to fulfill his grand purpose, so all men shall see that this indeed is the Lord's doing.
He did start off with Saul of Benjamin - a tribe that was almost exterminated, a man of low repute - and he set him up on high.
After Saul failed the Lord, God still sought for a man from the backside of the desert 🏜 to fulfill his mandate.
God is just like that; he is the one who lifts up the low from the dunghill, so he chooses the low in heart as candidates for his lifting.
22And 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.
23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24And 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.
Who were the people invited to dine with the future King? I believe these were men of repute, the very people who had asked for a king from the prophet who was ruling them.
It is only in a merciful system like that of a theocracy that you can ask your ruler, selected by God, to select his own replacement while he was alive, and expect a fair best choice for you.
It is interesting. I believe if these were other gods, they would have dealt drastically with such requests.
Were these men even aware that their actions were in fulfillment of a prophecy?
25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26And 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.
27And 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.
Wow... This word was not for public consumption