Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
1 Samuel 9:3-21
3 One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.” 4 So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere.
5 Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!”
6 But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
7 “But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”
8 “Well,” the servant said, “I have one small silver piece.[a] We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!” 9 (In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go and ask the seer,” for prophets used to be called seers.)
10 “All right,” Saul agreed, “let’s try it!” So they started into the town where the man of God lived.
11 As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is the seer here today?”
12 “Yes,” they replied. “Stay right on this road. He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship. 13 Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won’t begin eating until he arrives to bless the food.”
14 So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship.
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.”
18 Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. 20 And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”
21 Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”
3 One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.” 4 So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere.
5 Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!”
6 But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
7 “But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”
8 “Well,” the servant said, “I have one small silver piece.[a] We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!” 9 (In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go and ask the seer,” for prophets used to be called seers.)
10 “All right,” Saul agreed, “let’s try it!” So they started into the town where the man of God lived.
11 As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is the seer here today?”
12 “Yes,” they replied. “Stay right on this road. He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship. 13 Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won’t begin eating until he arrives to bless the food.”
14 So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship.
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.”
18 Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. 20 And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”
21 Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”
Commentary:
9:20 In the meantime Samuel reveals his supernatural knowledge of Saul’s quest by assuring him that the missing donkeys have been found, so Saul need not be anxious about them.
Samuel then enigmatically asks, “And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel?” meaning that Saul will soon have at his disposal all the wealth of the land—at least in conjunction with his father’s house. This might also be rendered, “And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned?” (NIV), intimating that all Israel is looking to him to be king. Saul probably does not perceive the full implications of Samuel’s words despite likely grasping that they indicate some change of fortune for himself and his family—and this from the man whose every word comes true (v. 6).
9:21 Saul’s response is not simply a conventional disclaimer but genuinely reflects his feelings. His tribe of Benjamin is small, having been substantially reduced in size by internecine fighting not long before (Judg. 20:46–48). Moving from the tribe to the smaller unit of the “clan” (cf. Josh. 7:14), Saul asserts that he comes from the junior clan of the smallest tribe. It is perhaps significant that, unlike Gideon (Judg. 6:15), Saul does not go one level lower and mention his father’s house—which apparently enjoys some prestige (1 Sam. 9:1). Even so, he is genuinely puzzled as to how Samuel could assign him a significant role “in Israel” (v. 20).
John L. Mackay, “1-2 Samuel,” in 1 Samuel–2 Chronicles, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. III, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 115.
Samuel then enigmatically asks, “And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel?” meaning that Saul will soon have at his disposal all the wealth of the land—at least in conjunction with his father’s house. This might also be rendered, “And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned?” (NIV), intimating that all Israel is looking to him to be king. Saul probably does not perceive the full implications of Samuel’s words despite likely grasping that they indicate some change of fortune for himself and his family—and this from the man whose every word comes true (v. 6).
9:21 Saul’s response is not simply a conventional disclaimer but genuinely reflects his feelings. His tribe of Benjamin is small, having been substantially reduced in size by internecine fighting not long before (Judg. 20:46–48). Moving from the tribe to the smaller unit of the “clan” (cf. Josh. 7:14), Saul asserts that he comes from the junior clan of the smallest tribe. It is perhaps significant that, unlike Gideon (Judg. 6:15), Saul does not go one level lower and mention his father’s house—which apparently enjoys some prestige (1 Sam. 9:1). Even so, he is genuinely puzzled as to how Samuel could assign him a significant role “in Israel” (v. 20).
John L. Mackay, “1-2 Samuel,” in 1 Samuel–2 Chronicles, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. III, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 115.
Questions:
Saul wasn't looking for a calling from God. He was looking for donkeys. His father's donkeys had wandered away, and Saul was sent out to find them. He and his servant searched through one place after another, but they couldn't find them. After days of looking, Saul was ready to give up and go home. As far as he could tell, this had been a frustrating waste of time. But Saul didn't know what God was doing.
Before Saul ever set out looking for those donkeys, God had already spoken to Samuel about the king who was coming. Saul thought he was chasing lost animals through the countryside. God was leading him toward Samuel. Saul could only see what was happening in front of him. God could see where it was taking him.
We know what we are doing today, but we don't know what God may be doing through it. We see the frustrating responsibility, interruptions, seasons that feels repetitive, the things we wish were already finished. We see the part that feels like wasted time. God sees the whole picture. That doesn't mean every annoying thing is going to lead us to something deeply spiritual. But it does mean that your ordinary life is not outside of God's design. He is not only present in the big moments. He is at work in the regular responsibilities, unexpected interruptions, and seasons that feel like they are going nowhere.
Saul wanted to go home. God was leading him somewhere he never expected to go.
You may not see where God is taking you, but you can trust the One who does!
Before Saul ever set out looking for those donkeys, God had already spoken to Samuel about the king who was coming. Saul thought he was chasing lost animals through the countryside. God was leading him toward Samuel. Saul could only see what was happening in front of him. God could see where it was taking him.
We know what we are doing today, but we don't know what God may be doing through it. We see the frustrating responsibility, interruptions, seasons that feels repetitive, the things we wish were already finished. We see the part that feels like wasted time. God sees the whole picture. That doesn't mean every annoying thing is going to lead us to something deeply spiritual. But it does mean that your ordinary life is not outside of God's design. He is not only present in the big moments. He is at work in the regular responsibilities, unexpected interruptions, and seasons that feel like they are going nowhere.
Saul wanted to go home. God was leading him somewhere he never expected to go.
You may not see where God is taking you, but you can trust the One who does!
- What ordinary responsibility, frequent interruption, or repetitive season in your life are you most tempted to see as a waste of time right now? Be honest about why you are frustrated with it and what you wish were different.
- Saul thought he was spending his days looking for something that couldn't be found. God was using those same days to lead him toward something Saul knew nothing about. What situation in your life feels like it is going nowhere? What might God be teaching you or developing in you while you are waiting for it to change?
- How do you usually respond when your plans are interrupted or your day doesn't go the way you expected? How could you begin to respond differently as you trust God's involvement in the ordinary parts of your life?
- What is one ordinary thing in front of you this week that you need to stop resenting and start approaching with faithfulness? Ask God to help you pay attention to what He may be doing in you and through you, even when you cannot see where the road is leading.
Prayer Topics:
- Confess the times you have treated ordinary responsibilities or interruptions as wasted time.
- Ask God to help you trust Him when you cannot see where He is leading.
- Ask God to help you be faithful in the ordinary things in front of you today.
- Thank Jesus that no part of your life is outside of His care.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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