Monday 27 July, 2020

11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?” 12 “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.” 14 They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place. 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 ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on 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 send you on your way 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 your whole family line?” 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 thigh 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 for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.”

What a day for Saul.  He is a son from the smallest tribe of Israel.  He heads out with a servant to find donkeys owned by his father.  They walk possibly 15-20 miles in search of the donkeys and don’t find them.  However, they hear that the town nearby has a Prophet who lives there, so they seek him out in hope that he knows where the donkeys are.

The prophet Samuel is a man after God’s heart.  God has already spoken to him about Saul coming and that he is to anoint him as the next King of Israel.  I don’t think Saul had any idea that going looking for donkeys would find him returning home anointed as the first King of Israel.

It makes me think how God has such different plans from us.  Often in our simple and ordinary day to day lives, God is looking at our obedience and our heart.  Just doing faithfully what we are supposed to do, lays the opening to something we could never conceive of.   I love it that God works in ways that are “out of the box” and never through the eyes of man.

Thank you, Lord, that you look upon our hearts.  We thank you for your love and that you honour those who walk humbly with You.  Help us Lord to trust afresh our lives to you, knowing that you hold an amazing future for each one of us.  Amen.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta