1Sa 9:3 | KingComments | STEP | The history of Saul begins with donkeys. Later we see that David’s history starts with sheep. Saul does not pasture the donkeys; he has lost them, and he cannot find them after his search. David goes after the lost sheep, finds it, and brings it back. He also delivers it from the mouth of the lion and the bear at the risk of his own life. Here we immediately see the distinction between the ruler according to the wishes of man and the one according to God’s heart. The donkey is an unclean animal. A person is compared with an unclean donkey ( ). Man and donkey are on the same level (cf. ). Man is a wild donkey that has run away from God. Who could think that a search for lost donkeys would bring Saul into connection with Samuel, yes, with the throne of Israel?

‏ 1 Samuel 9:3

Saul Seeks Donkeys

The history of Saul begins with donkeys. Later we see that David’s history starts with sheep. Saul does not pasture the donkeys; he has lost them, and he cannot find them after his search. David goes after the lost sheep, finds it, and brings it back. He also delivers it from the mouth of the lion and the bear at the risk of his own life. Here we immediately see the distinction between the ruler according to the wishes of man and the one according to God’s heart.

The donkey is an unclean animal. A person is compared with an unclean donkey (Exo 13:13). Man and donkey are on the same level (cf. Job 11:12). Man is a wild donkey that has run away from God. Who could think that a search for lost donkeys would bring Saul into connection with Samuel, yes, with the throne of Israel?