1Sa 9:7-8 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is full of details about Saul. In his long and fruitless search, the Holy Spirit shows what kind of a man Saul is. He is a man full of inability, but also full of unfamiliarity with the things of God. Not Saul, but his servant noticed that they are near a man of God and suggests the idea of visiting him. The servant takes the initiative. He knows of the man of God and gives a good testimony of him, of his honor among the people and of the trustworthiness of his words. Samuel is really a “letter, … known and read by all men” ( ), but apparently not by Saul. Saul does not seem to know about Samuel’s existence. That sheds a questionable light on his mindset. It seems that he has never heard of Samuel, or at least has shown no interest at all. Saul does not know the generally known prophet, although Samuel lives not far from him, about forty kilometers. On all his tours Samuel never visited the estate of Saul’s father and never enjoyed hospitality there. Saul will not have left the farm for the first time but will have had contacts somewhere more often. The subject of conversation may have been Samuel. His servant knows quite a bit about it. But in the whole history of Saul we see nowhere that he has a personal relationship with the LORD. Saul also depends on his servant to work out the suggestion, while he should lead his servant. He does not lead but is led. He believes that a service of the prophet of God should be paid for. The poor, ignorant man is not able to rise above the idea of payment. An appeal to mercy is unknown to him. The flesh has no understanding of God as Giver.

‏ 1 Samuel 9:7-8

Suggestion to Ask Samuel for Advice

This chapter is full of details about Saul. In his long and fruitless search, the Holy Spirit shows what kind of a man Saul is. He is a man full of inability, but also full of unfamiliarity with the things of God. Not Saul, but his servant noticed that they are near a man of God and suggests the idea of visiting him. The servant takes the initiative. He knows of the man of God and gives a good testimony of him, of his honor among the people and of the trustworthiness of his words. Samuel is really a “letter, … known and read by all men” (2Cor 3:2), but apparently not by Saul.

Saul does not seem to know about Samuel’s existence. That sheds a questionable light on his mindset. It seems that he has never heard of Samuel, or at least has shown no interest at all. Saul does not know the generally known prophet, although Samuel lives not far from him, about forty kilometers.

On all his tours Samuel never visited the estate of Saul’s father and never enjoyed hospitality there. Saul will not have left the farm for the first time but will have had contacts somewhere more often. The subject of conversation may have been Samuel. His servant knows quite a bit about it. But in the whole history of Saul we see nowhere that he has a personal relationship with the LORD.

Saul also depends on his servant to work out the suggestion, while he should lead his servant. He does not lead but is led. He believes that a service of the prophet of God should be paid for. The poor, ignorant man is not able to rise above the idea of payment. An appeal to mercy is unknown to him. The flesh has no understanding of God as Giver.