Saul.
1 Sam. 9:18-2418Then 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? 22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, 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. (1 Samuel 9:18‑24).
SAUL had now come to where Samuel was, but he did not know that he was the seer. Neither did he know that he was to reign over the Lord’s inheritance. But Samuel knew who Saul was and he also knew that he was to be king. He knew these things because he was a seer, or prophet. And a prophet was one that had God’s mind revealed to him, and was able, therefore, to show to man the evil that dwelt in his heart. This was the reason why Samuel was able to tell Saul all that was in his heart. (v. 19).
“The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” It is full of all manner of wicked thoughts and imaginations. And we, like Saul, do not know ourselves: but God knows every secret thing about us. He sees every evil thought we have, and hears every idle word we speak.
When Jesus was here upon earth, no one ever stood in His presence whose heart He did not know perfectly. He knew everything about the life of that woman whom He met at Sycher’s well, although she was a stranger to Him, being a woman of Samaria. And when she saw that He was able to tell her all about her past life, she immediately acknowledged Him to be a prophet. (John 4:1919The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (John 4:19)).
Dear children, it is really God’s love to us that He should tell us how utterly bad we are. He shows us it in His word, and, if we believe Him, then we trust in Him who is all goodness. We look upon ourselves as hopelessly lost and ruined, and we go to Him for salvation. He receives us and blesses us, because Christ suffered on the cross for all our badness, and put away all our sins.
Samuel now told Saul to go up before him to the high place where there was to be a feast. He first assured him, however, that his father’s lost asses had been found. And this set the mind of Saul at rest so that he might be free to think of what Samuel was about to do unto him. God was calling Saul to something higher than merely seeking some lost asses. And that was to rule over and care for His dear people Israel.
Dear reader, if you are saved, let me tell you that you are called to something higher than simply caring for the things of this world. God has called you unto His eternal glory by Jesus Christ. And while you are on the way to that glory, He would have you think of something more than your own interests. He would have you to think of what things are pleasing to Him. And He wants you to consider those who are dear to Him. The word is, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Phil. 2:44Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Philippians 2:4).)
We do not mean by this that you are to neglect your everyday duties, which you are responsible to fulfill. God looks for faithfulness in you, to be diligent in your toil, whether it be at school, or in the workshop. But, if you belong to Him, then you have something higher and nobler to think of. You are to seek the things of the Lord Jesus. This may be done in many ways. You may speak a kind word to a playmate, or invite someone to come to Jesus. You may return good to those who treat you rudely, or, it may be shamefully. You may give to those who have need, for God loves a cheerful giver. And you may also seek to encourage some little Christian, who is in sorrow or difficulty. All these things are worthy of Jesus, and are well pleasing to Him.
When Samuel had told Saul that he should go up before him to the high place, and that he should eat with him and also that upon him was the desire of Israel. then Saul manifested a very be coming Spirit. He showed the spirit of humility. And let us remember that this was the time in Saul’s life when he was little in his own sight. (1 Sam. 15:1717And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel? (1 Samuel 15:17).) And, oh, what a precious lesson we may take from this for ourselves, God says that before honor is humility, and “he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” But it is possible for children to be proud, and to think themselves better than other children.
How much better it is to seek to be like the Lord Jesus who humbled Himself, and was meek and lowly in heart.
We see how Saul was exalted, for when he and the servant went up to the feast, they occupied the chiefest place among those that were bidden. He first took the low place, but was afterward sent up to the high place.
He was then privileged to eat with Samuel; and a special portion was reserved for him. It was the shoulder. And this has a meaning in it for us. The shoulder speaks of strength, and is the place where burdens are borne. Thus to eat of it would speak to us of feeding upon Christ as our strength. And having Him as our strength, we are able, to strengthen others, and bear one another’s burdens. Christ is our life, and He is also the strength of our life. “The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid.” Ps. 27:1.
ML 09/07/1902