The Bible: 1 Samuel Chapter 9

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 9 Saul is going to become king. He looked the part. He was going to be chosen because he “looked” like a king. A movie director would have chosen Saul for his great looks. He would have cast well. He is exactly what we would imagine a king to be like. However the people are getting what they want. Even in this king, we learn that what we want isn't’ always good for us. Saul is missing animals and goes looking for them. Ironically he is about to become the shepherd of Israel. Because of the missing donkeys, he ends up at Saul’s town Ramah. Here we see that God either uses the missing donkey circumstance to bring Saul to Samuel, or perhaps he orchestrates it. When things happen in life that seem unfortunate, God is often in them, or at least can work through them. Nothing complicates God’s life. They intend to pay a quarter of a shekel to see the prophet, Samuel. A quarter of a shekel wasn't much. Imagine cutting a dollar in quarters. Americans have an actual coin called a quarter, but back then they didn’t always have the smaller denominations, so this was an innovation. Samuel is going to the high place at Ramah to sacrifice to God. This high place, and the one at Gilgal when Solomon seeks the Lord seem at face value to be contradicting what God said in the Law. And later in the OT, God speaks against the high places, so why is there an allowance just at this period of time for about 70 years. It is because the tabernacle is in ruins, and Shiloh was taken offline by the Philistines. So the people are worshipping God as they can. Samuel as leader has set up a place where God can be worshipped and sought. God’s word through Samuel refers to “my people.” God still considers Israel his. It's always a mistake when someone rules God’s people and thinks they are their own. Pastors fall into this trap easily.