1 Samuel 9:1 says, Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. We are told a lot about a man named Kish, who was a man of Benjamin. The Benjamites were the tribe that was nearly destroyed while defending the city of Gibeah after their great sin. Of course, they had been known as men of valor and had been good at fighting wars, but they had also been willing to destroy the rest of Israel. Now, as we will learn, it was from this tribe that Israel would choose their first king, or more accurately that God would choose him for them. Verse two adds, And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. Kish had a son named Saul, and he was noted for being very good man, and he was at least a head taller than the other Israelites. He would seem to be an ideal candidate for a king. We could all benefit from having a leader who is physically fit and above and above all else is a good man. Verse three continues, And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. Kish's asses were lost, and he told Saul to take one of the servants and go find them. Saul may have been the one day king, but at the moment, he was a son who was subjected to and obedient to his father. No matter what we may be in this world, as followers of Christ we are just His children and subject to His leadership and we should be obedient to that leadership. Verse four states, And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. Saul traveled to many places looking for the missing asses, but he didn't find them. Even if we put forth our best efforts in what we are doing, we are not guaranteed success, so then we have can either choose to continue working or give up and quit. If it is something that the Heavenly Father has told us to do, hopefully we will not quit if we don't meet with immediate success. Verse five adds, And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us. Saul decided after they got to the land of Zuph and didn't find them, that it was time to return home, since his father would be worried that something had happened to him, and he told his servant this. We as Christians should never spend too much time away from our Heavenly Father, because He is always concerned about us. Verse six continues, And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. Saul’s servant said there was a man of God, in the city and they should consult him about what to do. This man of God was Samuel. If people are having trouble today, would they say of us that we are a man or woman of God and that they should come to us for advice? Verse seven says, Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? Saul was concerned about what reward they could offer the man of God for helping them. Of course, a true man of God would not expect payment for his advice. Verse eight adds, And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. Though he may have been a future king, Saul had to rely on his servant to provide the money to pay the man of God. Even rulers should be willing to accept help from others when it is needed, and we should be willing to help them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and for God's glory and not our own. Veres nine states, (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) At one time, prophets were evidently called seers, due to their ability to see into the future. Of course, this wasn't because of any psychic ability or their own power, but by the power and revelation of God. Verse ten adds, Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was. Saul said that the servant had a good idea, and they went up to the city where Samuel the man of God was. If we have problems, we would be well advised to find a man of God and ask for his advice. Of course, we can go directly to God, but He has also placed people in positions of leadership in the church today who are there to help us.
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