“Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.” 17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.” 1 Samuel 9.15-17
It was all arranged—the trip to find the missing donkeys, the delays, the man of God, the shared meal, and the meeting with Saul. God arranged it all. Once the people were set on having a human king, God was determined to give them one. And God’s ordering of events was purposed to bring Saul before Samuel.
As the verse tells us, the day “before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel…” What had He revealed? That Saul would be anointed ruler over all the people—a man from the smallest tribe of Benjamin, a man a head taller than everyone else. For the Lord said, “I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.” And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “This is the man I spoke to you about.”
Now, God orders our steps, and He also honors our requests. God doesn’t always give us what we want, but sometimes He does. Sometimes He hears the cry of His people—even if the cry is selfish, God is listening. Kind of like our iPhones—they are always listening to us! But God is much better than an iPhone!
The Lord decided to give Israel a king and directed this man to Samuel. A few good things and many difficult challenges would come with this selection. All of it would serve as a reminder that it is God who meets their needs, God who directs their steps, and God who should be central to all their hopes and desires.
I wonder if in our own lives we put God at the center? I wonder if, when we ask for His blessing, we do so according to His purposes for our lives?
The good news is that God is always with us. He allows us to course-correct when we make a wrong move. He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Even though He gave the Israelites what they wanted, He never left them. Even when generations were lost, the Lord remained. And He remains today. He chooses us even when we do not choose Him. He loves us no matter what.
“O Lord God, this is the day in which I remember Your goodness. I am blessed beyond measure. You have given me this life, and for that, I am grateful. Come now, Holy Spirit, guide my steps. Help me know that You are good and that You are God. I praise Your name and love You with an everlasting love. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.