“Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.” When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.” Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” “I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.” Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?” Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests. Samuel then instructed the cook to bring Saul the finest cut of meat, the piece that had been set aside for the guest of honor. So the cook brought in the meat and placed it before Saul. “Go ahead and eat it,” Samuel said. “I was saving it for you even before I invited these others!” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. When they came down from the place of worship and returned to town, Samuel took Saul up to the roof of the house and prepared a bed for him there. At daybreak the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, “Get up! It’s time you were on your way.” So Saul got ready, and he and Samuel left the house together. When they reached the edge of town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead. After the servant was gone, Samuel said, “Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God.””
1 Samuel 9:15-27 NLT
When one takes into account the beginnings of Saul, one must take into account his end as well. His story begins with the idea of consulting a seer and ends the same way. However, in the case of Samuel at Endor, he uses a witch to do so. Here he physically goes on a whim to visit Samuel. It is clear that he had no knowledge of godly things or people. Samuel had been Israel’s judge for quite some time, and it was known what locations he haunted. Yet Saul’s concern was purely of earthly matters. This was his thought pattern before he was king and would be the case all the way to the end of his life. What is different though, is that by the time of the witch of Endor, Saul had come to rely on the mechanism of the seer. But not to do God’s will but to do his own. He was a pursuer of donkeys, albeit a better one with more power. Nevertheless, his pursuits and his ways aligned with God’s timing and usages. He was a man who could rally the people because he represented earthly ideas of prominence. This is exactly what the people wanted. Despite the fact that he was not interested in serving God, he was apt to being used because it allowed him more ease to pursue his own desires. This would turn out exactly as predicted. God would use this man’s ineptitude for his purposes and he would be given a choice to grow beyond his desires, even though he wouldn’t take it. It a sad and predictable cycle.
Saul’s Nature: Saul was a man focused on earthly matters, relying on seers for guidance to achieve his own desires.
Saul’s Leadership: Saul’s leadership was driven by earthly prominence and the desire to fulfill his own ambitions, aligning with God’s timing but not His will.
God’s Use of Saul: God used Saul’s ineptitude and desire for earthly gain to achieve His own purposes, despite Saul’s unwillingness to serve God.
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