Spotlight on Sovereignty

Circumstance: Lost Donkeys

[Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 14]

Saul's life is introduced in such a way that we see a tall man leading a seemingly small life. He's simply a son looking for some of his father's stray donkeys. David cared for sheep; Saul for donkeys.

“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. And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” (, NKJV)

Benjamin, Aphiah, Bechorath, Zeror, Abiel, Kish, and the seventh is Saul. Six previous generation are handpicked to represent his line. The idea is to indicate Saul's favored position. Saul's father is a mighty man of power. He is a leader in the tribe of Benjamin. The text indicates Saul's family had power and wealth.

It may be that Saul was both oldest and only son of Kish. Saul is described as choice, the most handsome person in the nation, and the tallest of all the people of Israel. But these external traits are matched by good inward character. Later in this chapter we are told:

That he was persistent in his task to find the donkeys That he was concerned about his father worrying about him We derive from this that Saul was obedient He understood the importance of spiritual authority and guidance He was generous and looked for the potential to give to Samuel, the prophet of God He listened to the advice of others He was resourceful and had an accurate self-image The Spirit of the LORD came upon Him and he prophesied; God was with him God gave Saul another heart - he will be a courageous, strong, and skillful warrior as Israel's king.

Saul begins with proper fear and respect for his father. He had everything you could hope for or want in a leader and king.

“Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.” (, NKJV)

The LORD is using lost donkeys to move Saul to Samuel. Lost donkeys meant lost revenue for Kish. So, it was up to his son Saul to recover them. Donkeys were prized in the ANE because they could serve as pack animals in high temperatures and work hard for along time with little to no water. They were well-used for long distance travel of people and cargo. A mature donkey is able to carry 200 pounds of cargo. It can travel about 12 miles a day fully loaded. Additionally, they could travel across pretty rough terrain. This helps us to understand why they were so valuable in ancient times.

It's estimated that a considerable amount of donkeys were lost. We know this because Saul, the oldest and only son of Kish, goes himself with a servant to look for them. They passed through several places and could not find them.

“When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us.”” (, NKJV)

This is a trait you like to see in a son for sure. It shows a lot of consideration and respect for Saul's father.

People: Servant and Prophet

“And [the servant] said to [Saul], “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.” Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” And the servant answered Saul again and said, “Look, I have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.” (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: “Come, let us go to the seer”; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.) Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.” (, NKJV)

The servant knew that in Samuel, Saul would find a man of God with the message of God. Whatever Samuel said would come to pass. says that none of Samuel's words fell to the ground. Providing a gift for the man of God was a custom to show deference and gratitude. It wasn't a pay-off or bribe.

“As they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?” And they answered them and said, “Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place. As soon as you come into the city, you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up, for about this time you will find him.” So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.” (, NKJV)

The narrative is heightened as Samuel comes toward the group on his way to the high place. God is bringing two important men together in order to accomplish His will.

“Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”” (, NKJV)

Samuel is not taken by surprise. The LORD had prepared him for the encounter with Saul. The cry of the people had come to the LORD. The cry was not a cry for deliverance as much as it was a cry of discontentment. Nevertheless, the LORD would use Saul as a commander to deliver His people from the hand of the Philistines. He would be a militant king/commander. Saul would be sent by the LORD to Samuel. It's just that Saul wasn't aware of that yet.

“So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.”” (, NKJV)

Converging with God’s Sovereign Will

What's interesting about our text is the way a lot of disconnected events converge to accomplish the will of God. So many variables in life ...so many choices people make. Yet God is aware of all them and works through them to accomplish His sovereign will. I think we can draw four important lessons from these verses:

The Choice Is Ours

We make many choices each day as we depend upon God or fail to depend upon Him. Some of the choices correspond with His will; others are blunders or mistakes. But everything converges in accordance with the mercy of God. One day all will end with Him as all in all.

The Responsibility Is Ours

Many times we make our choices and are ignorant of the providential hand of God in them. People often get bothered when it comes to how God's sovereignty intersects with our choices. It's a fruitless discussion in my estimation. The Scriptures simply teach that God is providentially working His sovereign will without destroying the freedom of man to choose and creating some strange, robotic fatalism. God works mightily in us. However, we are the ones who do or fail to do His will.

The Glory Is God’s

What is important for believers is that we recognize God working. We glorify God best when we take what is often unseen by spiritually dead people or spiritually immature people and put it on display in our lives. The real point of testifying of God's power on Sunday or Wednesday night is to show everyone how God is providentially working in our lives. It's not for us, O LORD, not for us. But let Your name be glorified through us.

The Grace Is God’s

When God acts, it is for His children. Perhaps not to deliver us from literal Philistines, but to deliver us safely to Him. Don't miss the forest for the trees in your precise parsing of how God's sovereignty intersects with man's responsibility. The fact is that God is merciful and compassionate. He cares for us. He will never leave us.

Conclusion

We look forward to Heaven. Once there, we will still take action and do God's will. The difference is that we will be fully willing and obedient. Nothing will hinder us in that day.

We look forward to Heaven. Once there, we will still take action and do God's will. The difference is that we will be fully willing and obedient. Nothing will hinder us in that day. When we are finally made subject to the reign of the true King, the Lord Jesus Christ, then Jesus Himself will also be subject to the Father who put all things under Him, so that God the Father may be all in all (see ). We should be thankful as we live through this week. As children of God we are assured that God is at work ...that history definitely is His story. God works in us, through us, and for us. He will complete that which He has begun in us. Praise the Lord!

When we are finally made subject to the reign of the true King, the Lord Jesus Christ, then Jesus Himself will also be subject to the Father who put all things under Him, so that God the Father may be all in all (see ).

We should be thankful as we live through this week. As children of God we are assured that God is at work ...that history definitely is His story. God works in us, through us, and for us. He will complete that which He has begun in us. Praise the Lord!