There was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeor, the son of Bekroth, the son of Alphiah, 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 shoulder up, he was taller than any of the people.
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost.
And Kish said to his son Saul, Please take one of the young servants with you and arise and 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 Shalim, and they were not there.
Then they passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
When they had come to the land of Zoph, 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.
And he said to him, 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 to this 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, well said, come and let us go.
So they went to the city where the man of God was.
And as they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going 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 the 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 towards them on his way up to the high place.
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.
So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him,
And there he is, the man whom I spoke to you.
This one shall reign over my people.
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate and said,
Please tell me, where is the seer's house?
Samuel answered Saul and said,
I am the seer.
Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today.
And tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them,
For they have been found.
And on whom is all the desire of Israel?
Is it not on you and on all your father's house?
And Saul answered and said,
Am I not a Benjamite of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?
Am I family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?
Why then do you speak like this to me?
Now Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall
and had them sit in the place of honor among those who were invited.
There were about thirty persons.
And Samuel said to the cook,
Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, set it apart.
So the cook took up the thigh with its upper part and set it before Saul.
And Samuel said,
Here it is, what was kept back.
It was set apart for you.
Eat, for until this time it has been kept for you,
since I said I invited the people.
So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
When they had come down from the high place into the city,
Samuel spoke with Saul on top of the house.
They rose early,
and it was about the dawning of the day
that Samuel called to Saul on top of the house,
saying,
Get up, that I may send you on your way.
And Saul arose,
and both men went outside,
he and Samuel.
As they were going down to the outskirts of the city,
Samuel said to Saul,
Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.
And he went on,
But you stand here a while,
that I may announce to you the word of God.
The word of God for the people.
Thanks be to God.
Thank you, Ken.
Isaiah 40 says that the grass withers and the flower fades,
but the word of the Lord stands forever.
While the word of the Lord stands,
you may be seated.
Luke 1 says that no word from God shall be void of power.
Would you pray with me?
Lord, we thank you for your word.
We thank you for how you have acted in human history
in a powerful way
to reveal who you are
and how you've captured your actions
in the scriptures.
We thank you for this narrative.
We pray, Lord, that you will use this to humble us before you.
We pray that your word will be,
as James says, a mirror
that we can see our souls and our hearts
and we pray, Lord,
that by the power of your Holy Spirit,
you will be our teacher.
We pray that your Holy Spirit, Lord,
will break up that soil
that has laid fallow and grown hard.
We pray, Lord, that it will pierce through
and that it will plant the seed of truth,
the gospel,
the living hope we have in Jesus Christ
into the souls of your people today.
And for Christ's sake,
it's that we ask this.
Amen.
Some things are hard to watch
even if they are predictable.
Growing up, we had a boxer dog
and that's the type of dog
that's really big,
really big mouth
and a lot of slobber.
And this dog vomited on the porch.
I remember seeing it right there
with my little brother.
My parents run off to get this stuff.
They go, quick, we got to clean that up.
My brother and I just sat there watching.
Well, sure enough,
that dog comes back and you,
it's predictable, but it's still gross
and it's hard to watch.
You know what's going to happen.
The dog goes over and starts licking it.
Israel's behavior is a lot like that, isn't it?
The behavior of God's people,
even though it's predictable,
it's still hard to watch.
2 Peter 2, verse 22,
quotes Proverbs 26.
And it's this observation
that as a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool returns to his folly or sin.
And the reason we have narratives like this,
that it's like watching
a slow motion train wreck.
We can all see where this is going,
but it's painful and hard to watch.
It's that point that we should learn from this.
Pay attention to these details
and learn from it.
So beloved congregation
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the message I hope that you and I
can receive today from God
is to see how patient he is as a teacher.
Let's see together how the Lord
teaches his people.
Sinners though we are,
with remaining corruptions,
though he calls us saints in Christ.
I have five observations for us today.
Number one,
when the Lord lets his children
taste the sin they desire,
he leaves no reason
to complain of him.
When the Lord lets his children
taste that sin that they desired,
God leaves no reason
for you and me to complain of him.
Look at verse one.
There was a man
whose name was Kish.
That should remind you
of how the last episode started.
Remember,
the last episode in this book
was focused on a different person,
which was Samuel.
And it began by describing Samuel's dad.
And now we have a shift.
A new episode is beginning,
the same opening words.
He was a mighty man of power.
It could be translated
of wealth or of might.
Verse two,
this man had a choice
and handsome son.
The word choice,
it's the same words used
to describe choice silver or gold.
It's something that's been tested
and determined to be precious and good.
The word handsome
in the Hebrew is tov.
And that means good or goodly.
It's used in other places
of the Bible to describe
a beautiful woman, tov.
So if you will,
women who are married
want to give your husband
a compliment,
tell him tov.
It's good.
In the name of this
choice and handsome son,
his name was Saul.
There was not a more good
or goodly
or handsome person
than he among
all the children of Israel.
From his shoulders upward,
he was taller
than any of the people.
What that means is
even his shoulders
were taller
than the tallest head.
This is where I get distracted.
Okay, what is the height
of the average man?
5.9,
according to the internet.
And the distance
between the shoulder
and the head
is like 12 inches.
So if everyone else's head
came to here,
you add on 12 more inches,
Saul would have likely been
between 6 feet 9 inches.
Well, who is famous
that's that tall?
It's LeBron James.
Or 7 feet tall?
Shaquille O'Neal or Karim.
Saul was a tall man.
And here he comes,
walking,
son of a mighty,
wealthy father.
The name Saul
is also noteworthy.
The name Saul
means prayed for
or asked for.
A little hint,
even in God's providence,
of the name given
to the tallest man
in all of Israel.
This is exactly
who you prayed for
and asked me for.
Well, this tall,
young man
that was tall
was good.
He made a good impression
anywhere he went
by his physical appearance,
by also his bearing.
He carried himself
like a nobleman.
That's the lasting impression
you get.
Dale Ralph Davis commented,
people would have voted
Saul, Mr. Israel,
had there been
such a contest.
And Saul's associated now
with chasing
these lost donkeys.
It takes a lot of verses
to describe his search
all over for these
lost donkeys.
Well, you probably remember
the prophecy,
you know,
of Solomon
riding in on a donkey
would be fulfilled
by Jesus Christ
coming into Jerusalem
on a donkey.
So donkeys were,
it's what a king
or someone princely
or noble would ride
into the nation on
if it was a time
of victory or peace.
So you take your war horse,
if you're going to go charge,
you want to be up
as high as possible,
but if it's a time of peace,
you get to ride a donkey.
All of these things
describe Saul
as a very attractive choice
for God's people.
Remember,
Israel's goal
at this time
was to be
like all the other nations.
That's what they wanted
more than anything else.
Scholars have noticed
how there is only
one Israelite
in all of the Bible
described
and kind of identified
by his height,
and that's Saul.
Everywhere else
in the Bible,
tall people
are associated
with the enemies
that oppose God.
Think of the giants
in the land
as they're going to go
in the promised land.
Think Goliath, obviously.
So here's the only Israelite
described by that
very thing
that defines
the world
and that's fear striking
into the people of God.
You're getting exactly
what you wanted.
Someone commented,
this amplifies
the impression
that Saul
was precisely
the kind of king
who would be chosen
by all the other nations
and Israel gets to have him
as their king.
See how God leaves
his people
with no excuse?
It's like saying
we really want
to have the captain
of our March Madness
basketball team
be one who's going
to be NBA bound.
And God says,
oh, not only can he dunk,
not only is he going
to the NBA,
I'm going to give you one
who anybody would pick
as their first round
draft pick.
He's going to be
an all-star.
And Saul's chasing
around these lost donkeys.
There's three credentials
that stand out.
It supports his good prospects
for leadership.
God's given them someone
that they can see
is up to standard.
Anyone would want them.
First, it's this.
In verse 5,
Saul showed respect
for his father.
Second, in verse 6,
Saul showed respect
for the social conventions.
If you're going to appear
before a person of eminence
like Samuel,
you don't want to come
empty-handed.
You should bring a gift.
That was customary.
And number 3,
in verse 21,
Saul showed humility.
And he says,
am I not a Benjamite
of the smallest
of the tribes of Israel
and my family
the least of all
the families
of the tribe of Benjamin?
What we know
is that was wealthy
and mighty,
but he's being very
humble and modest.
These credentials,
you could say,
support him
as a good prospect.
There's nothing there
that would disqualify him.
We also have
in this passage
the reception.
How was this tall,
handsome man
that shows humility
and respect for his father,
how was he received?
Well, see,
the daughters of Israel,
they represent
the future of the nation
and also the heart
and the passion
of a nation.
And there's a pattern
when the daughters
of Zion
or the daughters
of Jerusalem
or the daughters
of Israel
come out to meet a man.
There's a pattern there
in all of Scripture.
Think about all the different
times this has happened.
Isaac met his wife
at a well.
So did Jacob.
So did Moses.
And now Saul,
he's welcomed
by the daughters
of Israel.
Look at verse 11.
As he and his servant
went up the hill
to the city,
they met some young women
going out
to draw water.
But let's pay attention.
If these are
the daughters of Israel,
how do they receive him?
Turns out,
they want to help him.
They give him
urgent instructions
and detour.
Go here.
So he's being well received
by the daughters
of the nation.
This is another good sign.
See,
Israel can't accuse God
of trying to sabotage
their plan
of a monarchy.
The future ruler
was given
a seat of honor,
look at verse 22,
by the man of God,
that seat that was reserved
in the presence
of these 30 VIP guests.
In verse 22,
he's given a piece
of meat
that Samuel
had intentionally
set aside
with the fat on it,
meaning it would taste
the best.
Then he gets to eat
with Samuel.
The man of God
whose word never
falls to the ground.
In verses 25 and 26,
Samuel hosts him
to say the top
of the house.
That's the place
where it was cool.
You normally have
like a guest bedroom
up there,
a place where you can
go and have meetings
like, remember how
Jesus met with Nicodemus
up there in the cool
of the night?
So he gets to be there
hosted by Samuel.
In verse 27,
the Lord gives Saul
a direct word.
Samuel pays a lot
attention to him
one-on-one
and ministers
the word of God
to this future ruler.
Saul and Israel
have no reason
to complain of God.
When the Lord
lets his children
taste the sin
they desire,
he leaves no reason
to complain.
We saw last week
how by wanting
a king like all
the other nations,
they were rejecting
God as their king
and this is exactly
what God gives them.
Has the Lord
ever taught you
what really matters
by giving you
exactly what you
thought was best
for you
and what you
really wanted?
I remember a time
maybe 10 years ago
there was an opportunity
for a promotion
and it was,
you know,
of course outside
of church
but I thought
I really wanted this
and the analogy
my dad gave me,
I have a wonderful
Christian dad
and he said,
Jason,
sometimes we want
to chase a tiger
and we think
that's what we want
and then when you
catch it,
what do you have?
You've got a tiger
by the tail
and that's often
how it is,
isn't it?
The Lord patiently
lets us learn
the lesson.
What you think
matters most
is not what your
loving father
has for you.
When we finally
get it,
we turn around
and our loving father
is there
and he's a patient
teacher.
Here's our second
observation.
When sin-desiring
men try to push
the Lord away
from his people,
where does he go?
When the sin-desiring
men try to push
the Lord away
from his people,
where does he go?
What happened
last chapter
is that the elders
of Israel
came to Samuel,
they heard all
the stern warnings
that God gave them
through Samuel,
this king is going
to become a Pharaoh
figure,
but their hearts
desire this,
this is the man
they want.
Where does the Lord
go when God
says they have
rejected me?
I want you to see
here in an indirect
way that God
stays near
his people.
God orchestrates
and presides
over and powerfully
causes all things,
even that which men
intend for evil,
like in this case,
to work together
for his good purposes
for those who are
his called ones.
Romans 8, 28.
I want to point out
five coincidences,
so to speak,
five ways in which
it just so happened,
and all of this
shows the providence
of God,
how he's near
all along orchestrating
everything according
to his will.
First,
it just so happened
that as Saul's
father's donkeys
got lost
at that time,
and that it took
exactly three days,
and in that time,
Saul searches everywhere
only to end up
right where God
wanted him to be.
Number two,
it just so happened
that they came
to the land of Zoph
where Ramah was.
Oh, remember Ramah,
that's the mountaintops
where Samuel lives.
Number three,
it just so happened
that Saul's servant
remembered about Samuel
and the fact
that he lived there,
and he spoke
on behalf of God.
He was a seer,
and he could perhaps
guide them
in the right direction.
Number four,
it just so happened
that the young women
told Saul
where to go
just in time
so that as he would
walk out there,
he would be able
to meet up with Samuel
on the road
right before he goes
up the hill
for the sacrifice feast.
And number five,
it just so happened
that there was already
this great feast plan
with meat set apart
and 30 elite guests
invited.
Of course,
Saul is portrayed
in this whole chapter
as someone really
bumbling through
these events.
A spiritually blind person
will fail to acknowledge
that in all of these details,
it's the sovereign hand
of God
being so close,
orchestrating everything
for his great purpose.
Look at verse 15 with me.
See, all along,
the Lord had told Samuel
in his ear
the day before
that Saul came,
saying,
verse 16,
tomorrow,
about this time,
I will send you a man
from the land
of Benjamin.
This tiny little tribe,
you're not going to see
too many of those
in a lifetime,
and I'm going to send them
right here to you
this time tomorrow.
See how close God was
all along,
orchestrating every detail?
It was God
who sent Saul
to Samuel
at that exact moment.
I want us to
take this story
as one small example
and see what this
reveals to us
about our great God.
See, God,
all along,
was the first
and primary cause.
God makes
all things
happen
just so.
It wasn't that
it just so happened,
it was God
who caused it
to be that way.
Providence,
the providence of God
is the expression
or the application
of the attribute
of God,
which is his sovereignty.
God is sovereign.
He reigns freely
over all his creation,
and he displays that
in his providence.
Of God's providence,
we agree with
the catechism question
that nothing happens
except through God
and by his will.
It's God who
providentially controls
even the smallest
matters in your life
and in mine
according to his will.
In God's perfect design
and according to
who God is
in his essence,
he uses
other means
to accomplish
his will.
See,
this is a wonderful,
wonderful doctrine,
a wonderful truth
from scripture
that we could meditate
on for an entire life
and we won't plumb
the full depths of it.
Who is God
in his essence?
God is
all powerful
all the time.
And God
operates
in human time
and space.
And what we recognize
is that
who God is
is displayed
by how he acts
so that the operations
of God
in the world
reflect back on us
his essence
and his attributes.
He is absolutely
sovereign.
He is
infinite
completeness.
There was an old word
in Latin
where these theologians
after the Reformation
are trying to describe
who is God
and acting
in such a
sovereign,
providential way.
and the Latin word
was this,
actus putus,
pure actuality.
That's who God is.
The Lord God
is close to his people
causing all things
to happen.
So if God
is the primary cause
and these other
events
and choices
and decisions
that others make,
what does it make those?
Well those become
secondary means
or secondary
causes.
the word is
volition.
Creatures have
volition.
Creatures have
the ability
to choose
and make decisions.
So the Lord
would use
for example
the free choice
or the volition
of the donkeys
to run away.
He would use
the choice
of his father
to send Saul
with this particular
servant
and the volition
of that servant
to put a shekel
or some money
in his pocket.
The volition
of those 30 guests
to prepare
a sacrifice feast
and even the volition
or the free choice
of rebellious Israel
to prefer
an earthly monarchy
as their idol
over God
as their king.
You see how it
becomes obvious
from this passage
exactly what
Acts 15.18
says
that all
God's works
are known
to him
from
eternity.
Let me run
that by you
one more time.
Acts 15.18
all God's works
are known
to him
from
eternity.
Is your view
of God
big enough
for this God
of the Bible?
We should be
stretched.
Are your thoughts
about God
high enough
for the only
living God
who is the creator
and the sustainer
of everyone
and everything?
The Lord
has acted
in human history
and he's recorded
for us
and he patiently
uses his word
in every generation
to elevate
our thoughts
of him
that we see him
more and more
by faith
in all his splendor
and glory
that we'll never
get to the end
of it.
See how much
higher the Lord
is than
worldly idols.
With such a high God
we have to confess
back to him
who he is
using the words
of his own Bible.
In Job 36.22
behold
God is exalted
in his power
and who is a teacher
like him?
Psalm 32.8
what we read earlier
the Lord promises
to his people
I will instruct you
and teach you
in the way
that you should go.
I will counsel you
with my loving eye
upon you
using all things
for his glory
and our good.
Well the third observation
is that the Lord
shows
how far
those desires
of sinful hearts
fall short
of his glorious reign.
The Lord
shows how far
the desires
of sinful hearts
fall short
of his glorious reign
as our king.
See in verse 20
would you look there?
He says
on whom
is all
the desire
of Israel?
As Saul
is presented
to them
and providentially
brought before
these 30
invited guests
representing leadership
for the whole nation
and will soon
be anointed
and presented
as the king
the Lord
is pointing out
that the desire
of Israel
is not on God
their desire
their longing
is on
this man.
the irony
here is brought
out in how
Saul
is truly
incompetent
and not suited
to lead
God's people.
Let's unpack
this desire
of Israel
in four ways
here.
First
the desire
of all Israel
was upon
a man
from the wicked
tribe
of Benjamin.
In Genesis
Benjamin
is described
along with all
his descendants
as a wolf
that will devour.
In the book
of Judges
Benjamin
is abused
I'm sorry
a Levite
brings his concubine
and the people
of Benjamin
abuse the concubine
bringing a civil war
and all the other
tribes come
and slaughter
the men of Benjamin
for their wickedness
leaving only 600
men surviving.
Second
the desire
of all Israel
was upon a man
known for having
lost his donkeys
see God
often has prepared
in his scripture
up to this point
spiritual rulers
by making them
first practice
caring for livestock
that's how God
trains the leaders
of his people
God's leaders
are introduced
consistently
as good shepherds
going all the way
back to Abel
the first martyr
he tended sheep
remember that
Abraham
his flock
thrived
Isaac was a
hands-on shepherd
who went out
and dug
well after
well for his
sheep
Jacob's sheep
multiplied
unexplainably
remember Moses
went and protected
the sheep of his
future wife
from the bullies
and then the Lord
had him be prepared
to become the one
he would use
to deliver them
out of Egypt
by spending
40 years
as a shepherd
tending sheep
what is Saul
doing in this
list here
Saul is not
a shepherd
the fact that
his dad was
wealthy
and had these
female donkeys
which are even
more expensive
it's most likely
points to him
being a farmer
because donkeys
are beasts of
burden
and they would
pull a plow
so it would be
the work of a
farmer
Saul's incompetence
as a shepherd
is highlighted
by his inability
to watch over
the herd of
donkeys
even though
these beasts
of burden
are much louder
bigger
and easier
to find
than the lost
little lambs
would have been
and third
the desire
of all Israel
was upon a man
who was spiritually
blind
when he finally
gets to meet
Samuel
the servant
tells him
there is a seer
here
there is a man
of God
and Saul
doesn't know
anything about this
this should be
concerning
in chapter 3
verse 20
we're told
all of Israel
from Dan
to Beersheba
knew
that Samuel
was established
as a prophet
of the Lord
chapter 4
verse 1
says that the
word of Samuel
came to all Israel
so how
how could Saul
have never
have heard
of this man
of God
to make matters
even worse
when he finally
meets him
in chapter 9
verse 18
he asks
Samuel
the prophet
himself
tell me
where is the
house of the seer
only to find out
that's exactly
who you're talking
to
see this
foreshadows
Saul's
spiritual
blindness
he's going
to accuse
his godly
son
he's going
to accuse
David
falsely
and he's
going to
show
this man
has no
fear
of the
true king
of Israel
well
fourth
the desire
of all Israel
was upon
a man
who consistently
fails
to lead
while Saul
is set up
as this
good looking
new commander
of Israel
who is it
that's really
guiding him
all along the way
and telling him
what they should
do next
and pointing it
out
it's his servant
the unnamed
servant
Saul neglects
to be
a leader
to seek out
the will of
God
and instead
he's always
going to be
turning throughout
his career
to unwise
counsel
and he'll
neglect
going himself
to get the
guidance
that he needs
from God
one commentator
pointed this out
how the
Saul's of the
world
you probably
work with some
they're ones
who have
little competence
for the
actual job
at hand
but only
the carefully
cultivated
impression
of superiority
Saul is the
kind of man
who often
comes to
prominence
and power
in this
world
isn't that
true
this commentator
said sadly
even in many
churches
so the Lord
in this
ironic setup
shows how
far the
desires
sinful hearts
fall short
of his
glorious
reign
well the
fourth question
and observation
is this
though sin
flirting hearts
reject the
Lord of glory
for an idol
how does
God
view
his own
people still
though their
sin flirting
hearts have
rejected the
Lord
for this
idol
this monarchy
how does
God view
his own
people still
would you
look at me
with verse
15
the Lord
told Samuel
tomorrow
I'll send
you a man
from Benjamin
you shall
anoint him
commander
notice how
God doesn't
say king
you'll anoint
him commander
or princely
ruler 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 up
to me
God's
people
rejected
him
but God
has not
rejected
his people
these are
my people
God says
and the
elect within
Israel
the remnant
they are
crying out
to God
still
he still
hears
their prayers
says they
cried out
to me
and I
heard them
even if
they're
suffering
at the
sin
of the
elders
of the
nation
and the
leaders
someone
brought up
the question
I thought
the
Philistines
had been
pushed
back
and we
go back
two chapters
it's true
there was
peace in
the land
even the
Amorites
were at
peace
because the
Lord
ruled and
displayed his
power
but remember
what happened
since then
is the
failed succession
of Samuel's
sons
they were
corrupt
unjust
and when
the people
of God
are not
submitting
to God
as their
king
the enemies
encroach
and who is
left to
protect them
when they've
rejected the
only one
who is
powerful to
do this
to the
extent that
Israel is
a type
of God's
heavenly kingdom
on earth
just as the
church is
the enemies
on this earth
will always be
with us
and the Lord
warns of wolves
and those will
come in seeking
to devour
as well as the
enemies inside
of us
you know
Satan
the remaining
corruptions
of our own
hearts
these things
are always
at battle
in this life
on this earth
until that
great day
when the
kingdom of heaven
is on the
earth
and the
glory of
God
covers
the entire
earth
and every
enemy and
foe has
been vanquished
but in the
meantime
we need the
Lord
driving away
the enemies
and the
minute
God's people
take their
eyes off
of him
they ask
for more
trouble
in verse
17
when Samuel
saw Saul
the Lord
said to him
there he is
the man
of whom
I spoke
to you
this one
shall
reign
literally
the word
is this
one shall
restrain
my people
so how
does the
Lord view
his people
he's giving
them
this idol
he's letting
them taste
the sin
that they
have desired
and put
their heart
on
knowing
as a
loving
father
what you
are getting
is going
to restrain
you
you think
this is going
to make
you advance
as a
kingdom
this is going
to withhold
my blessings
upon you
this idol
that you
want
so badly
this is
holding
you back
this is
not
advancing
my kingdom
in my
way
notice how
the donkeys
were eventually
found
Samuel says
don't worry
about the
donkeys
three days
later
they've been
found
and that was
without any
leadership
provided by
the man
put in
charge
of them
so if
this is an
analogy
the herdsman
represents
the king
what does
this say
about
this herd
of rebellious
donkeys
that ran
away
from Mr.
Kish
Saul's
dad
do you see
the beautiful
irony here
that's implied
people who
reject God
as their
king
what does
that make
them
loud
stubborn
lost
that's right
donkeys
we'll stick
with that
psalm 78
says
the Lord
led his
people out
like sheep
and he
guided them
in the
wilderness
like a
flock
psalm 80
says
that God
calls himself
the shepherd
of Israel
in psalm 95
God's elect
are the people
of his
pasture
and the
sheep
of his
hand
and by
turning to
an idol
we're like
those donkeys
wandering away
from the good
shepherd
from the Lord
who provides
all that we
need
we forfeited
the safety
and contentment
we enjoyed
in the green
pastures
of our
wealthy
generous
mighty
owner
and what
does that
father do
he sends
his own
son
on a mission
to save
them
to save
me and
you
but where
the son
of Kish
fell short
in every
way
the son
of God
our Lord
Jesus
Christ
he fulfilled
his father's
mission
perfectly
completely
and forever
John 17
4
Jesus says
I have
accomplished
the work
you gave
me
to do
those
sin
flirting
hearts
reject
the Lord
of glory
for an
idol
do you
see how
God
views
his
people
still
well the
final
observation
for today
is this
that the
Lord
just as
he orchestrated
the events
in this
narrative
he has
orchestrated
all of
redemptive
history
to teach
his people
through
God
the son
think how
how sweeping
this statement
is
decide if you
agree that
this is
true
the Lord
God has
orchestrated
all of
redemptive
history
to teach
his people
through
God
the son
I want to
point out
five ways
in which
this is
true
I'm sure
there are
many more
number one
in his
providence
to become
the king
of kings
God
the son
entered
human
history
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
could have
come from
a powerful
nation
like Egypt
or Persia
or Babylon
but instead
fulfilling
Isaiah 41
18
which calls
Israel weak
and small
this is the
nation
that the
God
the son
chose to
come in
through
second
in his
providence
to become
the first
born
from the
dead
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
was born
into a
family
he had
to be
like
everyone
else
right
and he
could have
chosen
to be
born
a beautiful
Rachel's
line
or the
wealthy
queen
of Sheba
or whoever
he wanted
but instead
he chose
the stock
of ugly
Leah
and poor
Mary
third
in his
providence
to redeem
his bride
God the son
took on
a body
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
could have
been
tall
and
impressive
in his
form
he could
have been
stately
and attractive
in appearance
but instead
fulfilling
Isaiah 53
2
our Lord
Jesus
Christ
did not
have
an
impressive
form
or majesty
that we
should
look at
him
no
appearance
that we
should
desire
him
fourth
in his
providence
to pour
out
every
blessing
upon
his
people
from
his
own
eternal
unchanging
endless
bounty
God
created
a people
from
nothing
and when
we reject
him
the Lord
had every
just right
to withhold
anything good
from us
but instead
he kept
his covenant
and he proved
this
Romans 8
32
he did
not spare
his own
son
but gave
him up
for all
of us
will he
not also
graciously
give us
everything
else
fifth
in his
providence
to rule
over
all he
has made
as the
Lord of
lords
Jesus
Christ
accomplished
his
mission
see he
could have
kept
all of
his
spiritual
goodness
to
himself
but
instead
he pours
out his
Holy Spirit
on his
church
to make
you and
me
alive
in him
to shine
his
glory
upon
you
and me
you think
of that
word
goodness
our notion
of goodness
it comes
from the
fact that
God is
good
and God
showed his
goodness
in Jesus
Christ
his son
what's
more than
that
is he
wants
the true
beauty
the true
glory
the true
attractiveness
the goodliness
of Jesus
Christ
to be
on his
people
on you
and me
and he
does that
by putting
his moral
law
inside
of his
people
by writing
the new
covenant
in our
minds
and our
hearts
he makes
you and
me
willing
and able
to grow
in his
likeness
into the
goodliness
of Jesus
more and
more
and he
makes us
into his
holy
international
nation
by the
power
of his
Holy Spirit
and his
people
see this
is how
our
gracious
sovereign
faithful
Lord
has
orchestrated
all of
human
history
is to
teach
sinners
that he
calls
saints
you and
me
through
God
the
Son
there's
an old
song
and one
of the
lines
is the
fitting
response
for us
we want
to learn
from this
example
of Israel
once
earthly
joy I
craved
sought
peace
and rest
now
thee
alone
I
seek
give
what
is
best
this
all
my
prayer
shall
be
more
love
oh
Christ
to
thee
more
love
to
thee
more
love
to
thee
would
you
spend
some
time
and
respond
and
pray
and ask
the
Lord
to give
us
more
love
for
him
above
anything
else
this
world
has
to
offer
let's
pray
do
what