Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 114
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IMMERSE
•
KINGDOMS
1S
| 9:14–10:3
So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samue l
was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship.
Now the Lord had told Samue l 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,” Samue l 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 Samue l left the
house together. When they reached the edge of town, Samue l 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.”
Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He
kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed
you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession. When you leave me
today, you will see two men beside Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, on the border
of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that
your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about
you. He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’
“When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be
bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and