A Choice Young Man

And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. —1 Samuel 9:2

Humanity often places value on those things which are of little consequence.

The people of Israel judged their king based on outward appearance.

That he was tall and of regal bearing was foremost in their criteria, for he must measure up to the kings of the nations surrounding them. This human mistake was made clear to Samuel when he anointed David. God told him, “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). “Saul was the son of a powerful and wealthy chief, yet in accordance with the simplicity of the times he was engaged with his father in the humble duties of a husbandman. Some of his father’s animals having strayed upon the mountains, Saul went with a servant to seek for them. For three days they searched in vain, when, as they were not far from Ramah, the home of Samuel, the servant proposed that they should inquire of the prophet concerning the missing property.” After trudging over hills and valleys for three days, any option was enticing. Saul was concerned, however, that he had no present to give to the prophet as was customary when asking a favor.

The servant insisted they should go see Samuel. “Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way” (1 Samuel 9:8).

Approaching the city, they asked where they might find the seer.

Some girls informed them a religious service was about to start and Samuel would be present to offer a sacrifice. The service would be followed by a sacrificial feast.

“On what apparently inconsequential incidents does the destiny of races and peoples often depend! Saul set out to find the lost asses . . . , little dreaming that the day had come for him to assume the responsibilities of a kingdom!” “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).