Finding Lost Donkeys and the Heart of a King (Ron Matar) 11-5-23

1 Samuel 9:3-14
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young
men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of
Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through
the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did
not find them.
5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back,
lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him,
“Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes
true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his
servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no
present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I
have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9
(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for
today's “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us
go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to
them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come
just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13 As soon as you
enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till
he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you
will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw
Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have there been times in your own life when you have seen God's providence in the way quite ordinary things have come together into a wonderful providential pattern?
2. Why is it disrespectful to expect God always to explain his ways to us when we do not understand them? What should we be doing instead?
3. "There is a time to mourn and a time to dance." Samuel was stuck in mourning because of the failure of Saul's opportunity to be king. But God was ready for him to dance because he had found a king "after God's own heart." How can this example help you navigate the emotional challenges of life?
4. How can you apply the principle of "God looks at the heart" in your relationships and assessments of others?
5. How does God's choice of David encourage you in your current stage of life (or career)?