Chasing Donkeys
I Samuel 9: 1-10
I want to go back just a little to give you some history leading up to this scripture setting.
Most of us have studied at least a little about Israel’s humble beginnings, beginning with Abraham and going through to the circumstances of this scripture story.
We all recall how God so miraculously delivered the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt.
We recall how Jehovah God led them, protected them, sustained and provided for them.
He performed a miracle by opening up the Red Sea when the armies of Egypt was pursuing after them, and led them across on dry ground.
On and on we could go, talking about God’s great power in his leadership of His people.
We recall how Moses was Israel’s leader, under the authority of Jehovah God.
Then Moses died, and Joshua assumed the position of leadership for the Israelites.
After the death of Joshua God appointed judges delivering the people from the oppression of neighboring enemies and leading them in faithful obedience to the Lord.
Samuel was one of those judges.
In 1 Samuel chapter 8, the scripture tells us that Samuel had reached old age, not physically able to carry out the demanding duties of his office.
So Samuel appointed his two sons, Joel and Abiah to take his place.
But Joel and Abiah were not dedicated to the Lord like their father.
They were greedy, selfish and perverted judgment.
In other words, they were “crooked politicians” giving out unjust and misguided judgment.
They turned from the right course and distorted what was right, taking bribes from the people and making a complete mockery out of justice.
So the people became weary with this kind of leadership and thought it best that the order of judges be discontinued and instead have a king as other nations around them did.
Read 1 Samuel 8: 4-5
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
Israel had prophets, priests, and judges, but God was their King.
They weren’t satisfied with God’s plan; they wanted to institute their own plan.
It’s funny how people think they know more than God! They think their plan is better than God’s plan.
They think their method is much better than God’s method.
Israel wanted a king to rule over them like other nations around them.
Samuel was displeased with their request.
Read 1 Samuel 8: 7-8
1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
Evidently, Samuel took their request personally, and felt they were rejecting him.
However God said, they have not rejected you, they have rejected me that I should rule over them.
It’s not about you Samuel, It’s all about me!
So God tells Samuel, “Protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall rule over them.”
In other words, “Let them know the repercussions of having a king ruling over them.”
They really don’t have a clue what having a king is like.
Read 1 Samuel 8: 10-12
1Sa 8:10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
So are you sure you want a king?
Read 1 Samuel 8:13
1Sa 8:13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
Are you sure you want a king?
Read 1 Samuel 8:14
1Sa 8:14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
Are you sure you want a king?
1Sa 8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
You are going to be paying a big price for this monarchy you want to establish.
You will be sorry!
1Sa 8:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
But you have cast your vote! You will have made your decision!
There will be no higher courts to appeal to.
You will cry out, but you must remember, you are the ones who made the decision to have an earthly king.
Then notice verse 19 and 20
1Sa 8:19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
Who had been fighting their battles? Who had been going out before them?
Was it not GOD, Jehovah GOD?
Wasn’t their God, JEHOVAH-ROHI
meaning "The Lord my shepherd"
Wasn’t their God, JEHOVAH-RAPHA
meaning "The Lord our healer"
Wasn’t their God, JEHOVAH-JIREH
meaning "The Lord will provide"
Wasn’t their God, JEHOVAH-NISSI
meaning "The Lord our banner"
Wasn’t their God, JEHOVAH-SHALOM
meaning "The Lord is peace"
Wasn’t their God, EL-SHADDAI
meaning "The God of the mountains or God Almighty"
Wasn’t their God, EL-OLAM
meaning "The everlasting God"
But God gave them what they asked for.
1Sa 8:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
How many of us today are like those people?
We think we know more than God, what is best for us.
But God knows what is best for us. He knows what will make me happy and satisfied.
I think I know, but I am almost always wrong!
So in chapter 9 we see the preparations in the making to bring about the request Israel asked for, a King!
Read 9: 1-2
1Sa 9:1 Now 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.
2 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.
Kish was from the tribe of Benjamin, and the name Kish means “mighty man of power.” Meaning, he was a very wealthy man.
Saul, the son of Kish was a goodly man, or he was of a good quality, fine appearance, substantial size, and tall.
Read 9: 3-5
1Sa 9:3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
Now we find that Kish had lost some donkeys. Probably had wandered off somehow, and simply got lost and couldn’t find their way back home.
So Kish sent Saul and a servant to try to find them.
After some time had passed they have not seen hide nor hair of these donkeys, so Saul decides to start back home empty handed.
But the servant says, “Hey, we are at a place where there is a seer. Let’s ask him if he knows anything about the missing donkeys.
Wise decision! We’ve exhausted ourselves looking for these donkeys, so lets see if the man of God can help.
Isn’t that the way we are? We exhaust ourselves trying to do things our own way, and so finally we decide to turn to God.
If we had given it to God in the first place we would have saved ourselves a lot of stress and anxiety!
Saul agrees with the servant, so they went into the city to find this seer, or prophet.
Now listen to this:
The previous day, the prophet Samuel heard the Lord speak to him and say, “Tomorrow a man is going to come, the one I have chosen to be the captain, the king of the nation.”
As Saul came into the city looking for the prophet, Samuel saw him, and the Lord spoke to him and said, “Behold the man whom I spoke to you about, this man shall rule over my people.”
Saul walks right up to Samuel and asks, “Do you know where the seer lives?”
Samuel replies, “I’m the man you are looking for.”
Today you shall eat with me and tomorrow I will tell you want you want to know. These donkeys you’re looking for has been found.
But don’t worry about the donkeys, you have a far greater purpose for being here!
You are here looking for some donkeys, but God has something else in mind that will change your life.
A lot of people are out looking for donkeys instead of doing the will of God.
God has a purpose for you.
God has a plan for you.
But you are out chasing donkeys!
Too many Christians are chasing after the things of this life, instead of dedicating themselves to the service of the Lord.
Chasing after their dreams.
Chasing after their selfish desires.
Chasing after the things of this world.
Chasing after the cares of this life.
No regard for God’s purpose and plan for their lives.
Chasing donkeys.
But God has a plan for you.
He has a purpose for your life.
He has a plan for you to be a blessing to those around you.
He can’t perform that plan until we step aside from chasing donkeys and wait upon the Lord.
Again, Samuel says to Saul, “Don’t worry about the donkeys. They have been found. They are being taken care of.
He tells Saul, “Go with me to the high place”, verse 19.
The high place; where worship by sacrifices or offerings were made.
This is where God wants us to be when we step aside from chasing donkeys.
Step aside from chasing after the things of this world, and worship God and offer praises unto Him.
Samuel informed Saul that, right now, the donkeys don’t matter.
Quit worrying about the donkeys.
Stop fretting about those donkeys.
Come aside and bask in the presence of the Lord, and He will reveal to what He has in store for you.
Saul had no intentions of going to church that day! He had no intentions in going to worship God.
But God had plans!
Saul went with Samuel to the high place and worshipped God.
After the blessings and worship, Saul was invited to a feast where he was fed a special chunk of meat that had been ordered and set aside just for him.
Then something else takes place.
Verses 26 and 27 says, “And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
Samuel says to Saul, “Send your servant away, but you stand still because there is something I must tell you.”
“Stand still, I know you are worried about your father, I know you are anxious to get those donkeys and head back home, but stand still, slow down, because God is going to give you a word.”
God may be telling you today;
I know you are worried about your problems,
I know you are worried about the burden you are carrying,
I know you are worried about your finances,
I know you are worried about your job,
I know you are worried about your children,
I know you are worried about your bills.
But stand still, slow down, because God has a word for you!
He has a plan.
He has a program.
He has design.
He has a purpose.
He has an intention.
Praise God!
Chapter 10 begins with Samuel taking a vial of oil and pouring it upon the head of Saul and revealing to him with confirmation that God has anointed him to be king over God’s people.
It was not uncommon for kings to be anointed with oil in this way.
Even the pagan nations, which surrounded Israel, anointed their kings with oil.
But they used animal fat to anoint because they believed that by pouring on the fat of a bull or an ox, and rubbing it into the man’s head, somehow the individual would be infused with the strength of the bull or the ox.
When God anointed his people, it wasn’t from the fat of an animal, but from the olive tree, mixed with spices.
Over
God’s anointing wasn’t to make men like animals, but to show that they were rooted and grounded in the things of God in order to bring fruit to the glory of God.
Oh listen,
Read verse 2 of chapter 10;
1Sa 10:2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you.
I like what Samuel says because there are times when we, too, lose our donkeys.
When we feel those burdens, tensions, and anxieties.
And as he did with Saul, God says, “I want to help you with that.”
As the seer. Samuel is a type of the Holy Spirit, who searches out the deep things of God.
“You’ve come to the right place,” Samuel says.
But before I give you information about your lost donkeys I want you to sit at the table with me.”
Saul could have said, “My dad is worried, I have a job to do. I don’t have time to set at the table.”
But Saul didn’t do that, did he?
Like Saul, we’re worried about stuff that is ultimately not all that important.
God will take care of it; there is a higher calling, there is a grander picture.
There is a big plan for you, a design for our lives.
When you feel overwhelmed by problems and tensions, burdens and frustrations, just slow down!
Come to the table!
Come to communion with God.
Come and dine.
Wait upon the Lord.
Listen, it’s not about your problems,
Its not about your donkeys,
It’s about your being anointed as royalty to be used in the kingdom of God.
I wonder who of us has missed out because we were worried about our donkeys, failing to realize the Lord was simply using them to call us away to commune with Him.
When you are uptight or upset, come to the Lord’s table and dine with him.
Don’t fret over the circumstances in your life, because sometimes God uses the circumstances in your life to guide you into his plan for you.
