1 Samuel 9:22-27 – God has a personal word for us

Samuel took both Saul and his servant and brought them to the hall and had Saul sat at the head of the table. Thirty others were invited and were also seated at the table.  Saul must have been surprised by that honor. He couldn’t have expected that he would be the guest of honor. Samuel who had pre-arranged for a portion to be set aside for this moment instructed the cook to bring that portion out. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”

After the meal, they returned to the city from the high place, and went up to the roof, presumably at Samuel’s house, and they spoke for a while. We were not told what the content of the conversation was. Then Samuel slept for the night. In the morning the prophet woke Saul up in order to send him on the way. As the gracious host, he walked Saul to the outskirt of the city then told him to send his servant ahead so that he could proclaim the word of God to him. The word of God he was about to proclaim to Saul would forever change the course of his life and ministry. It would also alter the destiny of the nation of Israel. God had a word for Saul. Through Jesus, God also has a word for us every moment in our lives. Will we stay still to listen?  

Let us pause here and think about God’s Word. We all must have already known that the God we worship and serve is one who speaks. It was His word that brought about the creation. Everything came into being at His spoken Word. We are reminded by the Apostle John in the Gospel that the eternal Word became the living Word and dwell among us in flesh. The author of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that God had spoken through the prophets in various ways at various times. But in this final dispensation, God is speaking to us through His only Son. When God speaks, we must listen. It is foolishness not to pay attention to God’s Word. Here’s a timely advice from our Lord concerning being obedient to God’s Word. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” God has been speaking to us and will continue to speak to us. So let’s pay attention and act on His Word!