DIVINE ARRANGEMENT

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.

6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, 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.

9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.

15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.

19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?

21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

26 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.

THE MESSAGE:

Once I was invited to replace an expert who failed to come to conduct a job interview. I almost cried for joy when I saw that the one I was to interview was a widowed Christian sister who we had been praying for years for a job. Today’s text portrays God’s divine arrangement in choosing Saul as king. Each person played his part to link Saul to Samuel.

Saul decided to return home after a fruitless three days’ search for lost asses, received godly counsel from his servant to seek Samuel the Seer, obeyed in humility and met ladies who directed them to Samuel’s house. Unknown to Saul, the Lord had pre-arranged his meeting with Prophet Samuel – a ready vessel who heard from God (verses 15-16). Samuel had a wonderful testimony-he was a man of God held in honour, one whose words were always true. What a challenge to Christian leaders today!

Beloved, God is still in the business of organising divine arrangements even for people from lowly backgrounds, like Saul. What unpleasant circumstances and backgrounds are confronting you? Are you helpless and dejected because the ‘asses of your life or other precious possessions are lost? These may be a link to your miracle. You need humility to obey godly counsel even from servants, like Saul did, and a determination to take your matters to God for help.

PRAYER: Father, help me to discern and play my part well in Your divine arrangements for my life.

PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2024
TOPIC: DIVINE ARRANGEMENT

1. Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for the grace to see this new day in good health and sound mind.
2. Father, thank You for the special gift of life, many wished to see this day, but they couldn’t.
3. Thank You Jesus for being there for us, Your children.
4. Thank You Lord for Your plans for me this month and this year. They are plans of good, not of evil, to give me a successful and good end.
5. Father, please forgive me all my known and unknown sins, and give me power to overcome sin and its lustful desires, in Jesus’ name
6. Father, please, let Your good plans for my life begin to take place, in Jesus’ name
7. Holy Spirit, help me to walk in line with God’s plans and purpose for my life, in Jesus’ name.
8. LORD, give me a link to my miracle, in Jesus’ name.
9. I receive humility to take godly counsel, in Jesus’ name.
10. Help me, Holy Spirit, to always take my matters to God for adequate and divine help, in Jesus’ name
11. LORD, help us to get it right in Nigeria, and let Your perfect will be enforced on us in Jesus’ name.
12. Heavenly Father, let Your peace reign in this country,
13. Whether the devil likes it or not, I will make heaven and receive my eternal rewards in Jesus’ Name.
14. This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
15. Personal and family prayer requests.
16. Confession: God bless the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), God bless the Universal Church, and bless our country Nigeria -1 Chronicles 17:27.
17. Thank You Lord for answered prayers, in Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen.