Compare Saul's journey in 1 Samuel 9:11 with Proverbs 3:5-6. An Invitation to Watch God at Work 1 Samuel 9:11: “As they were going up the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked, ‘Is the seer here?’” Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Saul’s Unplanned Path Becomes God’s Planned Appointment • Saul leaves home to find lost donkeys (1 Samuel 9:3–5). • At every crossroads he follows ordinary logic—until ordinary means fail. • Verse 11 captures the moment when a mundane search intersects divine orchestration: unknown girls, a casual question, an introduction to Samuel—the prophet who will anoint him king (1 Samuel 9:15-17). • From the human side: coincidence. • From heaven’s side: providence shaping a kingdom. The Heart of Proverbs 3:5-6 • Trust: wholehearted confidence that God’s wisdom surpasses ours. • Lean not: refusing to rest on our limited insight. • Acknowledge: bringing God into every decision, great or small. • Make straight: God clears, levels, and directs the course we could never chart alone. Parallels That Leap Off the Page • Direction in the Details – Saul’s casual inquiry = acknowledging need for guidance. – Proverbs promises that such acknowledgment invites divine direction. • Human Logic Meets Divine Leading – Donkeys drive Saul’s agenda; God drives history (Proverbs 16:9). – The proverb warns against leaning on “own understanding,” precisely what God overruled in Saul’s case. • Unseen Straight Paths – Two young men simply “go up the hill.” – God straightens that path toward coronation, fulfilling Deuteronomy 17:15. Lessons for Everyday Journeys • Lost donkeys of life—missed appointments, trivial errands—may hide kingdom purposes. • Seek counsel quickly; God often speaks through unexpected voices (the young women, 1 Samuel 9:11; see also Acts 9:10-12). • Keep moving. God guides a walker, not a sitter (Exodus 14:15). • Small obediences today prepare us for larger callings tomorrow (Luke 16:10). Supporting Passages That Echo the Theme • Psalm 37:23—“The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD.” • Jeremiah 10:23—“A man’s way is not his own; it is not in a man to direct his steps.” • James 4:13-15—Boastful planning versus humble “If the Lord wills.” Walking It Out This Week 1. Hand current “lost donkey” frustrations to the Lord; ask Him to aim them. 2. Refuse to lean on self-made maps; open Scripture for direction before decisions. 3. Acknowledge God aloud in routine tasks—commutes, chores, meetings—inviting Him to straighten those paths. Closing Reflection Saul’s simple question on a dusty hill mirrors the timeless wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6. When ordinary steps are offered in trust, God turns hills into highways and errands into destiny. |
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