DONKEYS: Quite valuable property; there were few horses
in Israel.
1Sa 9:4
Saul was searching near the border of Ephraim and
Benjamin.
1Sa 9:15
THE LORD HAD REVEALED THIS TO SAMUEL: "Now the LORD had
told Samuel in his ear" (AV), very graphically and intimately and directly
speaking! Cp 1Sa 3:4,9: the quiet whisper with which the LORD spoke to His
servant Samuel.
1Sa 9:26
Saul had been sleeping on the roof -- an ANE custom (LB
39).
1Sa 9:27
STAY HERE AWHILE: Or "Stand still that I may show you
the word of God" (AV).
"Stand still and see the salvation of God" (Exo 14:13; 2Ch
20:17). "Stand still and hear God's commandments" (Num 9:8). "Stand still that I
may reason with you" (1Sa 12:7). "Stand still and consider the works of God"
(Job 37:14).
Quite often the Bible tells us, in one way or another, that we
should cease -- if only for a moment -- from our daily grind of tasks, and wait
upon the LORD, quietly and expectantly. Perhaps at such moments we might really
HEAR the word of God, speaking in some still, silent part of our hearts -- not
just the words, powerful though they be, that speak from the pages of
Scripture... but the word of God, internalized in us, "made flesh", as it were
-- made real, because interwoven in the fabric of our lives and
experiences.
Perhaps at such moments -- if we really listen -- we might
hear Him working.
Perhaps then -- if we gaze with the eye of faith, and not so
much with the natural eye -- we might really SEE the salvation He has in store
for us!