Behold, Samuel came out against them, &c.— Samuel met them, as he was about to ascend the high place. Houb. God told Samuel in his ear, in the next verse, signifies that he privately revealed to him.
REFLECTIONS.—Few would have looked for a king chosen from such an employment as that of Saul; but God's choice is often marvellous in our eyes. We have here.
1. Saul sent to seek his father's asses which were strayed. Agreeable to the simplicity of those times, when no man was too great to mind his own affairs, Kish sends his son with a servant in quest of the strayed asses; and his son, forward to obey his parent's orders, and industrious in his business, immediately sets himself to make search after them.
2. Their search was long and fruitless; and Saul, apprehensive that his father would be uneasy at his absence, resolves to give over and return. Dutiful children will always thus tenderly consult their parents' peace.
3. The servant reflecting that they were near Ramah, where Samuel dwelt, suggests whether it might not be worth their while to consult him on the occasion: he gives him a great character as a man of God, and a most respectable person; a seer, whose prophesies always came to pass, and who might be able to inform them of their lost asses. Note; (1.) When we are near a man of God, it is worth while to call upon him, and not to pass by without a word of advice. (2.) People are usually more solicitous about the things of the world than the things of God: and so preposterous in their care, that they who would run to consult a minister of God, could he direct them to the recovery of lost goods, will neither consult nor be directed by him for the recovery of their lost souls.
4. Samuel was just coming from his door when Saul appeared in sight. He had, by a secret whisper from God the preceding day, been informed of his design to send to him the person appointed to be the ruler of his people; and though in anger this king was given, yet God has designs of grace to answer: though they shall smart by their king, they shall be saved by him from their enemies. Their cry God has heard, whether the cry of distress from fear of the Philistines, or their former supplication to Samuel: and now behold the man whom God has appointed to reign over Israel as a king; or as the word signifies, to restrain them from the evil of their ways. Note; When God will punish his people, he will in wrath remember mercy.