旧约 - 撒母耳记上(1 Samuel)第9章

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
(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.)
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
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?
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:
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.
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.
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
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.
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.
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
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.
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?
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?
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.
And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
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.
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
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.
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.
撒母耳记上第九章   第 9 章 

  撒母耳 

  撒上 9:3> 扫罗的家境如何? 

  9:3 扫罗的父亲吩咐他去寻找丢了的驴。驴有多种用途,在圣经时代是载运货物的牲口,用来运货、拉车与耕作,是当时必需的劳动生活资源,就连最穷苦的家庭也会养一头驴。驴多是富有的象征,驴丢了实属不幸。扫罗的父亲有许多头驴,证明他相当富有。 

  撒上 9:3-27> 我们的一生,是无数个偶然事件的组合吗? 

  9:3-27 我们常会以为事件是偶然发生的,但是从扫罗的事可以看出,神可能使用平常的事件,来达到祂的目的。我们要相信一切的境遇皆可能是“神所命定”的,对塑造我们的一生都是非常重要的。请你思想最近影响你的顺逆际遇,你能否从其中看出神的旨意?祂可能想使你具有某种素质,或者要领你在另一方面事奉祂。 

  撒上 9:6> 撒母耳在百姓中的形象是…… 

  9:6 扫罗仆人所说先知住的这个城,可能是拉玛;在示罗附近与非利士人争战以后( 7:17 ),撒母耳搬到那里。扫罗与撒母耳同住在便雅悯的地业以内,竟然不知道他是谁,显出他对属灵事物的无知。 

  撒上 9:21> 扫罗的回答,反应出他是怎样的人? 

  9:21 扫罗吐露出“你为何对我说这样的话呢?”显明他心底将会一再面对的问题──自卑感。他像落叶一样随风飘摇不定,在自己的感觉与信念之间左右摆动。他的言行都以自我为中心,只为自己担心。例如,他说自己的家族是以色列人至小的支派中“至小的”,但是 9 章 1 节说他父亲是个“大能的勇士”(或作“大财主”)。(便雅悯支派是十二个支派之中最小的,因为他们不道德的罪行导致内战,几乎受到被灭绝的处罚──参士 19-21 。)他不愿承担神赐给他的责任。后来,他保留一部分战利品,那是他不应当存留的,因此受到撒母耳的责备,他却将责任推卸到士兵身上( 15:21 ),说他们实在想用那些牲畜向神献祭( 15:15 )。 

  他虽然蒙神呼召,有使命在身,却不断地挣扎,心中充满嫉妒、不安、骄横、任性、欺诈。他并没有立志将自己全心全意地献给神,因为不愿意让神的爱充满内心,因而失去平安,所以他从未成为属神之人。 

  以色列人立王以后所产生的问题──《灵修版圣经注释》