March 18, 2025

1 Samuel 9:22-26 (HCSB)
22 Samuel took Saul and his attendant, brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the 30 or so men who had been invited. 23 Then Samuel said to the cook, “Get the portion of meat that I gave you and told you to set aside.” 24 The cook picked up the thigh and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Notice that the reserved piece is set before you. Eat it because it was saved for you for this solemn event at the time I said, ‘I’ve invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 Afterward, they went down from the high place to the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. 26 They got up early, and just before dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, and I’ll send you on your way!” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside.

Casey Morton
In this passage, it is clear Samuel wants to make sure Saul is honored at the feast. In this culture, seating arrangements had a special protocol. The seat of honor was always next to the host, so it was a great honor for Saul to be seated next to the host, Samuel. Notice Saul was given a “special portion”. Again, in that culture every meal had a special portion that had been “set aside” to be given to the one the host wanted to honor the most. As they spoke after the meal, no doubt Samuel told Saul about Israel’s desire for a good king, and him being humble, and looking the part, he was the answer. BUT, if he didn’t give his whole heart to serving God and submit to Him as king, he would never be a good fit.