1 Samuel 9:3-6 - In this town there is a man of God

9:3-5

We then get the tale of Saul and his father’s donkeys. The donkeys had gone astray, and Saul’s father Kish sent Saul, along with a servant, to go and look for them. So Saul and the servant set off in search of these lost donkeys, but without success. By the time they reached the district of Zuph (probably near Ramah, where Samuel came from) Saul was ready to give up on the task. He gives as a reason that his father would start wondering where they had got to, and if some disaster had befallen them.

9:6

The servant has another suggestion. He knows there is a “man of God” nearby, this being Samuel. “Man of God” was a term applied to someone who was devoted to God, and probably had a prophetic gift. It is interesting that the servant knew of the reputation of Samuel, while Saul did not. Or if Saul did know of him, he didn’t think to go to Samuel for help.