Have You Lost Your Father’s Asses

In 1 Sam. 9, Saul, the future king of Israel had lost his father’s asses. In searching for them he encountered Samuel and the prophet told him where they could be found. This is a classic word of knowledge. What I would like to point out is the Samuel didn’t tell Saul what he (Saul) knew – Samuel told Saul what he DIDN’T KNOW. Contrast that with how people look at such things today. They insist a prophet tell them what the prophet doesn’t know – but THEY do know – as a litmus test to see whether they are a true prophet. That is totally unscriptural and the exact opposite of what Samuel the prophet did in Saul’s case. Prophets are not psychics and when you withhold from them just to see if they will perform a “pony trick” word of knowledge for you – that is sacrilegious. Samuel didn’t tell Saul what Saul knew – to prove anything. He told Saul what Saul didn’t know for the purposes of setting Saul’s mind at ease so he could hear the more important word of the Lord from Samuel – that he is to be king.