1 Samuel 9:14
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. 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.
The verse records Saul and his servant coming up into the city after searching unsuccessfully for his father's lost donkeys, where Samuel came out toward them on his way to go up to the high place. This meeting with the prophet belongs to Saul's visit to Samuel and to the events leading to Samuel's anointing of Saul as king. It took place while Saul was still engaged in the search for his father's lost asses, before he was anointed king.
The meeting belongs to the account of Saul's favorable accession to the throne, when he had God's favor and the friendship of Samuel the prophet. Saul is introduced in a way that awakens sympathy and desire for his complete success. He starts out humbly and God gives him another heart, raising hope that his administration as king would be all that Israel hoped for.
His diligent work in searching for the lost animals brought him to the city and toward his anointing as Israel's king. His humble conduct at that time was honored by God, in telling of his meeting with the prophet without mentioning his anointing, and in hiding himself when the people were gathered to present him as king. Had he remained humble and obedient, God's blessing would have continued upon him and his family.
His later inconsistent life, self-exaltation, and repeated failures bring sadness, because one who might have been a strong man in God proved himself to be utterly weak.