1 Samuel 16.1-13 NIV courtesy of www.biblegateway.com
1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
How long will you mourn for Saul?
Saul was the first King of Israel. Samuel tried to talk all the tribal leaders out of anointing a king. YHWH was the King of Israel, always had been. But Israel was certain that they needed an earthly king in order to compete with the other earthly kingdoms. They cried out to YHWH (God). Samuel was the number one prophet, a position of much power, and he continued to resist this idea. God finally told Samuel to give in and allow God to take care of the situation. God pointed Samuel to Saul and so Samuel anointed Saul king.
Saul was an incompetent king. He truly wasn't a leader and in time was overcome with paranoia, jealousy, fear and the results of his own limited abilities. This brings us to this point in the story.
God tells Samuel to go and anoint a new king. The problem is Saul is still alive, although I think that Samuel's reluctance is founded on more than simple self-preservation. Samuel mourns the failure of the Saul experiment both for Saul's sake (things are really falling apart in the king's house) and for the sake of Israel who wouldn't follow Samuel's advice from the beginning.
That brings us to this opening: How long will you mourn for Saul? I think God is telling Samuel it is time to move on, to trust (again, trust God) that God will take care of Saul and Israel. Samuel is to hold his allegiance first to God and God's instructions (just what Samuel wanted Israel to do, right?) and not to stumble over his attachment to the Saul decision.
Notice God doesn't wait for an answer. The time for moving on has come. GOD IS DOING A NEW THING. [this is the link to the gospel lesson] There is a good sermon in just that first verse!
Samuel has no idea who God has in mind for the next king; he goes to Bethlehem, assumes his role as prophet of the LORD and has no idea who he is there to anoint. Have you ever been there? Following what you truly believe is God's direction but having no idea what is going to happen?
And God is not interested in Samuel's evaluation of the candidates for king. Don't consider outward appearance, God says. God sees more than we do; God can see the heart.
And so the youngest, who had to be called in from the fields, is anointed King. Once again God has a plan that makes little sense to the humans standing around, even those who are faithful.
As a leader of a faith community, I am challenged continually to be in tune with God and God's leading. It is too easy to become comfortable with what I like, what makes my life easier. That is rarely what God has in mind as the kingdom is being built. there are always new fields to harvest, new people to invite into the community.
It is difficult to maintain that level of energy day after day, year after year. That is why in a community of faith it is important to carry the burdens together and be constanting listening for God's guidance, for there are times when God 'makes us to lie down in green pastures, and leads us beside still waters.' The liturgical calendar for worship can be a real aid here - to allow some portions of the church year to be times of contemplation and rest of the soul.
If you haven't read through 1 & 2 Samuel - they make great reading, and some insight into relationship of Israel with God.
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