A King for God’s People
I was looking at my grass and it seemed that it needed to be mowed already after my Saturday evening mowing. But it is raining again and it looks like more rain will come tomorrow. I am glad that this morning Ted Grizzel was able to come over and help with some trimming of our peach tree which looks like it is on its last leg after 15 years. He also took time to help me remove the bottom plate off my power wheelchair so I will keep from catching my garden hose, electric cord and dog’s leash underneath on a bolt designed for locking the chair in place when driving the van.
I accomplished my assigned duties of making follow up doctor appointments for the next few weeks and adjusting my outpatient therapy sessions. With my IV port and the rain it has restricted me from getting into the pool for my normal workout. Christian and family are to return this weekend. My hope is that I will have my IV port out of my arm long enough on Friday to go swimming with the grandkids. (That means I may need to remove it myself, but don’t tell Debbie!)
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…“Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship…Saul went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.” 1 Samuel 10:24-27
The story of Saul is an interesting one. It is an important one. As the Children of Israel move into the promised land, they demand of Samuel a King to rule over them. They wanted someone to “lead them into battle” and they wanted to be “like other nations.”
While the Lord raised up Judges who would lead Israel for certain periods of time, it was obvious the Lord was the One leading and fighting for His people. God told Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” (1 Samuel 8:6)
Just think Samuel has the duty to select a human King to replace God as the King of His people. And the one chosen has an apparent inferiority complex, which is in part due to his family and tribal history and his own awkward physical condition of being “head and shoulders taller than anyone.” I have this mental picture of Saul being the “Jethro Bodine” (The Beverly Hillbillies clan) of his family and the tribe of Benjamin.
When Saul is anointed and presented to the people they have to find him hiding in the baggage. After the coronation ceremony Saul returns home and with him “men of valor whose hearts God had touched.” But in spite of their demand for a King and the divine selection by God through the prophet Samuel there were still some, “worthless fellows [who] said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present.” Anyone involved in politics today, has to chuckle at that reality. Even if you are hand picked by God you will have your detractors! Makes me feel better about my critics when I served in elected office.
However Saul’s first expression of wisdom is seen in that, “…he held his peace.” A leader has to realize that regardless of what you do or say, you can’t win over those who are adamantly opposed to you for whatever reason. Perhaps the Lord allows that to keep us all humble.
Earlier when Samuel first encountered Saul there were (by my quick count) at least twenty-two details that the prophet articulated in his instructions as to what would happen. The passages goes on and says “all of them happened on the same day.” It also reports something else of significance. It says that “God gave him another heart.” I believe that was the heart of a leader. A heart of wisdom, courage and strength.
There is an old well-worn adage, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” I believe we see that in scripture and I know that I have experienced it in my own life.
The leadership lesson, the life lesson is that God uses people to accomplish His plans and His purposes. Those He chooses may seem unlikely and view themselves as unqualified. But when God calls them and they respond in faith, He empowers them to do His work. As He empowers them to do His work, it is critical to realize that which is happening is from the Lord and not from our own wisdom and strength.