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SCOM DEVOTION

MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE A LEGACY: WHEN THE LIVING ARE MOURNED

 

 

(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? Saul will hear about it and 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. (1 Samuel 16:1 – 5 NIV

Intentionally the story about the next king of Israel starts at the climax of sad ending of Saul. He was such a perfect choice for a King at that time, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites--a head taller than any of the others (9:2). Samuel was greatly involved in the identification of this first King of Israel, as such, very much attached to him. As a national leader, Saul’s ending was such a very bad start to the new model of national governance. It sends him, Samuel, into deep mourning. Saul was still arrive and on the throne, but concerned parties were mourning him. When leaders fail, the pain is felt very deep among their people. Samuel may have had been convinced that Saul’s physical stature was the right choice based on all the battles that were fought throughout his reign. It was sad to come to terms that Saul’s character collapse that he (Samuel) tried very hard to order for the sake of the nation yielded nothing. As a national spiritual leader, had he failed to help the national leader who was finally rejected? The question might have been, who else in Israel could meet such qualities of a person to become the next King (We may need to note this question for reference in the next devotion).

Samuel is jerked from his mourning over Saul with Gods confirmation that he (Saul) is rejected and must fulfill an assignment for a new King. Somehow Samuel is motivated by being asked to fill his horn with oil. Remember in the first assignment, it was just a flask of oil that was used to anoint Saul (1Samuel 10:1). For fear of his life, Samuel had problems with the arrangement. His fears show that there were bad relationship between him and Saul.  God devised a plan for him. By taking a heifer it meant a normal business in the office of the priest to sacrifice to the LORD in some of the towns. Down in Bethlehem the elders were equally jerked from their comforts or slumber at the arrival of the priest. They trembled. Had he come to rebuke them for some misconduct? Or was it to do with the sour tensions with the king? They may have been not at ease the implication of them hosting Samuel while he was at loggerheads with Saul. Finally Samuel comforted them to say it was a peaceful mission. He visited their town for sacrifices to the Lord.

Once again, when leaders fail, the pain is felt very deep among their people both duty bearers and rights holders. To what extent did Samuel bear the shame of the failure of Saul’s leadership? 

 

Good Morning

Reflections From SCOM

 

 

 

 

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