When All Is Not As It Should Be

1 Samuel 11 & 12

There are lots of subtle bits in this story that I noticed for the first time.

Samuel is in a house.

Not at the temple. 

He is not sitting on the side of the road like Eli waiting for the ark to come home.  Nor is he out looking for it.   The NIV notes say that Samuel lived with a band of prophets, like Elijah and Elisha.  He is not living in the temple as he did when he was a boy.

And after Saul

is anointed by Samuel,

he goes back out into the field. 

Plowing behind his oxen. 

I wonder how you back to regular life after something like that? He didn’t start building a palace or begin looking for a queen.  He just went about regular daily living, waiting for a timing prompt from God.  I wonder if he really anticipated the full journey.  Even at the gathering of all the tribes and clans, Saul is hiding with the baggage.   As if he has no desire to be at the front and centre; No desire for spectacle.  

And as Israel says hello to her new king

Samuel prepares to say goodbye.

Ready to relinquish his leadership role, moving to serve as an advisor. 

Samuel steps to the podium and affirms this kingship, while also sharing words of condemnation.

Telling Israel in no uncertain terms that God is disappointed with their demand for an earthly king on an earthly throne.  And he sets out the regulations of this kingship in terms of the covenant and God uses what seems to be Israel’s own design.   Samuel sets out the rules and regulations, the blessings and the curses, like the old days under Joshua and Moses.   And what it will eventually cost the people.  

And so this new era dawns.

Words of greatness and great things and whole hearted serving.   And that for the sake of His Great Name the LORD will not reject His People, because the LORD was pleased to make you His own.  (Ch 12:22) 

And as for Samuel. 

His great love for this people in his big heart.  

Ch 12: 23 “…far be it from me that I should fail to pray for you

And I will teach you what is good and right.  

24 Be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart.”

Heart talk. 

…serve with all your heart.

Because there is not a way in which you can serve fully

With half your heart or a heart divided. 

You cannot sprinkle your allegiance here and there.