Today's readings are 1 Samuel 16.1-23 and Acts 25.13-27.
Picture yourself in Samuel's shoes for a moment. He has the role of anointing kings, though he knows the decision to have a king was not a wise one. He knows there is a way of installing a king, but knows of no means for uninstalling the king short of that king's death. He is faced with a disobedient king, a promise of God that the kingdom will be torn from that king, and a call of God to anoint another king. Does it seem that something is missing? How about the fact that the present king is still alive, still has an army, still has opinions about what he likes and dislikes? No doubt Samuel isn't very enthusiastic about the idea of anointing another king. But with the Lord's encouragement he goes to the household of Jesse, where he will pick David.
What kind of promises does God have for his faithful servants? He just reminded Saul through Samuel that obedience is better than sacrifice. He has protected Samuel through a long life so far. He has shown that his kingdom is the one really in charge despite what Saul and the other kings try to do. In fact, we see throughout Scripture that the well being of God's people, though tied up with the wise or unwise decisions of their leaders to some extent, is ultimately based on God's good pleasure. In the final analysis, I do well because the Lord cares for me. Do I seem to be doing poorly? It doesn't take much imagination to see how much more poorly my sins could deserve.
A question closes today's post. Do I look at the world expecting to see that the Lord is doing good things? Or do I look at the world expecting to see that people are doing evil things? What I expect to find has a lot to do with the way I'll perceive reality. What does the Bible seem to point us to? It seems to show us that the Lord is in charge of the world and is showing his grace. Maybe he will enable me to see the world that same way.
Picture yourself in Samuel's shoes for a moment. He has the role of anointing kings, though he knows the decision to have a king was not a wise one. He knows there is a way of installing a king, but knows of no means for uninstalling the king short of that king's death. He is faced with a disobedient king, a promise of God that the kingdom will be torn from that king, and a call of God to anoint another king. Does it seem that something is missing? How about the fact that the present king is still alive, still has an army, still has opinions about what he likes and dislikes? No doubt Samuel isn't very enthusiastic about the idea of anointing another king. But with the Lord's encouragement he goes to the household of Jesse, where he will pick David.
What kind of promises does God have for his faithful servants? He just reminded Saul through Samuel that obedience is better than sacrifice. He has protected Samuel through a long life so far. He has shown that his kingdom is the one really in charge despite what Saul and the other kings try to do. In fact, we see throughout Scripture that the well being of God's people, though tied up with the wise or unwise decisions of their leaders to some extent, is ultimately based on God's good pleasure. In the final analysis, I do well because the Lord cares for me. Do I seem to be doing poorly? It doesn't take much imagination to see how much more poorly my sins could deserve.
A question closes today's post. Do I look at the world expecting to see that the Lord is doing good things? Or do I look at the world expecting to see that people are doing evil things? What I expect to find has a lot to do with the way I'll perceive reality. What does the Bible seem to point us to? It seems to show us that the Lord is in charge of the world and is showing his grace. Maybe he will enable me to see the world that same way.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogger.com
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