I’m participating in a Bible study and it is becoming more and more obvious how thirsty my soul was for devoted and uninterrupted time in the Word. Not to mention, it’s been days and I’m still thinking about it. And not to mention again, (and let’s be honest), I need more friends here in Seattle. So, in an effort to capture the small facts that have left me completely fascinated, I am going to document some of them here.
We are studying the “utterly typical in some ways and so completely atypical in others,” life of David.
And though we actually didn’t read of David’s name yet, I’m fairly certain that this past (and first) Tuesday will stand as one of my favorites.
Samuel, Israel’s last Judge. Saul, Israel’s first King. Two figures that both loom in David’s introduction.
When Samuel retired as a judge, the Israelites found themselves absolutely consumed by the desire to have a King, like everyone else had. Joel and Abijah (Samuel’s sons), weren’t exactly King material, so they were out of the picture.
“So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel. They said to him, ‘You are old, and your sons do not walk in your way; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” (1 Samuel 8:4 - 5).
Sidenote: 1) Who wants to actually hear they are “old” when they know they are old?! 2) So, wanting the things others have (jealousy) started way back then, now did it? Hmm.
Samuel headed out to have a little heart to heart with the Lord.
“And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.’” (1 Samuel 8:7 - 8).
Off Samuel went, to relay the message (with probably a stronger step in his stride after his chitty chatty) to the people “who were asking him for a king.” (Vs. 10).
“This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve (in war), they will run in front of chariots (bullets). Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands (and be gone from their families for months at a time), others to plow his ground and reap his harvest (slaves), others to make weapons of war (power). He will take your daughters. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards (all things you have worked hard for)…” (Vs. 11 - 17).
He will take, he will take, he will take, he will take.
“When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day.” (Vs. 18).
And like many of us, when simply put, we want what we want, the people refused to listen.
“We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (Vs. 19 - 20).
Fine. Give them the king that they are so desperately asking for.
Samuel summons the people for another chat. “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘I brought you out of Egypt and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you. But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your calamities and distresses. And you have said, ‘No, set a king over us (but I was your King!).’ So now, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans (aka, let’s get this show on the road).’” (10:18 - 19).
Tribe of Benjamin, please stand up.
Matri’s clan, please stand up.
Son of Kish, please stand up.
Please meet, the very one that ya’ll have asked for, Saul, son of Kish, from Matri’s clan, and the tribe of Benjamin.
Great story, right? Na, hold on, here comes the kicker to all of this.
The name Samuel is a compound of the Hebrew words for name (shem) and God (el), and means he over whom the name of God has been said. In Hebrew the name also sounds very similar to the verb ask (sha’al).
The Hebrew name Saul (sha’ul) is drawn from this very same word and literally means asked for.
Sidenote: You can clearly tell that I love a play on words, especially in instances like this.
God gave the Israelites (literally), exactly what they asked for.
It’s through this that I made a couple of realizations:
1. I now know where my detail oriented-ness comes from.
2. How many different things do I ask for in my life, that God maybe even gives me, when in actuality, I should be asking for more of Him?
3. If the Israelites couldn’t even recognize that they already had a King, what areas in my life am I failing to see that I already have the very thing I am asking for?
4. If I’m going to have any blog followers, I’m going to have to learn how to write shorter posts.
It is with these thoughts, that I ponder and excitedly await what’s to come.
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