God's People: Samuel

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places. Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there; he administered justice there to Israel, and built there an altar to the Lord. ~ I Samuel 7:15-17

I have to admit that I have a partiality to Samuel, so I'll be dealing with him a few times. 

 In fact, the books of I and II Samuel are two of my favorites in scripture. They are high drama. In I Samuel alone we get Samuel! Saul! David! Goliath! Jonathan...and the beginnings of David's marital intrigues! I remember several years ago one of the networks did a modern day series take on the story of Saul and David. (sadly, it didn't last very long...)

Anyway, by the time these few passages occur, a lot has already happened. The Philistines have taken the ark of the Covenant, Eli has lost all his sons and has died; and the Israelites got the ark back! (you just have to read all the action for yourself!)

 In the meantime, the little boy who God called - the boy whose mother reliquished him to serve the Lord - grew up. And he became a prophet and a judge of Israel.

 Up until this point, the people of God have been begging on and on for a king, and on and on God has given them judges instead. It's become a sore point and will remain problematic for the rest of Samuel's life.

 Politics has always been an issue among God's people, whether it is wanting a king rather than a judge, or wanting one politician over another.

 Samuel is at this point the leader God has chosen for the people and yet when the people continue to cry out for a king, Samuel will ultimately be the one to help then to get not just one, but two of them.

 One of the things I've always loved about Samuel is that he doesn't get swayed by his own press. He doesn't use his position as Judge to line his own pockets or try to hold onto power and position when it seems it is time for a new way.

 He gives in to the people even though he knows the folly of their desires. Sometimes people just have to learn for themselves.

 As with all Biblical characters, Samuel is not perfect. But he is wise: wise enough to judge a people and wise enough to step aside and let God show what happens sometimes when we get what we ask for.

 I can't cut and paste this entire book, but I highly recommend it. See who this man Samuel is and see if there is something our leaders of today could learn from him.

 Prayer: Good and gracious God: help us to see and trust in true leadership: leadership that is wise and puts people  before power and ideology. Amen.

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