Dearest e-votees,
There are two tracks of readings in the lectionary. For this week's e-vo we will use the Old Testament option for the reading from Samuel.
Peace,
Karl
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34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And 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 you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13, NRSV
This text is a stark reminder that the Lord does not see as mortals see. We as people can be so fixated on the outer trappings of a person. The Lord looks more deeply into the heart.
Our pop culture is engrossed in what is outside of a person. We look at how attractive someone is. We consider how much they own. We look at their curriculum vita and measure them up compared to others. We have ideals in mind, those we have forged or those that have been indoctrinated into us, and we regard people through those judgmental lenses. We have television shows that encourage us to covet and emulate and to label and discriminate.
The experiment with a new king for the people of Israel--namely Saul--didn't end well. The Lord was sorry that Saul had been Israel's king. It was time to name a successor and the intent was not to have this kingdom end badly as the first one had. The Lord is looking into the heart of possible future kings. The Lord selects and Samuel anoints David. David's heart wasn't always pure--remember Uriah the Hittite? Remember Bathsheba? David wasn't always what the Lord had hoped. Perhaps the Lord's disinclination to name a king to begin with would have been better heeded.
Nonetheless, the Lord chose David. The Lord equipped David to serve in particular ways. Not everyone saw on the outside what the Lord saw on the inside. Even when David stumbled and fell and grieved the Lord, the Lord didn't give up on David. The Lord's promises to David were certain and sure. The covenant the Lord made with David did not falter.
The Lord has chosen you. The Lord has chosen me. The Lord has equipped us to serve in particular ways--in particular vocations. Not everyone on the outside can see and support what God has seen on the inside and given us to do. Even when we stumble and fall--and we will--the Lord will not give up on us. The Lord's promises to us in baptism are certain and sure. The covenant God made with David and with us does not falter.
God, help us stop judging others--particularly on the outward appearances that have bedazzled the world. Help us trust in your faithfulness and respond in faith when you call. Amen.
If you are so inclined you are welcome to check out:
this week. I was honored to be asked to write the devotions for June 8-14. If you do give them a read I would love some feedback at karlhester@aol.com. Thanks.
There are two tracks of readings in the lectionary. For this week's e-vo we will use the Old Testament option for the reading from Samuel.
Peace,
Karl
------------
34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And 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 you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
This text is a stark reminder that the Lord does not see as mortals see. We as people can be so fixated on the outer trappings of a person. The Lord looks more deeply into the heart.
Our pop culture is engrossed in what is outside of a person. We look at how attractive someone is. We consider how much they own. We look at their curriculum vita and measure them up compared to others. We have ideals in mind, those we have forged or those that have been indoctrinated into us, and we regard people through those judgmental lenses. We have television shows that encourage us to covet and emulate and to label and discriminate.
The experiment with a new king for the people of Israel--namely Saul--didn't end well. The Lord was sorry that Saul had been Israel's king. It was time to name a successor and the intent was not to have this kingdom end badly as the first one had. The Lord is looking into the heart of possible future kings. The Lord selects and Samuel anoints David. David's heart wasn't always pure--remember Uriah the Hittite? Remember Bathsheba? David wasn't always what the Lord had hoped. Perhaps the Lord's disinclination to name a king to begin with would have been better heeded.
Nonetheless, the Lord chose David. The Lord equipped David to serve in particular ways. Not everyone saw on the outside what the Lord saw on the inside. Even when David stumbled and fell and grieved the Lord, the Lord didn't give up on David. The Lord's promises to David were certain and sure. The covenant the Lord made with David did not falter.
The Lord has chosen you. The Lord has chosen me. The Lord has equipped us to serve in particular ways--in particular vocations. Not everyone on the outside can see and support what God has seen on the inside and given us to do. Even when we stumble and fall--and we will--the Lord will not give up on us. The Lord's promises to us in baptism are certain and sure. The covenant God made with David and with us does not falter.
God, help us stop judging others--particularly on the outward appearances that have bedazzled the world. Help us trust in your faithfulness and respond in faith when you call. Amen.
If you are so inclined you are welcome to check out:
this week. I was honored to be asked to write the devotions for June 8-14. If you do give them a read I would love some feedback at karlhester@aol.com. Thanks.
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