"Anointed Failure" February 28 Readings: 1 Samuel 6-10
Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022
This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.
Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 6-10
Background:
It is interesting how often immensely talented people end up being failures in God's kingdom work. Samson was good-looking and athletic but lacked character. Here we have King Saul - head and shoulders taller than others, charismatic and appealing. But he was not careful to obey God and his life became a cautionary tale of failure.
In today's reading, we see Saul anointed as king with tremendous promise, which we know will fail in the next few chapters.
We see a flaw in Israel here. Though we know it was ultimately God's will to have kings in Israel, it was also an indication of Israel's failure to trust God when they chose to be like the nations around them and ask for a king.
In today's reading, we see Saul anointed as king with tremendous promise, which we know will fail in the next few chapters.
We see a flaw in Israel here. Though we know it was ultimately God's will to have kings in Israel, it was also an indication of Israel's failure to trust God when they chose to be like the nations around them and ask for a king.
Daily Devotional: Anointed Failure
I remember eavesdropping on a conversation between my dad and another pastor, in which they were discussing how churches find pastors. Among Baptists, the church chooses its own leader, forming a search committee, fielding resumes, examining recommendations and finally bringing a candidate to the church. In the other pastor's denomination, the district superintendent (whatever his official title was) would select pastors and assign them to churches. My dad asserted that our system had to be the worst way. The pastor from the other denomination disagreed, arguing that their system was even worse.
Selecting leaders for God's people has always been tricky.
1 Samuel 9-12 (from today's reading and tomorrow's) tells the story of the selection of Saul as the first king of Israel. He was such an impressive young man. Tall, handsome, energetic and enthusiastic; everything a nation could want in its leader. Israel was excited about the selection of their new king.
Things did not work out so well with Saul though. He was not careful in obedience to God and eventually God set him aside and had Samuel anoint a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem to succeed him. David had few of the physical characteristics or innate talents of Saul, but he was the one whose house was established by covenant as an eternal line.
What was the difference between Saul and David? By many human metrics, Saul was the better candidate. All too many pulpit committees would have chosen him over David. But in God's eyes, David was vastly superior. Why? Because David was a man of obedience, a man after God's heart. Saul was self-confident, willful and often not obedient.
God doesn't need our creativity or our talents. He created an entire world just by speaking. Our creativity loses a little in comparison. He is an awesome God and is not much impressed with our awesomeness. The sacrifice that pleases God is a sincere heart, a devoted life, a body yielded to his service, a pure and undiluted passion for him.
I wish I knew how to quantify that principle for pastoral search committees. I can't. But the principle is clear in Scripture. The greatest quality of a leader, or any believer for that matter, is simply obedience and a willingness to do whatever God has said.
Selecting leaders for God's people has always been tricky.
1 Samuel 9-12 (from today's reading and tomorrow's) tells the story of the selection of Saul as the first king of Israel. He was such an impressive young man. Tall, handsome, energetic and enthusiastic; everything a nation could want in its leader. Israel was excited about the selection of their new king.
Things did not work out so well with Saul though. He was not careful in obedience to God and eventually God set him aside and had Samuel anoint a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem to succeed him. David had few of the physical characteristics or innate talents of Saul, but he was the one whose house was established by covenant as an eternal line.
What was the difference between Saul and David? By many human metrics, Saul was the better candidate. All too many pulpit committees would have chosen him over David. But in God's eyes, David was vastly superior. Why? Because David was a man of obedience, a man after God's heart. Saul was self-confident, willful and often not obedient.
God doesn't need our creativity or our talents. He created an entire world just by speaking. Our creativity loses a little in comparison. He is an awesome God and is not much impressed with our awesomeness. The sacrifice that pleases God is a sincere heart, a devoted life, a body yielded to his service, a pure and undiluted passion for him.
I wish I knew how to quantify that principle for pastoral search committees. I can't. But the principle is clear in Scripture. The greatest quality of a leader, or any believer for that matter, is simply obedience and a willingness to do whatever God has said.
Father, I am reminded that it is not about my talents, abilities or efforts, but about obedience to you. May I be more like King David than King Saul - a man whose greatest quality is obedience.
Consider God's Word:
Do you rely on your natural abilities or are you seeking to build Christlike character?
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