(1 Sam 16:1-13, Psalm 89, Mark 2:23-28)
I stood last week with my friend Paul just before his wife Annie’s funeral. They had been high school sweethearts more than sixty years ago. That morning Paul talked about a poem he had written to Annie a few days after they met. He proudly showed me the scrap of paper she had saved all these years.
As Father announced it was time for friends to go on into our worship space, leaving family to say final good-byes, I said, “I’ve been praying for you.” Paul grabbed my arm tight and said, “Don’t stop now. Now is when I really need prayer.”
It had been seven years since Annie was first diagnosed with a degenerative disease. The first four years had been OK, but the last three were really tough. Annie lost her ability to speak clearly, and Paul was hard of hearing. Her body wouldn’t work. Paul had to lift and move and lift and move. Sometimes they fell together onto the floor in the process. Love was often through miscommunication or trial and error. Yet love was constant. Love was true. Love lasted through the last moments of Annie’s life into eternity. It was mostly a hidden love that few people would have known about or noticed. Yet Paul was faithful. Love was true.
Paul was faithful—no matter what was asked of him.
So was Samuel in today’s first reading.
In just a week we have heard the story of most of Samuel’s life: his conception and birth after Hannah begged God for him; his response of “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” when God called him in the night; his bowing to God and the people’s wishes as they begged for a warrior king; and now, today, we see him identify and anoint David as king-to-be.
In this whirlwind tour of about 70 years of Hebrew history, it is easy to miss the man in the midst of the story.
I would encourage you to curl up some evening with the whole book of 1 Samuel. No blockbuster movie could have more high adventure. Learn what God had the child Samuel do the next morning after he first heard God call. Learn what happened AFTER the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant (HINT: they sent it back!). Read about how God let the people know He had chosen Saul as king. Read how God was faithful to the Hebrew people through Samuel’s leadership.
Through it all, Samuel was the loving glue that pulled the people of Israel together so they were ready for a king. He was the voice of God naming truth, foreseeing consequences, never mincing words or turning completely away.
In the time after Moses and Joshua, the 12 tribes of Israel were of a people, but they were not quite one people. Each tribe had its own territory and its own “judges.” Judges ruled Israel, speaking for God. Samuel was the last judge.
In my reading of 1 Samuel I found no evidence that Samuel ever displeased or disobeyed God. He listened to what God said, then he did what God asked of him. Sometimes God asked him to deliver harsh prophecies: that Eli’s sons would be killed, that the Israelites would be defeated and the Ark taken hostage, that having a king was not such a good idea, that Saul, though chosen by God, was now rejected by him.
While Samuel would question God and even argue with Him, once it was clear what God wanted, Samuel simply obeyed. Always. He was faithful.
Samuel did other things God asked of him besides deliver tough prophecies. He traveled throughout the regions of the 12 tribes, visiting people where they were. He ruled them with justice. “Samuel was judge of Israel as long as he lived. Each year he went on circuit through Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah and judged Israel in all these places. He would then return to Ramah, for his home was there; there too he judged Israel. And there he built an altar to Yahweh.” (I Samuel 7: 15-17)
When Saul was publicly proclaimed king (I Samuel 11: 12-15), it was Samuel who set it up. As he passed the torch of leadership to Saul he asked the people, “’Testify against me before Yahweh and before his anointed: Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Have I ever wronged or oppressed anyone?’” The people answered ‘You have neither wronged nor oppressed us…nor accepted a bribe from anyone.’” (I Samuel 12: 1-5) Samuel was faithful.
Then, with what later spiritual leaders would call “holy detachment,” Samuel was faithful enough to let go. As God told him, “They have not rejected you. They have rejected me.” God knew–and Samuel knew–that God was faithful through Samuel’s faithfulness.
It was hard for Samuel to let go, but he did it with caring and dignity because God asked it of him. Even so, he continued to care for Saul and all God’s chosen people.
He mourned for Saul.
That is where the story begins today. God says to Samuel, “How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” Samuel went. He thought Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab, would be God’s choice…or Abinadab…or Shammah…or…but God said no to all of these. Samuel was faithful. He persisted until David was brought in. When God said, “That’s the one!” Samuel anointed him as future king.
We will hear much of David’s adventures between now and the beginning of Lent, but Samuel passes out of our readings after today. He lived on for some years at Ramah, subject to both God and king. As we will see, there was much distrust between David and Saul. Yet they made a peace (1 Samuel 24: 1-23) just before Samuel died.
I think Samuel, faithful to God, prayed toward that peace in his last days. A man mostly of peace and justice, he was not the warrior king the Israelites wanted. Yet historians say that his years of rule were what made monarchy possible, for he gradually, through his judging with such justice, brought the 12 tribes of Israel together into one nation.
He was faithful. His fidelity was God’s fidelity made visible and practical.
Fidelity is a core characteristic of God. As God’s sons and daughters, it needs to be a core characteristic of us—of me. We must be faithful. I must be faithful. When I am faithful I show God’s faithfulness in visible and practical ways.
Being faithful means we love God first. Then we listen and do what God asks us to do. We act like God would act: with persistent Truth, Compassion, Mercy, and willingness to live in the Mystery of the Cross, that is, with Love that expresses the goodness of God AND wills goodness for others.
God asks us to show faithfulness by doing things like he asked my friend Paul to do: to be faithful loving others, even when loving is hard. God was faithful to Annie through Paul’s faithfulness. He was faithful to Paul through the support and fidelity of Paul’s friends and family.
Fidelity God’s way is not easy. Mixing Truth with Compassion and Steadfastness is hard. As humans, we want to turn away or attack when Truth, Compassion, and Steadfastness are all required.
Today I see how much I need Samuel as an example for that. I see how much I need friends like Paul for that.
I am glad God is merciful and forgiving. I am glad that God can and will help me be faithful today in the little matters of loving that make up my life. Now that I think about it, I’m awed and humbled that God might be using me to show His faithfulness to others. It moves me to want to be more conscientious with returning phone calls, following through, being a loving presence.
How does God call you to faithfulness today?
Prayer:
“Lord, sometimes it is hard for me to be faithful. Help me be like Samuel—so trusting and in love with you that faithfulness naturally follows. Today, Lord, make me faithful in relationships, in duties, in prayer, and in sacrifices. Help me remember that my actions may be the way You show Your fidelity to others. Samuel, be my guide. Amen.”
