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2 Samuel 12:1-9 click here for the reading 
Who's da man? You da man!
What once were words of celebration....you da man! are now words of condemnation....you da man! Nathan's prophetic words to David are a method of accountability we don't see today. More than a moral, more than an allogory, this story allows David to condemn himself and hear the truth. How do you see accountability? Do you embrace it? Do you run from it? These words of the Lord spoken through the prophet Nathan become words that move David's heart to repent of his wrongdoing. Psalm 51 becomes the poetry to his healing process. This might never happen if words of account did not come to him. Lord, thank you for the accountability that you provide as we hear your voice through others.
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1 Samuel 16:1-13 Click here for the reading  We might be a bit appalled about how God goes about picking God's leaders. After all it was not but 6 chapters ago that Samuel (God's prophet and another example of God's choice) was anointing Saul to be King of Israel. Turns out that didn't go so well. So here Samuel has to do the hard thing (leadership often does) and seek out the future King of Israel. AND it isn't who he expects.....God continues to anoint people who are not so 'choice.' In fact, Samuel thought it would be the oldest son Eliab whom God would pick....not so. "Looks aren't everything." And then God says "men and women look at the face. God looks at the heart."
That is an incredible statement. In God's choosing and in all of David's failures, God looked into the heart of this young boy and saw something special. It is no wonder sometimes we question God's picks.....we don't much like not betting on a sure thing. It's hard to see someone's heart. When I played sports all my coaches could rave about was that "I played with heart." I was not an incredible scorer nor did I play with the proper technique at times. I wasn't even the most gifted athlete but I was played my heart out. Coaches and God can notice those things. And when it comes to choosing, God recognizes that God will supply the training and leadership gifts along the way. Heart goes along way in the make up of who God chooses. David had a great heart for God and God's people....even when he didn't (see psalm 51). Lord, thank you for choosing great leaders who have a heart for you! 1 Samuel 9:27-10:8 Click here for the reading  Pastor Abraham Lu (a colleague and former mentor) once told me that the anointing of God comes with an internal calling (I feel God is telling me to__________) along with an external confirmation (Andy you would be really good at ________, you really have the gift for _______). In the anointing of Saul, God speaks loudly through his servant Samuel to give direction and to set aside Saul as prince of God's people (I like this paraphrase because it acknowledges God still as King). By laying on of hands and anointing with oil Saul is dedicated into God's service. There is an external confirmation of these things as well:
I wonder....how often the servants of God feel as rudderless vessels out in the sea of ministry? These confirmations take place to transform us into God's service. The anointing is not for our sake it is for us to be used by God. If you are struggling in the ministry that God has placed before you, How might God confirm your calling into these minstries? If you are one who oversees ministry of others, how might you help confirm that you see in others as they are responding to God's anointing? What might all our ministry for God look like if we focused on the transformation part of this anointing? How might this appear for the baptized if we renewed the setting apart for ministry in view of how we all are transformed by these oils placed on our heads. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the Cross of Christ forever! 1 Samuel 8:1-22 Click here for the reading  Throughout this story of God's, God's people have been chosen to be special, chosen, a treasured possession....and in one fail swoop they now wish to be like everyone else. Give us a King to rule over us. For what reason? So that we can be like everyone else.
As Samuel aged and his sons were corrupt leaders, the demand might have some practical application as the people saw the way things were headed but instead of trusting God's setting them apart, making them special, they looked around and wanted the thing everyone else had....A king. Instead of appreciating their uniqueness, they saw themselves as weird. The Lord's response is also different than you would expect. Time and time again, the Lord does not give into the demands of the people to be like everyone else and provides for them a path to take that is for their best interest. The Lord does not listen to Abraham and Moses bargaining and remains steadfast even when it comes to destruction. The Lord does not allow Moses and Aaron to return to Egypt so that God's people might die there. The Lord does not allow a lot of what the people want because the Lord knows better. But here, The Lord allows the people to get what they want. "Give them what they ask for. They are not rejecting you (Samuel) but they are rejecting me as their king." {Foreshadowing a little here but 3 out of 40 kings do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. This does not go well for the people.} The people will get what they want...a king. But there will be more corruption, more greed. But there is an important shift that does take place here. The king will now be the Lord's representative here on earth. Yikes! Lord, forgive us when we forget to acknowledge that you know what is better for us than we do. 1 Samuel 7:3-15 Click here for the reading 
Judges have the responsibility to overhear cases between two parties. When we hear Samuel as Judge we get the idea that Samuel is presiding much like a judge Koch or judge Judy. Nothing can be further from how Samuel is used by God here. The other aspect of being a judge is to lay down verdicts. That is very much what Samuel does here. Samuel, speaking on behalf of God, lays down a verdict and corrective behavior (repentance) for Israel.
Israel is back at it worshiping other gods. Meanwhile, the Phillistine army is overtaking Israel's cities. As a judge (prophet), Samuel rebuke's the Israelites behavior while bringing them bcak into proper relationship with God. Reminding them of God's unfailing love for them but that they must stop being distracted in their relationship. Marilyn Robinson, in her book 'Gilead' wrote "a prophet does not correct the people's behavior out of disdain but does so out of love." This is a great reminder that accountability in our relationship with God often invites the voice of a judge to help clear the path for deeper understanding of that relationship we cherish so much. Lord thank you for the voices of Samuel and others that help bring accountability to the covenant you have given us. 1 Samuel 3:1-18 Click here for the reading  The call of Samuel is a story that is familiar to many Christians and Jews. Some of you are even humming 'here I am Lord' as you think about it. But as we have skipped a good portion of this Story, from the time of Joshua's reclaiming the covenant to the introduction of Samuel as prophet, we miss the whole book and time of judges.
The calling of Samuel begins with "the word of the Lord was very rare in those days." God spoke directly and loudly to Moses and Aaron and even to Joshua. But since then (during the time of judges) God has been speaking less and corruption of God's people (Eli's sons as an example) have caused a distrust in who God is speaking. They either refused to listen to God or greed gets in the way. And now the Lord speaks to a young boy? Shocking! In fact, the Lord promises to do a shocking thing. "I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel." Change is a coming. God is about to release God's judgement upon Eli's house and set forth a new direction in Samuel. And Eli knows it. Eli knows how God works and wants to be in the loop. This is a bold thing. But being in leadership for God, answering the call of duty is a bold thing. Because God is about to do a bold thing through an unlikely source....Samuel. When called into action, do you usually have a gut instinct to answer that call right away or do you dismiss it as false pride (not being good enough)? Samuel knew well enough to ask the Lord to speak because he was listening. Lord, remind us to listen to what you are calling us and help us hear what you might be saying. 1 Samuel 1:1-28 Click here for the reading  "Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain, If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me By giving me a son, I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline." In Baptism, there is something of a dedicating your child to God much like Hannah does in this Scripture. When Hannah has her prayers answered and conceives a child she dedicates him to the Lord, naming him Samuel (I asked God for him). This dedication is connected with the sacrament of Baptism because in baptism, God makes the adoption complete. We all receive the same middle name, 'child of God.' Hannah realized the gift this child was because she had not been able to have children and instead of holding onto that dear child she dedicates him to the Lord. This is not a blessing this is a giving him over for service to God. Samuel will become a great prophet for God's people. Imagine the boldness of this kind of faith that gives over the greatest possession of life back to the God who gave that child to her in the first place. The Baptismal adoption is a great risk of faith placing in God's hands children and adults with God's promise of life. Hannah exemplifies this in her faith through both pain and joy. Lord- thanks for the promises you keep, in both baptism and in dedication of your faithful servants. Joshua 24:1-15 click here for the reading  When Joshua renews the covenant he does so in the backdrop of all the choices that can demand the time, energy, passion, & resources of God's people. In that renewal, Joshua begins that renewal by: 1) stating his own commitment: as for me & my house, we will seve the Lord. 2) states the reversal of all things of distraction: but. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." You never see that 'but' on the embroidered version of this verse. Joshua made a commitment to the Lord, even & especially when then are all other choices demand our time, energy, passion, & resources of God's people. Joshua 6:15-27 Click here for the reading  Again God keeps God's promises. Rahab and her family are spared from death (a passover of sorts) and God continues to be with Joshua.
The obstacles that were placed before God and God's people are never insurmountable. That is what we hear again and again when God keeps God's promises. This is a gift. What would happen if we lived into the 'can't' or the 'won't' that we hear in the back of our minds? What would happen if we failed to believe that transformation is possible for all people? What happens when we stop sharing stories of God's promise? Often times I read these stories of faith and think; 'WOW, I could never do that!' But as I live into the transformation that God continues to lead in my life, I am amazed at the promises God has kept. THE one that I continue to keep in front of me at all times is that "I was not supposed to be here." The day I was born was the day I almost died. To hear my mother and father tell it; we all experienced a miracle. Somewhere between the Doctor opening the door to ask my father who to save, my mother or me, my vitals increased and my mother's vitals stabilized. It is one incredible transformation that God was active in turning death into life. Yet for me, life is made up of little transformations, daily, weekly, yearly. Rahab experienced such a huge transformation because of a huge event. I would like to think that transformation is not something we neglect because of the huge events - WOW I could never do that! But over time to see how God continues to work on my life; daily, weekly, yearly. If I looked at my first day of life, it would be hard for me to live into that miracle. But in reflection of that gift of life, is a respect for God to do incredible things. Rahab and me included. Joshua 6:1-14 click here for the reading Sometimes God asks really weird things of God's people. Here is one instance. Throughout the biblical narrative though, God accomplishes victory in strange ways. Here it is walking around the walls seven time blowing trumpets. It appears silly or even as defeat to the people of Jericho. But time and time again provides victory in the appearance of defeat.
What silly thing has God asked of you recently? |
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