Second Sunday after Pentecost
June 7, 2015
1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15)
On this first Sunday in June we start hopping through a crucial period in Israel’s history. The lectionary allows us to meet Samuel, Saul, David, Goliath, the troubling Philistines, and the troubled people of Israel. Read the books of Samuel and make your own choices. Some things the lectionary leaves out are important. Keep all the parts of today’s reading together and don’t ignore the narrative frame around it.
Today’s story is strange. The people want a king. Everyone else has a king! God doesn’t want them to have a king. Neither does Samuel. The people insist. God and Samuel give in. “OK. You want a king? You’ll have one! But watch out!” Samuel spells out what a king will do. How a king will rule. He will behave as every absolute monarch, every dictator—even those elected by their people—has behaved since. If that’s what they want, that’s what they will get. And that’s what they want.
Next Sunday we’ll hear how God regrets letting them have their way. For now God allows Samuel to go with the people to Gilgal to find and crown Saul king. What are Saul’s qualifications? In Chapter 9 we learn he is the tallest, handsomest man in Israel. He’ll look good in a crown. He’ll also be good at the head of an army. Saul receives some of God’s anointing Spirit. Just enough to get him started in his tumultuous reign. Samuel makes sure all is done decently and in order. He is God’s prophet and priest. Saul goes on to ignore Samuel and trust in his own wisdom and might.
Things do not go well for Saul, or for Israel.
In our Reformed tradition we’ve always believed that there is such a thing as rightful, even potentially righteous civil authority in this world. A leader can do God’s will for the good of all God’s people. A leader can also do what Samuel warned a king would do, and worse. The church must keep careful watch over the powerful and not be ashamed to support or afraid to pronounce God’s judgment on them. John Knox wanted to go further. He stood alone in his belief that judgment justified execution of an unrighteous king or queen! Knox and old Samuel had a lot in common.
Today’s story warns us against offering unquestioning allegiance to any authority in this world. That includes those ordained by God. We’re called to be respectful, informed critics. Always constructive critics. But always clear in our advocacy for the vision and values of God’s kingdom. It’s not enough to stand back and be satisfied our vision and values are recognized when councils pray before meetings. It’s no offense to us if an assembly takes an old cross out of its meeting room. It is our place to be present and visible where decisions are made that shape our communal life. It’s our call to be audible among the competing voices that seek to influence decision making. Some of those voices proclaim what we don’t believe is gospel.
As Samuel saw it, Israel got the king it deserved. It seems God saw it that way, at least for a little while. In a democracy we get the government we deserve. If we don’t participate in the process, if we don’t do our homework before we vote, if we hold party lines as if our lives depend on it, if we’re naive enough to think things always work out for good in a democracy, we deserve what we get. We have freedom others in this world envy. We may not be able to influence God as successfully as Israel did long ago, but we can use the power we have as God’s gift for the good of all.
