Lacking integrity both before God and man

 1 Samuel 16:1-5

“The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

Sin should bring about grieving and often that's magnified when a leader such as a pastor has brought shame on the name of Christ.  The first King of Israel had all the physical requirements of a warrior, a leader of men, but was lacking integrity both before God and man.  He began well, but the pride of life and power and wealth were change agents when this donkey hunter was more fearful of a man than of the LORD.  Often we do not get the picture, Saul’s lack of obedience was not a surprise to God, but it was His plan to allow Israel to have what looks good to man, only to find out much later that God was looking for obedience.  Saul is not doing great things for God, but waiting for the LORD to do mighty acts through Saul.  The Church needs to grasp the fullness of why God has rejected Saul and is looking for a man after His own heart.

So when Samuel is told to “fill your horn with oil,” it means God has someone in mind for Samuel to anoint as the new King of Israel.  But often we miss the next part, “Go,” yes stop wasting time grieving over your Saul, he is history, go and do what God has prepared for you to do.

We find in verses 2-5, God’s plan about how to accomplish the act Samuel is instructed to do.  “And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 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?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.”

Often we do not see how that is going to work; our Saul may be in a position to bring hurt or harm to us, as was Saul to Samuel.  So we need to stop and ask God to show us how to do what He has asked of us, and then go and do it!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice