Of course, every election has many issues, even when one seems to predominate. However, to have insisted that leadership was the main issue and then to have lost so overwhelmingly must have been very personally devastating.
Leadership is important - not just policies. And the personal style and example of the leader will flow over into the community in many different ways.
We have a say in our country's leadership every three years or so. There are some countries, however, where leaders stay in office for the term of their natural life. Today's Bible reading focuses our attention on the leadership crisis in Israel.
It was a good beginning. But a point came when Saul began to turn away from the Lord and to disobey his commands (15.10). Although he continued to rule as king, the Lord had already rejected him. The Lord said, "I am sorry that I made Saul king." Now, Samuel, I am sending you to anoint someone else as king of Israel.
Samuel didn't always find it easy to do what the Lord wanted him to do. He had opposed the whole idea of a king in the first place. After all, wasn't the Lord their king? Weren't they rejecting the Lord in wanting a king? Samuel warned them just what demands a king would place on them. But now their king had turned bad… Didn't you foresee this, Lord? Wasn't it a big mistake to give them a king in the first place? Surely we aren't going to have one king after another, after another, after another, are we, Lord?
Wait a minute, Samuel! You're forgetting! Eli's sons had gone bad - that was when you were just beginning. And why did the people ask for a king? It was because your two sons, Joel and Abijah, were corrupt judges, only interested in making money (8.1-2). Whatever system of rule we have is going to be fragile because it will depend on people, people who will need to be called back to depend on me. Whether priests, prophets or kings, this provides no guarantee that they will lead the people in the ways of righteousness. Only I can do that. Any human leader who makes himself absolute and independent of me will lead my people into trouble. So, Samuel, you are to go to Bethlehem, to a man named Jesse, because I have chosen one of his sons to be the king.
Wait a minute, Lord! You're forgetting - Saul! If he hears about it, he'll kill me!
No suspicions? From Saul, perhaps, but the city leaders of Bethlehem were scared out of their wits. They "came trembling to meet him and asked, 'Is this a peaceful visit, seer?'" Why would Samuel come here? Why would he be wanting to make sacrifice here? Have we sinned against the Lord? Is some disaster awaiting us?
Now, Lord, which one of Jesse's sons is it? So this is Eliab, the eldest? Tall and handsome. Obviously I need look no further - he's the one! "Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as man judges. Man looks at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart." OK, Lord, so you look at the heart! Then it isn't Abinadab either. And not Shammah. And not the other four. Sorry, Jesse, the Lord hasn't chosen any of these. You haven't any more sons by any chance? "There's still the youngest, but he's out taking care of the sheep." Then tell him to come here.
It's OK, folks. I'm sorry for the delay. Sorry to keep you waiting. I have just found out from Jesse here that he has another son and he's looking after the sheep. I did want Jesse's whole family here before we begin the sacrifice.
Lord, there's only one left, and he's the youngest! Still a lad! Are you sure you've sent me to the right place? And, Lord - I'd hardly thought about it before - if he is the one, then I'll have to anoint him and say nothing. The city leaders mustn't know. Even his own brothers mustn't know. Here he is now. Just a shepherd boy. Handsome, healthy young man, sparkling eyes. Nice enough young man, but I wonder… "This is the one - anoint him!"
"Samuel took the olive-oil and anointed David in front of his brothers. Immediately the spirit of the Lord took control of David and was with him from that day on."
The account does not tell us what happened with the sacrifice - or sacrificial feast. They must have had it, or the king's suspicions would have been stirred. And what did his brothers think? Perhaps no more than that Samuel was setting David aside to become one of the prophets when he grew up a bit! Certainly, no word about David reached the king who shortly needed someone to play the harp for him.
Those brothers, if they had understood what was going on, could easily have thought, "Why David?" And David must often have thought, "Why me?"
Paul was writing about the message of Christ crucified, the most powerful life-changing message in the world. He said, "God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. He chose what the world looks down on and despises, and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. This means that no one can boast in God's presence" (1 Cor.1.27-9).
We have no cause to boast. But we are not to put ourselves down either. If God can do all that with human gallows, what is he not able to do with us?
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