Sarah Fuller takes on the tricky passage of 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13. She begins by reminding us that God is not a respecter of social and cultural norms. The passage follows last week’s lectionary reading where the people of Israel clamor for a king to lead their nation. They’ve previously been lead by judges and leaders who arose at times of need and were answerable to God, who warns them of the costs that having a king will involve. The Israelites persist in asking for a monarchy in the fashion of their neighbors. And Saul, a man of standing, is annointed as king. Yet Saul fails to obey God in his leadership for murky (to us) reasons, and God instructs Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse in Saul’s place. This process provides a window into God’s perspective: “…the Lord does not look at the things human beings look at; people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” How do expectations of prestige and status affect us in our society? How do they impact our view of others? What do we value?

Listen and ponder: