|
Morning Devotion for the Season of Lent
February 24, 2026
Saint Matthias
Reading: 1 Samuel 12:1-5
Samuel said to all Israel, ‘I have listened to you in all that you have said to me, and have set a king over you. See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and grey, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day. Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.’ They said, ‘You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from the hand of anyone.’ He said to them, ‘The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.’ And they said, ‘He is witness.’
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
This begins the prophet Samuel’s farewell. Saul has been made King. Samuel surrenders his authority to Saul. The king's leadership is meant to be similar to the leadership of a shepherd who walks before his flock in order to guide the sheep.
Samuel apologizes for his conduct as a judge. He speaks of offenses that involve judicial honesty. He makes reference to a bribe that is the price of a life and usually refers to blood money or a settlement to avoid revenge for a murder.
Samuel is trying to vindicate himself in his appeal to the people. His assessment is that he has been a faithful leader of integrity and a devoted servant. Having established his own personal position, he earnestly requests that the people remember their covenant with the Lord. Reluctantly, Samuel has had to accept their demand for a king; but he pleads with them lest they forget the Lord who is their true King.
One theory of history holds that when Israel is loyal to Yahweh, Yahweh comes to their aid; alternatively when they turn to other gods, he punishes them. Individuals and societies try to live by the conviction that when they flourish it was because they were righteous and when they were subjected to trials it was because they were evil. Support for that premise does not necessarily lie in the facts. Does such a theory lead one to ascribe righteousness to the group? It would seem to invite an oversimplification of the circumstances and motives. Such a theory is divisive. It sets up arbitrary models of conforming behavior. The standards speak to actions rather than to spiritual concerns since there is no easy way to measure the peoples’ loyalty. This leads to a distorted understanding of life.
When Samuel states that the king walks before you he is pointing out that the king has replaced the prophet. One walks before when performing a function on someone’s behalf. Samuel’s position is that in the exercise of his office, his leadership has been just and selfless. The king will take for himself everything, possibly enslaving the people, while Samuel did not. Prophetic rule is just rule. This arises, it is assumed from the call of the prophet and the prophet’s relationship with Yahweh. This is not so for kings, who will behave as kings do everywhere, selfishly and cruelly.
Is Samuel making an argument for theocracy? I rather suspect that Samuel is far more concerned with the gifts and behavior that one brings to being king and the ramifications primarily for that person’s obedience to God and subsequently the leadership that ensues.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
| 
