DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
1 Kg
16:1-13 (2/5-2/18) A Reading in Kellia for
Friday of the Week of the Last Judgment
The Prophet
Samuel ~ A New Anointing: 1 Kingdoms 16:1-13 SAAS, especially vs. 1: “Fill your
horn with olive oil and come. I
will send you to Jesse in
This reading continues with the Prophet Samuel still
grieving “...for Saul...” (1 Kg. 16:1). What a powerful icon! The old Prophet of God weeping for the tall
young prince “...whom the Lord has chosen...[there
being] no one among all of you” like him (1 Kg. 10:24). Samuel remembered the promising you man
with great warrior potential (1 Kngs.11), and in remorse he reflected on the
King’s repeated spiritual failure (1 Kg. 13-15). However, God spoke through Samuel from
the start of Saul’s decline until Divine rejection was unavoidable (1 Kg.
12:24, 25).
Now follow how God lifted up His Prophet from grief over
what-might-have-been to accepting what was evident. The present passage describes the Lord
directing Samuel to anoint a new king.
Compare the anointing of King Saul (1 Kg. 8, 9) and the anointing of the
future king, David described here.
There are important distinctions between the two royal investitures;
likewise there would be marked differences between the reigns of Saul and
David.
Foremost among the differences between Saul’s
anointing and the anointing of David was the absence of an initiating public
insistence for a ruler. See how
many ways Holy Scripture emphasizes that the anointing of David was wholly at
Divine initiative. No group of
elders came asking for a king.
There was only a grieving Prophet whom God lifted up from dismay and
sent to
In David’s case the reason for the choice is made
explicit. God revealed the basis for His choice - that “...the Lord sees
into the heart” (vs 7), and that “...the
Lord will seek a man for Himself after His own heart” (1 Kg. 13:14). Yes, the Lord knew the murky depths of
King Saul. As the Apostle Peter
later confessed, “Lord, You know all things” (Jn. 21:17). And, Beloved, let us acknowledge that
the Lord knew that Saul did not love Him as David did; but, like Peter the
Apostle, David loved the Lord as his strength, foundation, refuge, and
deliverer (Ps. 17:1, 2).
In both anointings, the Lord
revealed His choice to His Prophet and servant, guiding Samuel through the
process at each step. After
anointing Saul, Samuel remained active in the affairs of the nation, teaching,
cautioning, and correcting. But
notice: after he anointed David, the old man simply “...arose and went to
Ramah” (1 Kg. 16:13). He left
David’s personal development, his training, and his affirmation by the
People solely in God’s hands.
Years and many events lay before the newly anointed, but the Prophet
went to his rest in peace knowing that God had given the kingdom of Israel to a
better man than Saul (1 Kg. 15:28).
O God, Who in pity
and compassion hast visited our lowliness us, set Thy humble, sinful, and
unworthy servants before Thee, and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy
Spirit.
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