Proper 6 - Ordinary 11
June 14, 2009

Musings on the Lectionary Readings
by Philip W. Gilman
 
(Symbols:    ^Scripture^;    * =footnote;    _italics_)
 
1Sam. 15: 34 - 16: 13
    
^But Samuel grieved over Saul, because the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.^ 
(15: 35b)  What was it that made Samuel so unhappy?  Did he grieve over Saul for Saul's sake?  
In all of chapters 9 and 10, there is little evidence that Samuel thought or felt anything special about Saul.  
If he had, he surely would have expressed it, since he knew that God had chosen Saul (9: 15, 17; 10: 1, 24).  
But Samuel made no statement indicative of any personal admiration for Saul, as he later did for Eliab (16: 6).
 
I think that ^Samuel grieved... because the LORD regretted^ having made Saul king.  Samuel was dismayed 
to learn that God could make a mistake, and such a grievous one at that.  He found out 
that God is not omniscient; that when God says ^"the LORD sees into the heart"^ (16: 7f), 
apparently not everything is discerned.  The LORD, Samuel discovered, is not perfect; 
the story of Saul's successor, "a man after God's own heart", repeatedly makes the same assertion.
 
Psa. 9: 9--20    [10--21, TNK]
    
Ostensibly ^A psalm of David^ [1b], this poem opens with a prayer [2-6], continues 
with a statement of faith [7-9] and closes with a prayer [10].
 
^Now I know that the LORD will give victory to His anointed^ [7a], as a declaration by David, 
discloses (in part, at least) why God preferred David throughout his reign, in spite of all the selfish, 
malicious and evil deeds he performed or had carried out on his behalf.  It is a potent statement of faith because, 
according to much of what Jesus and Paul taught, faith in God is the most important aspect of a person's spiritual journey.
 
The LORD loved David and overlooked or forgave most of his miserable misdeeds.  But even 
when God had to administer punishment, God still loved David.  What lesson might this teach Christians?
 
2Cor. 5: 6--10, (11--13), 14--17
    
Paul continues the thought from the Psalm reading.  ^Therefore we never cease to be confident.^ (6a)  
Another powerful statement of faith.  And he builds from Samuel.  ^For we must all have our lives laid open 
before the tribunal of Christ, where each must receive what is due him [or her*] for his [and her*] 
conduct in the body, good or bad.^ (10)  Yet even  when Christ has to administer punishment, 
God still loves us.
 
^[F]aith is our guide, not sight.^ (7)  ^With us therefore worldly standards have ceased to count 
in our estimate of anyone^ (16a).  Has the Church ever read these two lines?  If God be for us, 
why are so many Christians against us?
 
Mark 4: 26--34
    
^[Jesus] said, 'The kingdom of God is like this.  A [sower] scatters seed on the ground; [then] goes to bed 
at night and gets up in the morning, and meanwhile the seed sprouts and grows-- how, [the sower] 
does not know.'^ (26-27)  I suppose that today scientists and explain the process in minute detail.  
But still, in my mind at least, it remains a miracle.  From spreading little seeds comes a bountiful harvest.
 
A person professes faith in God, then goes to bed at night and gets up in the morning, 
and meanwhile the faith sprouts and grows, yielding a harvest of forgiveness and love.  
The person does not understand how it happens, but still it does.  A miracle.
 
*  See v. 11.

(Comments to Phil at enapxh@bellsouth.net.)