1 Samuel 9: The way up is down

Samuel had a dilemma that would test his loyalty to Yahweh. His character and leadership are tested as he is called by God to anoint Israel’s first king, thereby demoting himself from the role of leader of Israel, submitting himself to a much younger and spiritually immature man in Saul. By anointing Saul, Samuel relegates himself to a significantly more diminished role and influence in country. He didn’t have to do it. He could have easily justified holding onto power on account of his love for Israel, knowing that a king would mistreat them. He could have easily held onto his power based upon the justification that he was much more experienced and capable than Saul. He could have asserted himself as king for he had certainly displayed all of the characteristics of leadership required of a king. Yet he defies his logic and human wisdom and embraces God’s foolishness.

God in many ways does seem foolish here. When Samuel brought the request of the people for a king to the Lord, his response was, “it is not you they have rejected (as ruler and judge in Israel), but they have rejected me as their king.” (8:7). With that kind of rejection, it would be understandable and even wise for God to give them anything but their request. Yet, God stoops. In their weakness and their brokenness, they will not follow him. They want to follow a leader like the other nations have—one they can see and be inspired by and one they can boast about to other nations.

This is not the first time God will stoop. The choosing of Saul as a king is a way of giving flesh to the people to symbolize God’s leadership. As the kings of Israel flourished spiritually, so would the nation. Unfortunately, most of the kings would fall woefully short of that standard. Yet, there would be a day when God himself would stoop again and be that king himself in the person of Jesus. Unlike the way Samuel created space for Saul, the Jewish leaders would resist the one who truly deserved to be king. His death and resurrection would validate his authority and introduce a new kind of Kingdom that would extend beyond all borders.

They say that in the Kingdom, “the way up is down.” That is how it was for Samuel. That is how it is for Jesus. That is how it is for us.