Sermon: 6/17/12
APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING
1 Samuel 15: 34 – 16:13
As you might recall (yes, this is the highlights-from-last-week
portion of the sermon) the Hebrew people wanted a King just like the
other nations. Samuel, their prophet, is old, a has-been, and they are tired
of being different, odd. They want a King…not prophets, not judges, not
even God. They want to be like all the other nations even after Samuel
warns them of the perils that come with having a mortal King. In the
end, God relents and gives them Saul as their King.
Today’s story picks up after Saul has been a King for a while.
Samuel’s warnings about having a mortal King have turned out to be,
well, prophetic, which is, I guess, what we should expect since Samuel
is a prophet. What takes us aback, however, is that it seems to be a
surprise not only to Samuel but to God as well. I guess even they were
hoping the ending would turn out differently.
Saul has been a dismal failure. Greed and power has gone to his
head, just as Samuel predicted. Intrigue and scandal has defined his
reign, just as Samuel predicted. Worst of all, somewhere along the way,
Saul decided he could do a better job at being God than God could.
Well, as you might imagine, it’s that last thing which pushes God
over the edge. Saul doesn’t know it yet, but his reign is over. Saul is still
sitting on the throne, still wielding power, still in charge of his army,
still wearing the crown but the clock is ticking, his days are numbered,
it’s just a matter of time.
It happens. As last week’s text reminded us, even when we choose
to push God away, thankfully, God doesn’t wash his hands of us. It
might take a while for rulers like Saul to realize it, but God’s tolerance
of injustice has limits. God’s patience does run out.
As Martin Luther once wrote: And though this world with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed the truth
to triumph through us. The powers of darkness grim, we tremble not for
them; their rage we can endure, for lo, their doom is sure: One little
word shall fell them.
It’s the kind of language we increasingly hear when it comes to
Syria these days. “It’s just a matter of time. These massacres cannot
endure. This corrupt leader might not realize it yet, but his days are
numbered.”
It is fair warning for all who lead and all who follow them no
matter what nation they live in…The body they may kill, God’s truth
abideth still, God’s reign endures forever. God will not give up on us,
particularly when it comes to the powerless, the voiceless, and the
marginalized that bear the greatest brunt of history’s Pharaohs.
This is a story about a God initiated, God condoned regime
change. Saul doesn’t know it yet, but his reign is over. God has set to
work to replace him. At first there is grief on the part of Samuel and, it
seems, God too. The text is not specific as to what exactly grieves them
the most, but the grief is real. Hand-picked, prophet-anointed Saul has
let them both down.
“Saul went up to his house in Gibeah,” we read, “and Samuel did
not see Saul again until the day of his death.” Samuel grieved. God was
sorry he had made Saul king. We hear echoes of the Noah story where
God said he was sorry he had caused such destruction by way of the
flood. God was sorry he had picked Saul. God regretted his choice. The
implication, of course, is that God had made a mistake. It’s almost too
immense to wrap our heads around – a God who regrets a decision God
made; a God who makes mistakes.
Us mortals work so hard at hiding our mistakes, our failures, our
errors while God just puts it out there, grieving the consequences of
failure right there alongside of us. We work so hard at protecting the thin
veneer of appearances. God unabashedly confesses regret and sorrow.
Regime change is underway. It will begin as a covert operation with
Samuel being God’s primary operative. Yes, the very same Samuel
whom people said was old and useless last time around.
Evidently God already has someone in mind to replace Saul. It will
be Samuel’s job to anoint this new, soon to be occupant of the throne.
Samuel doesn’t like the plan God has one bit, though. Notice here the
honesty of God and Samuel’s relationship. God openly shares his grief
with Samuel. Samuel doesn’t hesitate to argue with God. Yes, even
argument can be a form of intimacy!
“You want me to do what?” Samuel asks. “Go to Bethlehem?
Anoint a King? Uh…not to be argumentative here, God, but, in case you
haven’t noticed, Saul is still King and if he gets wind of this I’m a
goner.” “No problem!” God says. “Lie…this is a covert operation after
all!”
All right, maybe God didn’t exactly tell Samuel to lie. Maybe it
was more like a God condoned deception. God instructed Samuel to tell
folks he had come to Bethlehem to worship at First Reformed. Samuel
did and, just to prove it, he even brought his own bull (no, not the lying
kind but the sacrifice kind).
As planned, Samuel meets up with Jesse to choose one of his sons
to be the next King. One by one, Jesse parades his sons before Samuel
and, beginning with the first, Samuel is profoundly impressed. Each one
of them is strong, handsome, wholesome, picture ready for that
obligatory jog around the White House – a dream come true for media
scrutiny. These sons even look good in shorts! By all appearances – a
perfect match. While Samuel is ready to anoint any one of them, God
turns down every son until there is none left. God is clearly being careful
and cautious this time around. Appearances alone will not do the trick.
Recently, I saw a great movie – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the
Elderly and the Beautiful. It tells the story of seven people who don’t
know anything about each other until they meet up at an airport as
they’re making their way to the Marigold Hotel in India. Each of them is
in the later years of their life and each of them is in a bad place. One has
just lost her husband who left behind a mountain of debt, forcing her to
sell her home. One couple has lost their retirement funds because they
gave it to their daughter to start an internet business. One man goes to
India hoping to resolve a deep wound of the heart that has burdened him
since his youth. Two others hope to overcome their loneliness. One is on
her way to get hip replacement surgery because she can’t afford the cost
and wait in her own country.
The appeal of the Marigold Hotel was triggered by ads filled with
pictures and words depicting a luxurious, comfortable, and affordable
retirement villa for the ‘Elderly and the Beautiful’. By all appearances,
the ads left these people with the impression that this would be the
perfect spot for them to enjoy their retirement years in relative ease and
peace at a price they could afford. Appearances can be deceiving,
though.
When they finally arrive, things are far from what was pictured in
the ads – the hotel is run down, filthy, overgrown, falling apart, a
nightmare, a dive. This risky venture had turned into a disaster. From all
appearances, their hopes of landing in a safe and comfortable place were
completely dashed.
From initial appearances, as God nixed every one of Jesse’s sons,
it seemed to Samuel that this risky journey had all been for naught. A
King was not to be found among Jesse’s sons.
“Are these all your sons?” Samuel finally asked. “Well, yeah,”
Jesse responded, “except for my youngest, but surely he’s not what
you’re looking for. He’s the youngest, wet behind the ears, a kid,
immature, not very worldly…he’s out in the field, tending sheep, doing
about all he has the skill set for.” “Get him,” Samuel instructs. “We will
not sit down until he arrives.” When the youngest son, David, walks
in…God immediately whispers in Samuel’s ear, “He’s the one.”
As much as we’d like to think we’re beyond such superficial
thinking, appearances do have their way with us and advertisers know it.
Soft drinks associated with being young, vibrant, active, and energetic
easily catch our attention. Fancy cars announcing we’re successful and
important occupy our dreams. Cosmetic products associated with
magnetism and beauty, are purchased at great cost. Diet products touting
magical transformations that will increase our sense of worth quickly
grab our fancy. Get rich quick ideas that lead to happiness and
contentment never seem to lose their appeal. Appearances are a powerful
thing.
Yet, the Marigold hotel, as old and run down as it was, really did
turn out to be a place of beauty for the beautiful. Not having anywhere
else to go, the new residents of the Marigold Hotel made due and, slowly
but surely, almost all of them found something precious. From all
appearances, it seemed like they were washed up, done, finished, goners
just like that hotel. Little by little, however, it became apparent they
were wrong, utterly wrong. Little by little, that hotel and its residents
realized that, despite appearances, they were, indeed, beautiful.
The question left for us is what do we see when we look in a
mirror? What voice do we hear when we consider where we’ve been and
where we’re going? How do we measure up when we reflect on where
we wanted to be and where we are? What do we assume when it appears
that this world with devils filled threaten to undo us. What are our
thoughts when the church’s influence appears minimal and its
importance mostly evaporated? How do we respond when the present
feels dangerous and the future more frightening still? Which message
are we going to believe – the one that appears to be true or the one that is
true? What will we do? Sit down and resign ourselves to appearances or
stand and wait with expectation, like Samuel did?
When David, the immature one, the useless one, walked in,
Samuel’s first thought was that he was beautiful and God’s first
whispered words to Samuel were that he’s the one.
What is God whispering in your ear? Be very careful how you answer
that question because appearances truly can be deceiving.
To God alone be all the glory! Amen.