Friday, February 12, 2010
An Awkward Beginning
(I Samuel 10:14-27)
Initially Saul was a reluctant king. Though Samuel had outlined to him in private the nature of the kingdom and his prominent position, Saul even hesitated to tell his closest family members the exciting news (16). When the moment came for Saul’s public recognition before the nation, he was conspicuously absent (21). In fact, Samuel had to pray him out of hiding (22)! Apparently Saul harbored serious doubts about his abilities, if not his calling altogether.
There’s something popularly appealing about a reluctant leader. Too often our sensibilities are accosted by men who shamelessly promote themselves to public office. It’s unabashed egotism for a man to portray himself as having all the answers. What’s worse, it’s insanity for a man to actually believe in such a self-portrayal. Certainly Saul’s reluctance made for an appealing, if not an awkward, beginning.
Perhaps Saul’s reluctance sprang from an inner dread of failure. Most coronations pompously predict the future success of the monarch. This was not the case with Saul’s ascent to the throne. In fact, Samuel declared that Saul’s coronation marked Israel’s departure from God’s will. “Ye have this day rejected your God,” Samuel declared (19). Maybe Saul viewed Samuel’s words as a portent of coming failure. Perhaps Saul recognized the futility of heading a state that had rejected God.
Saul that day became king, and—almost immediately—critics arose who questioned his abilities (27). The awkward coronation set in motion a series of events that would eventually stain Saul’s reputation with infamy.
