Tuesday, October 21, 2025

God Chooses David -- A Message for October 19, 2025



  Last week, we focused on the call of Samuel to become a prophet for God. When God first started appearing to and communicating with Samuel, he was just a boy…probably around 12 years old. 


Samuel became the primary prophet in the land of Israel. He lived his whole life in service to God. God had Samuel anoint Saul to become the first king of Israel. Samuel was a mentor for Saul….he nurtured Saul as the first king of Israel. Samuel worked alongside Saul for many, many years. Whenever Saul had to lead the army against their enemies, Samuel would be on the sidelines, praying and offering sacrifices to God. Before each battle began, Samuel led Saul in prayers and offering sacrifices.


And, this was how Saul fell-out with God. Once, when Saul and his army were facing a great foe, Saul was waiting for Samuel to arrive….he was anxious to get the battle started.  And, Samuel didn’t come when Saul expected him. So, Saul offered the sacrifices and prayers before Samuel arrived. As soon as he was done, Samuel appeared. And, Samuel told Saul he had broken covenant with God – he hadn’t followed the proper procedure. God was so angry that Saul had broken the rules that God decided to reject Saul as king, reject Saul’s family so that his descendants would also not become rulers, and was going to anoint another person to become king instead of Saul. Saul was contrite after he learned of his mistake, but it was the final straw that broke the camel’s back – he had been disobedient to God’s will and God decided he needed a different person to rule over Israel. 


This morning, our first reading is the tale of how that next ruler was selected. God had Samuel go to the province of the Benjaminites and anoint a son of Jesse to replace Saul as king. Listen to the story as we read from 1st Samuel chapter 16.


Scripture 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 51:10-14

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 

3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 

9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 

10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 

11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Amen.

Let us pray….may the words of my mouth and the mediations of all of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.

God chose David to rule, not for his outward appearance or his height, but for his heart.

David was just a kid when he was selected. He was the youngest son in a culture where birth order was important – as someone with 8 older brothers, he was not expected to become a leader in his family or in the outside world. And, he was just a kid – so unimportant that his family left him to watch the sheep while they went to make sacrifices with the great Samuel. But, God cares about our hearts – not our family position, not our appearance, not our education or professions or prestige.

Our hearts.

David led a complicated life. He developed a special father-son relationship with King Saul (who didn’t know at first David was going to replace him)...David played the lyre to soothe King Saul’s headaches. David also became best friends with Saul’s son, Jonathan. Then, David used his skills as a sling-shot master to kill the Philistine warrior Gollith. Afterwards, Saul had his daughter married off to David. But, when Saul realized David had been chosen by God to replace him as king, Saul spent many years chasing David around the Middle East and trying to kill him. Eventually, Saul was killed and David became king.

God anointed David to be king because God could see that David had a good heart. But, David was not always a good person or a good ruler. One of the worst things David did was rape a woman – a married woman named Bathsheba. A pregnancy resulted from the rape. Uriah, her husband, was a loyal soldier who found in David’s army – David tried to bring him home to sleep with his wife, but Uriah was so loyal to David he refused to have relations with his wife until the war was over. So, David told his generals to intentionally place Uriah in harm’s way so that he would be killed. After his death, David forced Bathsheba to marry him. The baby who resulted from the rape was born, and he died in infancy. God was displeased with David. 

We all would be displeased with David.

What made David different – different from Saul – different from other followers of God – was that he was capable of repentance. By the time David’s disaster with Bathsheba took place, Samuel was long dead. Nathan was the prophet and advisor who supported David. He confronted David for his massive error–his colossal mistake–and David was contrite. David repented. David understood he had done a series of wrongs, each one leading to the next, with terrible consequences.

David wrote Psalm 51 in response to his transgressions. Listen to a few stanzas from David’s prayer admitting his guilt and asking for repentance….he said:

10 

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 

Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.

14 

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Amen


Message God Chooses David


How could God pick such a flawed man to lead the people of Israel? He was a rapist, a murderer, and a sinner. His lust led to the death of both a loyal soldier and a baby. His lust led to the destruction of Bathsheba’s content life and threw her into a chaotic mess. How could God pick a man like David?


David’s story is the very human story of a person who makes many, many mistakes, but truly repents and works to change his life for the better. David repented and actively worked to be a more loyal follower of God. David repented and actively worked to be a better leader of his family. David repented and actively worked to be a better leader of his country. 


In ancient Israel, the role of a shepherd was always used as a metaphor for a king.  God knew David’s heart was a shepherding heart – he had the qualities of a good shepherd, even though he made mistakes. Like David, we are called to embody the qualities that will make us good shepherds – and compassionate members of the Christian faith. We may not be called to lead a country, or an army, but we are called to put our Christian faith into action, and work to embody “shepherd” attitudes and care for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.


A good shepherd is trustworthy – their people, and sheep, can rely on them. They treat their followers consistently with care…their followers feel safe and valued.


A good shepherd leads by example – demonstrating the behaviors and values they wish to instill in their followers. They embody dedication and integrity.


A good shepherd is compassionate and caring. They are attentive to the needs of their people (and sheep), provide support during difficult times, and celebrate the successes of their people.


A good shepherd establishes boundaries.  They create safe environments where their people can thrive without fear of harm or confusion.


A good shepherd has endurance and commitment.  What if David decided after a few months that being a king was no fun, so he ran away home? A good shepherd perseveres during challenging times. They remain committed to their people, even when faced with difficulties, and are willing to put in hard work. 


A good shepherd listens and is understanding. They take time to listen to their people, understanding their concerns and aspirations. 


A good shepherd provides guidance and direction. They lead their people towards positive paths and help them navigate challenges.


A good shepherd has humility. They recognize that their role is to serve their people, rather than dominate or control them.


The qualities of being a good shepherd were embodied by King David, even though he was a flawed person. The qualities of being a good shepherd were embodied by Jesus, even though he sometimes blew his fuse when he was exhausted or hungry. And, as followers of Christ, even though we have all made mistakes in our pasts (and will make mistakes again), we are called to embody the qualities of a good shepherd in our lives and as we serve God in the world. We are all called to be trustworthy; live out our values; have healthy boundaries; be compassionate and caring; have endurance and commitment; listen attentively to others and be understanding; provide valuable guidance and direction; and seek to be humble.


God judges people by their hearts. Let us work to embody God’s love and compassion in our hearts and as we live out our faith on earth. 


Amen. 


Tuesday, October 14, 2025

God Calls Samuel -- A Message for October 12, 2025

 


Last week, we visited the Hebrew people in the desert.  They wandered there for 40 years until they were ready to enter the promised land.

This morning, we are entering the story 400 years, or so, later. The people of Israel entered their land and settled it. They were divided into regions based on the clan they were part of – Jacob had twelve sons, each son became the father of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. The tribes governed themselves and judges were the arbitrators when people had disagreements and conflicts.


The neighboring countries were organized into Kingdoms. The people of Israel were vulnerable to being attacked and conquered by the armies of the kingdoms surrounding them. So, the people started to ask for stronger leadership. The religious authorities had been part of the governance and supported the judges who ruled the land – so the religious authorities turned to God to discern if they should listen to the people and create a kingdom.


We enter the story when Eli was one of the primary religious leaders. He was faithful to God. But, priesthood was a family-business, and Eli’s sons were decidedly corrupt. God wanted Eli to correct his sons, but he wasn’t able to get them to change their ways.


A little boy had been left in the care of Eli. The boy was Samuel. His mother promised God to give her son over to God’s service if God cured her infertility. So, when Samuel was weaned, Hannah, his mother, left him with the priest Eli.


Listen to the story as we enter it in 1st Samuel chapter 3….


Scripture 1 Samuel 3: 1-21


The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 

3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 

4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 

5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 

9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 

12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 

13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. 

14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 

16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 

18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 

20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord

21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.


Message God Calls Samuel


This story shares the moment when God passed the baton from Eli to Samuel. God’s words to Samuel essentially said, “I am disappointed in Eli, now you, Samuel, will be my mouthpiece to the people of Israel.” Samuel lived a long life – he expressed God’s wishes for the people for many decades. Samuel anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel. When Saul’s mental illness became too much, Samuel anointed David to be the king. And, during both of the king’s reigns, Samuel helped the kings to become better rulers and corrected the kings when they failed.


In Ancient Israel, God anointed prophets and priests to serve God. God communicated directly to this select group of people. That group of people was then expected to tell the people what God said. The prophets often called the people to task – the people were often out of sync with God’s teachings and they needed to do better.


When Jesus came to earth, Jesus talked to everyone he met. He was the mouthpiece of God, he was the living God, here on earth. In Hebrews chapter 1, it says: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” Everyone had access to Jesus…in a post-Jesus world, we all have access to God.


We don’t ask prophets or priests to talk to God on our  behalf…instead, we now can talk directly to God. And, we believe God speaks directly to us as individuals – Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”


In the early 2000s, the United Church of Christ launched the “God is Still Speaking” Campaign. The tagline of the campaign was a reminder to us, UCC members, that our faith may be ancient but our God is still actively involved in the lives of believers. So, when we pray and confess and ask God help us change our lives, God speaks to us. We don’t need a minister or a priest or a prophet to intercede for us, we can talk to God and God speaks back to us. We may not have an encounter like Samuel, with God having a face-to-face conversation with us…but God sends us messages through the words of faithful Christians, in signs in the world, through dreams, through coincidences, and by sending us messages when we turn to the scripture.


We have a lot of things clamoring for our attention. Our phones….tvs….advertisements everywhere.  We are busy with work and chores and running errands and attending our kids or grandkids or friends activities. Over the past week, when the PHilies were in the playoffs, it seemed like things were shut down so that people could watch the games. We are distracted and busy most of the time.


So, in the midst of our busy lives, we need to make an effort to pay attention to God. We need to make an effort to talk to God in prayer. We need to carve out time to mediate and read the Bible and pray. And, we need to look for the surprising ways God talks to us and answers our prayers. 


Let’s pay attention, because we believe God is still speaking to us, still answering us, and cares about us. 


Amen. 




God Chooses David -- A Message for October 19, 2025

  Last week, we focused on the call of Samuel to become a prophet for God. When God first started appearing to and communicating with Samu...