Making A New Start

39th in a series on how men and women in the Bible 

deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment

Making A New Start

Reflections on 1 Samuel 16:1-13

When the wrong person has been hired it seems the company has two options: 1) Fix the problem immediately by letting them go or 2) hope that they will adjust, adapt or otherwise quickly get with the program.  In some cases we were that person, in others we had to work with that person which caused us to question our tenure at the company.

King Saul had blown it.  He had not revered God as he should by inappropriately  offering a sacrifice.  ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time’, is often said when things don’t work out the way we thought.  Saul was rejected as King of Israel despite all the effort that God and Samuel had put into him.  When Samuel anointed Saul with oil the Scriptures said, ‘As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.”  Later on, “….they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.”  This was to celebrate Saul as Israel’s first king.

Despite being anointed, having his heart changed and having his kingship confirmed by the people through celebration, things just didn’t work out.  Many of us have seen this happen in our careers.  The ‘perfect’ job doesn’t exist.  Conflict happens.  Expectations were unrealistic.  The chemistry wasn’t right.  So, how do we move on and not make the same mistake again?

Samuel, God’s prophet and messenger, seemed to have lost his confidence.  But God didn’t dismiss him, even in his old age.  God commanded him to anoint a new king.  “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.”  I can imagine Samuel saying, “Haven’t we been through this before?  This didn’t go so well last time.”  But as one commentator said, “The people chose the last king…one that looked ‘kingly’, but God will choose the next one.”  “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

How many times does the interviewer really get to the heart of the matter?  How many of us have been hired because of who we are rather than what we can do?  My friends in Career Prospectors are good at what they do but they often run into roadblocks:  low salary offers, age discrimination, benefits package disappointments, etc.  “If only they would hire me, I would prove to them that I am worth every penny and my age is a benefit, not a risk.

Samuel interviewed seven of Jesse’s sons but God informed him that none of them were THE one.  I rarely sympathize with Human Resources, but I can imagine that they face seemingly impossible odds at times.  I can imagine that sometimes the right candidate just doesn’t seem to exist.   They may ask with Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”  i.e. Give me a candidate that I can believe in.

When David comes in from the fields, God impresses upon Samuel that he is right not because of his talents or expertise but because of his heart.  Later on the writers of biblical history record David as one who followed God with all his heart.  As we get up every day and strive to be a good boss or employee what is in the foremost of our minds?  Trying to do the right thing without a heart and mind set on heavenly things will only produce earthly results.  

So, like Saul, when Samuel anointed David with oil, the Spirit came mightily upon him. The difference between the two men was that David chose to cooperate with God’s Spirit through obedience to His Word.  He wasn’t perfect but the attitude of his heart enabled him to say, “keep me as the apple of your eye.”

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” – C. S. Lewis

Points to Ponder:

1. When we have made mistakes are we quick to blame someone else, seek a way out or confess in order to make it right?
2. Saul was in a position of privilege and he crashed and burned.  How have you handled being chosen above all others?
3. What is the attitude of your heart?  Pride and arrogance may be perceived as confidence but it will not take you as far as humility and a servant attitude.
4. What would it look like to view people through the eyes of God in order to make more accurate judgments?  We can only do that if we understand Him and ourselves as presented in the words of the Bible.