Wisdom Over Aggression - 1 Samuel 16-20

 1 Samuel 16:1-5 (ESV)

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

In the past, it was Samuel who Saul feared.  In old age, it was Saul who Samuel feared.   In the past it was Saul who was timid.   In old age it is Samuel who is timid.   This metamorphosis comes about because God’s presence in Saul’s life changed, or was changing.  It won’t be until the end of this section that we read:

1 Samuel 16:13 (ESV)

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

Perhaps it was these words that Samuel said to Saul that even Samuel knew meant certain peril:

1 Samuel 15:26 (ESV)

And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

Samuel knew that the Spirit of God was living and would live Saul’s life.  This caused him to fear.    Samuel could see what was coming if God was anointing someone else to take the throne.   Samuel was sensitive enough in his old age to see that Saul was losing it.   But, Samuel was also changing and we have nothing other than his old age to account for it.  Apparently his timidity was triumphing of His faith that God would protect him.  In old age we should be becoming more and more bold in our faith.  But, in Samuel’s case something had changed.  He began to cast his eyes on Saul’s extreme behavior rather than the sovereign protection of God.  God does provide him with wisdom to navigate Saul’s crazy world, however.   Samuel may have lost his boldness, but he still could be assured of God’s wisdom.   Perhaps when we are older we are not as bold in our aggression but we are much more reliant on God’s wisdom.