Where Do We Go from Here?

 

Scripture

 1 Samuel 12:1-3, 14-25

12 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to you in all that you have said to me, and have set a king over you. ² See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and gray, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day.

 ³ See, here is the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; see, the Lord has set a king over you... ¹⁴ If you will fear the Lord and serve him and heed his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well; ¹⁵ but if you will not heed the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king.Now therefore take your stand and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. ¹⁷ Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that the wickedness that you have done in the sight of the Lord is great in demanding a king for yourselves.” ¹⁸ So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

¹⁹ All the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of demanding a king for ourselves.” ²⁰ And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; ²¹ and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless. ²² For the Lord will not cast away his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. ²³ Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. ²⁴ Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. ²⁵ But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”  (NRSV)

 

Devotion

 Today's reading shows another moment of great transition within the life of the people.  Samuel--the last of Israel's Judges--is ready to step down and let others lead the people: King Saul on the political front and Samuel's sons on the religious one.  The people are understandably nervous.  After all, Samuel has led them for a long time, and there are already signs that neither Saul nor his sons are as obedient to God as they should be.  Still, Samuel insists that it is time for him to step down and let others lead.  As he gives his farewell address, he explains that though things will be different, everything will be okay as long as the people continue to serve God and follow in God's ways.

Samuel's speech strikes a chord with people going through transitions of their own.  How often do we hear folk say that no one can do something as well as So-And-So?  Or that things won't be the same without So-And-So to help/guide/lead us?  Or that whatever new or modified thing we are about to try can't be as good as what we used to do?  Transitions are hard, because they force us to give up what is safe and secure and step into the unknown.

Much as we may dislike them, transitions are inevitable.  Time marches on.  People age and move onto new stages in their journeys with Christ.  And as the world us changes, we must change with it in order to meet the needs of the day.  Otherwise, we become ineffective and obsolete. 

So how do we approach our own times of transition?  Well, Samuel says that we can decide that wherever we go from here, we will continue to love and serve God with all our hearts.  We can commit to following God's ways and keep from turning aside to pursue things that may seem appealing but that ultimately do us no good.  Finally, we ask others to pray for us and give us advice as we move into the future.  All of these actions show that we trust in God; and when we remain faithful to our Savior, then blessings will make themselves known in our lives...no matter challenges or changes await us.

Change is hard.  But as long as we remain faithful to God, it is manageable.  So let us do as Samuel suggests.  Let us remember all that God has done for us thus far and recommit to faithfully serving God with all our hearts.  And if we are among those who feel called to step down or step back so that others may rise up and step forward with something, may we we continue to advise and pray for those who nervously answer God's call.  For though the specifics of what we are asked to do may change, the general message remains the same.  We are to serve the LORD faithfully  with all of our hearts and for all our days.  And if we follow the LORD our God, all will be well.  

Prayer

Good and Steadfast God, you are the Rock to which I cling in times of uncertainty.  Give me the  wisdom, courage, and innovation to keep faithfully serving you with my whole heart in this ever-changing world.  I know that with you to guide my ways throughout life's transitions, all will be well.