a panic cycle, sentimental

feel it out until you know it isn’t meant for you

(i'm so free)

A sermon from David's anointing, 1 Samuel 16:1-13

You know those movies we watch? 

The ones where “earth faces it’s darkest hour.” The ones where a cast of heroes must be assembled. And the greatest minds brought together. The ones with a scheme “so crazy it might just work.” 

You know those movies you watch?

…Well, today’s isn’t one of those movies. 

In fact, today’s scripture is about as near the opposite to that as you can get. Because this isn’t Hollywood, this is real life. And the message of scripture is news that has bearing on real life…

In scripture today we see the young nation, Israel, facing a crisis. Instead of squadron of heroes, though, every person assembled to ‘save the day,’ from the first to the last, is a loser!

There’s the deposed, Saul. The gun-shy, Samuel. The shaking in his boots, Jesse. And the, not even important enough to get an invite, David. 

But spoiler alert! In that room full of folks who can’t even manage their own future; God has placed the future of the nation…

Here’s the scene: The young kingdom is facing a challenge like they’ve never known. Their first king is flailing. 

*In large part, because God rejected his monarchy…

But before the kingdom can topple over, God puts the old prophet Samuel on the job. *Samuel, whose seen better days. 

Samuel is sent to Bethlehem. Because God has found a king for himself, among one of the sons of the Bethlehemite, Jesse.

The plan that is ‘just so crazy it might work,’ is to crown a new king. To crown a new king while the old one is still clutching the crown. Not the strongest plan…

What’s more, apparently the years haven’t changed Samuel; he’s still in no hurry to deliver bad news… 

“If Saul catches wind of this treason, he’ll kill me,” Samuel worries to God.

To make a thin plan even more flimsy, God gives Samuel a ruse; a sacrifice…

And at Bethlehem, Jesse and the elders see right through Samuel’s ploy. They come to the city gates, trembling. “Do you come peaceably,” they whimper. They can tell something’s up…

But after not a little hemming and hawing, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, finally arrives. Samuel has Jesse and his sons together for the clandestine meeting. Everything is prepared for the coronation of the new king.

And then the heir apparent enters the room! The big moment!

As Eliab, who looks like a king enters the room; God just shrugs. Telling Samuel not to be impressed with the way things look, because God doesn’t see as mortals do. Eliab may look like the future, but he’s not where God has placed it…

So, the search for the next king continues. The tension mounts as Jesse’s next son, Abinidab, passes by. Only God sighs, “next.”

That build up and let down, happens five more times! Seven times this happens!

Until finally, out of desperation, Samuel asks if that’s every one of Jesse’s son. 

Jesse replies, “there’s one left, but he’s nothing special.” 

In fact, they’ve left him out in the fields, tending the sheep where he can be of some use for once…

At the climactic moment, when the new king will be crowned; he isn’t even there!

The God who doesn’t see as we see; has seen fit to crown the son of Jesse who is of so little account, he didn’t even get an invite to the banquet!

But after little awkward standing around, David finally shows up. 

All the key players are assembled. 

Picture it: Samuel, the old prophet. Jesse, the frightened elder. And David, the no account, youngest son.

…A room full of losers, if ever there was one. All brought for the future of the nation 

Because in that room crowded with the least, the last, the lost and little; God has hidden the future!

David, this no account son, will rise to become the great king of Israel!

God has hidden the future of Israel in plain sight. Hidden under what looks to the world, as a room full of has-beens! 

…And so it goes. Because we still see things like that. Don’t we?

We look for our future in the movie heroes. In the Brave, beautiful, brawny and brainy. But God doesn’t see as we do. What to us it looks like failure, God sees as the future….

This is how God sees things time and time again. The future hidden under what looks to us as failure. 

Like, in an infertile, impotent couple. Or, in summoning their son up a mountain to a sacrifice with only their grandchild. In coming to their great-grandchild, Jacob the con, after he’s cheated his older brother out of everything. In calling a murderer with a stutter to lead the people! 

Continues to that room full of losers where David is anointed king.

And it continues here. In this room.

God has given you a future, too. Only it’s hidden.

Hidden in THE One we were so offended by, we killed him for daring to claim he was king! Because he didn’t look or act like a king!

In Jesus, THE root of Jesse. Jesus, THE anointed one. Jesus THE Christ. In Jesus, the one who came with no form or majesty that we should look upon him, God has hidden the future!

Your future is hidden in loss, too. In Jesus’ death.

God has placed your future in the scarred hands of Jesus that tell of the whole story of the loss God has hidden your future in. 

We always imagine the future as something we have to carve out, don’t we? Something that will require our best efforts. All our resolve.

But God refuses to leave you to your own devices. To let you be your own idol. Because God has something better for you. 

Only, it’s hidden in suffering and death.

God has forged your future from the wreckage of your past; at funerals, in hospital rooms, during late night calls. God has done this, not with any heroic efforts, but with a crucified king; Jesus… 

…How’s that for a Gospel gut-check?

And when I say that, “Gospel gut-check,” I just mean, theology of the cross. 

Luther used that expression, “the theology of the cross,” as a way to clue us off to the fact that he was talking about a way God works in our lives that is not intuitive, that shocks us even!

We dream God gives us a future by helping us carve it out on our own. But in reality, what God actually does is; gives us a future by letting our ramshackle dwelling collapse on us; and in turn sending his son to die in that heap.

That’s where God sees your future!

God declares to the prophet Samuel, “the Lord does not see as mortals see…” And that’s more true than we dare to admit. Wouldn’t you agree?

We never see our future in suffering or death, but THERE God has placed it!

Because the God you have, is a far-sighted God. 

The more invisible you feel, the better God sees you. The further off you feel, the clearer God sees you! Should I repeat this?

See, today is no hero movie, beloved. This is salvation handed over to you! 

And for salvation to be salvation, it must come from outside. It cannot be something we pull off. It must be something that is put in us. 

And in the meal we will share, in these words let loose into you ears; God is doing just that!

God, in God’s good pleasure, has given you the future. 

Only, not with power or glory, but with death and suffering. 

God has given you the future with Jesus. Jesus, THE root of Jesse. Jesus, THE anointed one. Jesus, THE crucified king. 

Jesus, THE great loser!

God has done this so when you face Death and suffering, however they rear their ugly heads, you can take hold of the one who has descends to those depths with you, in your place even.

And in everything Jesus loses for you there, you will find your future. 

A future overflowing with everything God has to give to you, grace, mercy and life eternal. The peace from above. The joy of salvation. A closer walk with thee. 

Yes, at first glance it may look like loss, but when God raises you up, you will see it for what it is. Not what outward appearances shows, but what God gives: Your future hidden in Jesus’ defeat, his crucifixion!

No, God doesn’t see as mortals do. And for that, we give thanks. For that, we all say, “Amen.” Amen