Avoiding Conflict: 1 Samuel 16:2-5

Following God’s plan doesn’t need to be as controversial as we originally consider.  It is easy to assume doing God’s work implies conflict with the world.  God’s agenda is different than the worldly agenda, so conflict can occur.  But conflict is not mandatory.  Sometimes conflict between God’s people and the world is our making, not God’s.

God directs Samuel to go to Bethlehem and find Saul’s replacement.  Samuel protests, giving great context for the aftereffects of Samuel’s and Saul’s relationship after the battle with the Amalekites.  Samuel asks God how he can possibly anoint a new king without giving Saul reason to kill him.

Saul wasn’t actively looking to kill Samuel; Samuel was too respected for the people to accept such an outcome.  Samuel is trying to avoid doing something resulting in a general mark of death upon his head.

Being a man of God, Samuel doesn’t want to lie and get caught in the lie.  Lying would enrage Saul and probably end with Samuel’s death.  Samuel also doesn’t want to tell the truth, since anointing a new king is treason and would result in Samuel’s death.

Complicating this situation, the path from Samuel’s home in Ramah to David’s home in Bethlehem goes very close to Gibeah, which is the location of Saul’s headquarters.  If Samuel passes by Gibeah, Saul’s spy network will take notice, forcing Samuel to explain himself to Saul.

At this point, God checks Samuel’s understanding.  God tells Samuel to take a heifer with him and perform a sacrifice for the people of Bethlehem.  Sacrifices were times of communal feasting, and from Samuel’s tradition in Ramah he would invite people to the feast.  Therefore, if Samuel goes to Bethlehem and offers a sacrifice, he can invite whomever he wants to the sacrifice.

At the sacrifice, Samuel can anoint the person of God’s choosing.  Here’s where God’s brilliance comes to Samuel.  God does not work through human regimes.  God didn’t even want a king over the Hebrew people.  What does God care if David is anointed as king?  What matters to God is filling David with His Spirit and David’s response to that Spirit. God’s outcome is David filled with His Spirit.  From that point on, the human throne, which God doesn’t particular care about, can figure itself out and take as much time as it needs.

Samuel comes to Bethlehem.  To the elders, some of whom are certainly among Saul’s intelligence network, Samuel reinforces he comes in peace and invites them to the sacrifice.  He welcomes the people in openness rather than performing a clandestine maneuver.

This also provides a beautiful backdrop for God’s hand at work.  Samuel heard God’s plan and immediately saw conflict.  God reminds Samuel that He doesn’t need human power structures.  Samuel can anoint David at a sacrifice without declaring him king, which accomplishes God’s purpose and avoids conflict with Saul.  Sometimes following God’s plan doesn’t need to be as controversial as we originally think it might be.