Maybe this should have been the symbol for the first king of Israel?
"But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" Saul to Samuel for identifying him as king, 1 Sam. 9:21
Who is the guy Samuel is to make king of Israel? Not to offend, but he'll be the guy chasing an ass.... Do you think God is making an editorial comment?
Why select a king from the tribe of Benjamin? Why pick the nation's ruler from a tribe that was so recently decimated by the rest of Israel for the evil it had done? Is this a display of God's forgiveness? A test of man's forgiveness? Was it God saying, "So you really want a king?" Did the people talk about it? Was there immediate grumbling? And would you expect anything less from Israel. It doesn't even sound like a good idea to Saul.
The irony is the Lord picks the tribe of rebellion to fill the station of king, an office whose very existence was a symbol of the people's rebellion against God. In other words, if the people were going to rebel against God and want a king than why not give them a king from the tribe who so recently rebelled?
Yes, Saul is striking in his physical height, the perfect stature for a king and exhibits the prowess of a great warrior. But a king is more. I think the quote that began this writing is perhaps a glimpse of the poor self-concept that may have lead to his downfall.
Because Lord knows. It's the heart that matters most.
My post last year on this date.
No comments:
Post a Comment