1 Samuel Chapter 16: Verse 1 (NIV-UK)
The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’
Samuel had been totally obedient to everything God had asked of him. He’d even counselled Israel against asking for a king but when they refused, he had anointed Saul as God told him to. But when God rejected him as king, Samuel seemed to mourn that for a while. Finally, God told him to get up and move on and go and anoint the new king.
How do we react when God says no? Even if we accept His will in obedience, do we do so graciously, or do we go in a wee bit of a huff as well. Samuel knew full well that Saul had the wrong attitude to continue as king, and he knew that this would cause problems for Israel if he continued. I’m not sure why he mourned this rejection. Perhaps he had prayed for Saul to be a fair and God-fearing king. Perhaps he was disappointed that his prayers for Saul did not seem to have been answered.
Maybe we too are disappointed when what we hoped for appears not to be part of God’s plan. But God knew what He was doing and He raised up David – a man after His own heart. And He knows what He’s doing in our life too so let’s be thankful for that.
Dear Lord,
Help me to accept Your will with thankfulness that it’s the best thing for me, and never dwell on any disappointment if things seem to be going in a different path to the one that I had hoped for. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.