2017, March 26 ~ 1 Samuel 16:1-13 & Ephesians 5:8-14

1 Samuel 16:1-13

The Book of Samuel is part of the “Deuteronomic History” that includes the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. These books emphasize that God controls history, and when the people (and their kings) worship Yahweh properly, good things happen to them. When they worship false gods, however, bad events overtake them.

In Chapter 15, YHWH (through Samuel) directs Saul, the first king of a united Israel, to attack the Amalekites and kill every person and animal. Saul obeys, but brings back the King of the Amalekites and some of the best sheep and cattle which he says he will offer as a sacrifice to YHWH. YHWH tells Samuel he regrets that he made Saul king because Saul disobeyed Him.

In today’s reading, YHWH tells Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from among Jesse’s sons. Samuel realizes this would be treasonous, but YHWH tells him to pretend he is going there to offer a sacrifice for YHWH. The elders of the city meet Samuel and are concerned if he is coming in peace.

Samuel meets the seven oldest of Jesse’s sons, but none of them is approved by YHWH. Jesse calls for his youngest son, the shepherd boy David, and YHWH tells Samuel to anoint him king. Samuel does so, and the spirit of YHWH came mightily upon David (v.13). At this point, then, Israel had two anointed kings – Saul and David.

Ephesians 5:8-14

Ephesus was a large and prosperous city in what is now western Turkey. In the Acts of the Apostles and 1 Corinthians, Paul visited there. In Ephesus, there were Jesus Followers who were Jews and Jesus Followers who were Gentiles, and they didn’t always agree on what it means to be a Jesus Follower. This letter was written by one of Paul’s disciples and was intended to unify the Ephesus community.

Today’s reading is part of a longer ethical exhortation which relies on apocalyptic imagery for the hostile spiritual powers (darkness) and God and Christ (light).