Samuel and Saul: the Wax and Wane of Authority
How God's Prophet and Israel's First King Reflect Each Other
Aug 18, 2008
Throughout the Bible there is a rich tradition of using one character to illuminate the purpose or rightness of another. Jonathon’s love and loyalty to David stands as a metaphor for the throne and kingdom of Israel recognizing its rightful heir, Peter’s strong willed traditionalism shines light on Paul’s message of inclusion for gentiles, and so forth.
In the instance of Saul and Samuel, however, we get a back and forth of foiling meant to teach both a lesson of what serving God as a ruler should be, but also where the true authority from God is placed.
The relationship between Saul and Samuel is a waxing and waning one. When Saul is first chosen to be king he is a humble man whose heart is in the right place. He approaches the anointment with a right heart, and is even granted the gift of prophesy for a point.
Saul Comes to Power Through God
God is with Saul throughout this and as he comes into his own as a Godly king, we see Samuel become less important. No longer does the prophet contend with Israel, instead he goes about installing the new King, until, with the King’s ascension, Samuel addresses Israel as a whole one final time, allowing Saul to become the symbol of God’s authority.
This, of course, doesn’t last, and as Saul once again wanes in his adherence to God’s will, Samuel grows again in importance and duty to God. This time, however it’s not as a shepherd of the people, but as an accuser of the King.
Saul Begins to Wane
The beginning of the change comes on when Saul oversteps his boundaries and makes sacrifice, improperly, to the Lord without waiting on Samuel. When Samuel arrives he prophesies that Saul has already sealed his fate and doomed his reign.
It’s important to note here that after he admonishes Saul, he and Saul both depart, but God goes with Samuel, and the people go with Saul.
God’s Ultimate Judgement
This continues on throughout First Samuel, as God removes his hand from Saul, and likewise his people, allowing them to come under the hostility of the Philistines. As this happens we see Samuel, representative of God’s will, rise once again to his full stature, even to the point of anointing a different king.
It is then, with the anointment of David, that the transition is complete, God has entirely left Saul, and the wax and wane of authority switches to David and Samuel.
Throughout the Bible there is a rich tradition of using one character to illuminate the purpose or rightness of another. Jonathon’s love and loyalty to David stands as a metaphor for the throne and kingdom of Israel recognizing its rightful heir, Peter’s strong willed traditionalism shines light on Paul’s message of inclusion for gentiles, and so forth.
In the instance of Saul and Samuel, however, we get a back and forth of foiling meant to teach both a lesson of what serving God as a ruler should be, but also where the true authority from God is placed.
The relationship between Saul and Samuel is a waxing and waning one. When Saul is first chosen to be king he is a humble man whose heart is in the right place. He approaches the anointment with a right heart, and is even granted the gift of prophesy for a point.
Saul Comes to Power Through God
God is with Saul throughout this and as he comes into his own as a Godly king, we see Samuel become less important. No longer does the prophet contend with Israel, instead he goes about installing the new King, until, with the King’s ascension, Samuel addresses Israel as a whole one final time, allowing Saul to become the symbol of God’s authority.
This, of course, doesn’t last, and as Saul once again wanes in his adherence to God’s will, Samuel grows again in importance and duty to God. This time, however it’s not as a shepherd of the people, but as an accuser of the King.
Saul Begins to Wane
The beginning of the change comes on when Saul oversteps his boundaries and makes sacrifice, improperly, to the Lord without waiting on Samuel. When Samuel arrives he prophesies that Saul has already sealed his fate and doomed his reign.
It’s important to note here that after he admonishes Saul, he and Saul both depart, but God goes with Samuel, and the people go with Saul.
God’s Ultimate Judgement
This continues on throughout First Samuel, as God removes his hand from Saul, and likewise his people, allowing them to come under the hostility of the Philistines. As this happens we see Samuel, representative of God’s will, rise once again to his full stature, even to the point of anointing a different king.
It is then, with the anointment of David, that the transition is complete, God has entirely left Saul, and the wax and wane of authority switches to David and Samuel.
 |
