This is no easy book to summarize. I Samuel has a little of everything. Love, war, friendship, betrayal, obedience, disobedience, reward, punishment, success, and failure--just to name a few! I had to look back at all of the posts from this book, just to remember how far we've come. But finally, I saw the thread of Truth that pulls this book together. God's will will be done.
I Samuel started with Hannah desiring a child. But His will for her was to love Him and submit her life to Him. And it wasn't until she did that that she got her heart's desire.
Saul had no intention of becoming a king when he went off in search for his father's livestock, but the Lord had chosen him, and his path led straight to the throne. It wasn't until Saul began pursuing his own desires that his kingdom fell apart, and as soon as he did, the Lord had no use for him.
David, throughout I Samuel anyway, was constantly aligning himself with the will of the Lord. He trusted the Lord to save him from wild animals and giants. He trusted that the Lord would equip him for battle and for the throne. In the entire account, David's will was always measured against the Lord's. And as we've read, God chose to use David because of this.
This is what it means to be a person after God's heart. To seek His will for your life is only a small part of it. Seek His will for your ministry, your free time, your aspirations, and how you can be part of His work in this world. Because there is no mistaking it: God will will be done. If you don't like it, or if you try to change it, you will be put aside. Wouldn't you rather be part of it? There's no point in fighting what God has planned for us like Saul tried to do. Whether you agree with God's plans or not, wouldn't you rather be part of it?
I pray that the Lord makes us selfless like Hanna, relentless like Samuel, and devoted like David. These are the kinds of people who get to be part of the action.
Next time: A new book! II Samuel 1-2
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