God's Intent

I Samuel 15:24-35

How can we reconcile the following verses from our reading from 1 Samuel this morning? On the one hand the prophet Samuel is able to say to King Saul, "Moreover, the Glory of Israel will not recant or change his mind; for he is not a mortal, that he should change his mind" (1 Samuel 15:29). But by the end of the passage we find, "And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel" (v. 35). It would seem that God, in regretting that Saul was king had changed his mind from earlier in the story when Saul had been chosen.

There are a lot of ways to go with this. But for me, today, it is enough to know that while God is steadfast and resolute in ways that humanity can seldom if ever approach, God also feels deeply about the relationship between God's self and the people God has created. No, God is not prone to whims or to flights of fancy. But God is not unfeeling like a stone or metal idol. What God does is done with purpose. What God feels is honest concern for God's people.

Did God really change opinions about Saul? I don't think that's really the point here. God acted, and God was aware that those actions would carry consequences. Were we, as humans, able to live the way God intended we would understand.

Prayer: God of all creation, you are so near to your people as to share our grief and our sorrow. Help us to trust you and your works that we may live in joy and peace with one another and in right relationship with you. Amen.