This headline may not make current news. If so, this king would be escorted off the main-stage of royalty and politics; be drugged, taken away in a big white van and placed in some kind of institution.
Not so in Biblical times for King Saul - the first King of Israel. While his investiture was taking place, he was hiding among the supply wagons.
I wonder what drives a man to hide like that? Perhaps his lack of desire to be king, maybe an overwhelming sense of unworthiness, or even a burden of responsibility. When told by the Prophet Samuel that Israel's future was in his hands, his reply was "But I'm only a Benjaminite from the smallest of Israel's tribes and from the most insignificant clan. Why are you talking to me like this?"
Essentially he was saying, 'Why me'?
Why me?
I look upon the preceding years of my life and recall times where I have been asked to take up a position for which I felt unskilled and unprepared. I felt myself saying, "But I'm only Belinda, from the most insignificant of neighbourhoods, and I have the most ordinary of backgrounds and resume. Why are you saying these words to me?!"
There is always a response after this set of self-doubting questions. The person asking you to 'step up' needs you to 'jump in'!
Tom Scotland (my grandfather)
My 89 year old grandfather recently passed away (on the 15th August 2012) following a stroke. I look back in his first book titled 'Voice from the Stars' by Tom Scotland. Near the end of the book, my Pa, Tom explains that he had returned from war and had fallen in love with my grandmother.
In 1946, he found himself at a church service. Writhing in anger and saying words like 'ridiculous fellow' about the visiting speaker, he decided the man was very much off track and wasn't able to help him. By the end of the service he was fuming. His aim was to go to the front and tell the man that he had drivelled on and to air his disgust. The man spoke first and invited him outside to talk.
Now on the street in a discussion with this man, Pa had an inner desire to fight every word this man was saying to him, however they discussed Jesus for a long time. The words began to grip him and he became aware of 'someone out there'. The man drew a circle around himself while standing under a street light. "Tom, why don't you come into the light of the words we have read tonight?" He heard God's voice saying 'Come to me' and Pa stepped into the circle.
This decision changed the course of his life, and subsequently mine, too. If he hadn't made that step into the circle, if he hadn't accepted the call on his life, if he hadn't overcome all the 'why me?' questions and reasons why he shouldn't, I would have a very different view of his and my future and we both would have lived very different lives.
Saul accepted his role as King. He started off well, but didn't fully enter the wholeness of what God has asked of him. Eventually he drifted far from what God had required of him as king, became paranoid and started pursuing to kill his best warrior, the man who settled his heart with music, David.
The man continued to say to my Pa, "Tom, you've taken one step. There'll be other steps you will need to take. Don't be half-hearted in following Jesus. It will cost you, but don't live as you please."
In the words of the Prophet Samuel, "Whatever job you're given to do, do it. God is with you!" (1 Samuel 10:7)
Will you step into the circle? Will you step up? Will you take the challenge God has before you today? Will you make a decision that will change the course of your life?
I know my Pa did.
Tom Scotland's books are available via http://www.writerspen.com.au/Orders/Orders.htm
Belinda Croft is married to Russell and she has a son BJ, 12 years. Currently Belinda is studying a Bachelor Degree in Journalism. She has a passion for God, writing, creativity, mission and social justice.
Belinda Croft's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/belinda-croft.html