Anointing, a Reflection on 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

In the weeks after Trinity Sunday, the Lectionary offers two alternative readings from the Old Testament. One choice will be a semi-continuous reading; the other, the other offering illumination to the gospel reading.

This week, the passage from Ezekiel is related to the reading from Mark. The alternative from 1 Samuel begins a three-month series that will take us through David's and Solomon's stories, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Kings. Although occasionally we'll see a link between a reading from this series to the gospel lesson of that week, we shouldn't expect it.

Now, as for 1 Samuel,

We are told of the Lord's regret over the choice of Saul as king. For more about this, read chapters 8-14, especially 13-14, to learn where Saul failed.

Some interesting points in this week's lesson:

First, Samuel is afraid but does what God wants anyway.

Second, Samuel misunderstands at first what is important in a leader. He thinks the one with he best appearance will do the best job. But, God tells him not to judge by outward appearance.

Third, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David at the point of being anointed by Samuel.

Questions that arose in my mind as I thought about Samuel and David:

Who takes the role of prophet in our contemporary congregations?

Considering how many evil acts have taken place by someone using the name of the Lord, do we want to retire permanently the role of prophet?

Are our modern-day ordinations in any way similar to the anointing of a human being by a prophet?