• Historical context: The story contained in the books of Samuel tells of the extraordinary change in the way Israel is governed. Up to this time, there had been various tribes who on occasions had come together to combat a threat from other nations. In each instance in the book of Judges, we are told how a person was raised by God to lead the tribes on this particular occasion. The Spirit of God settles on the person and even when this is not overtly mentioned in the story we are clear by the way the story progresses that we know God's hand is directly involved in the successful consequences. [1]
   
• Specifically our text (15:34-16:13) deals with another of God's surprising choices--the one that is least expected to be king-material (on account of the generational pecking order, age and stature). Samuel, the great judge himself, must learn a lesson from God.  The lesson: it's what's on the inside that matters, not what's on the outside!

 

• God looks at the inside -- there are many connections to contemporary culture that come to mind; our culture that is obsessed with hot guys and girls, make up, plastic surgery and lipo suction, etc. True virtues seem forgotten (or ignored).  What does it tell us when a contender at the American Idols who can sing like an angel is being voted out on grounds of being a couple of pounds over the standard weight (the standard being ridiculously close to the anorexic look).
  
   
• You may also want to connect this text to the 2Corinthian passage in which Paul makes an argument for the fact that "not everything that has a shine to it is gold" as he attempted to battle the then-popular "success theology" of his opponents.

 

See our children's sermon for this week entitled: "God looks at the inside" and check the "helpful web links" section for a homily on this text.

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[1] Anna Grant-Henderson, Pentecost 2, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. http://oldtestamentlectionary.unitingchurch.org.au/2006/June/Pent21Sam15_06.html