Get over it

In order to get going we need to get over it!

In any group of people there are as many points of view as there are individuals, on a whole range of things.

There are some subjects on which almost everyone has a point of view—a current political controversy, a celebrity scandal, a sporting triumph or failure. There are subjects on which many of us may have similar points of view, but even then it is likely that enough discussion between any two people would reveal at least some areas of difference on almost any subject.

Certainly there are many issues—some of them very important—on which there are sharp differences in our points of view. You see it this way. I see it that way.

When that happens, what do we do?

We are faced right now with this question.

What are we going to do? Are we going to respect each other’s opinion even when the are different from or own?

I think that we can and that we will as soon as we all learn to get over it and move on to the next challenge, and there are many.

But keep in mind other people’s opinion are only their point of view.

Come with me to 1 Samuel 16—back to the days when the nation of Israel had asked for and had been given a king. We have been reminded more than once that King Saul was the king they had chosen for themselves (1 Samuel 8:18; 12:13) so they could be like the nations—an impressive, efficient, powerful leader just like the nations had (1 Samuel 8:5, 20).

But Israel was God’s people, through whom he had promised to bring blessing to the whole world. King Saul might have been able to win battles (1 Samuel 14:47, 48). He might have been able to rally the nation (1 Samuel 11:1–11). He might have been able to provide a focus for political strength and stability (1 Samuel 11:15). But his Disobedience God rejected him and he became an unmitigated disaster .

Samuel is given a difficult assignment to do one that could have been personally dangerous for him and certainly unpleasant it was his job to anoint the new King to usher in the transition From God rejected leadership to God ordained leadership so so learns some important lessons during the transition from Saul’s reign to David’s, The first thing that he learned was that he learned he needed to get over it before he could get on with it.

Specifically, he learned he had to get over his grief that things are not the way they were, before he could embraced the way God wants them to be.

Verse 1 says, “Now the Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.’ ”

Change is unsettling to most of us!

Change is unsettling to most of us, even if it is a change we like. I don’t know if it is a byproduct of growing older, but the breakneck speed of the change in my life is becoming increasingly bothersome to me. I’ve always considered myself a change agent and championed positive change, yet lately I’ve longed for stability.

I don’t have a clue if that is because I’m growing older (a change itself) or because the only constant in my life is change. Beyond the changes in my personal life lately, our church is Changing we're living in the COVID-19 environment learning to adapt and to adjust.

I understand that a huge part of our ministry is to provide stability for others even if it means we have to endure instability to do it. If we didn't have the hardships and the setbacks in life I'm convinced we would not be as strong in our faith and now determination to continue to do God's will despite all challenges and all obstacles placed in our way.

We see Samuel this morning experiencing the change and this change was unsettling that was happening in his Kingdom. I suppose it is natural for some to grieve the loss of a leader just as it was for Samuel to grieve the impending loss of King Saul, but the word of the Lord to Samuel, and to us is clear—in order to get going you gotta get over it.

In order to get going you gotta get over it.

He had to get over his fear that doing God’s will is more dangerous than not doing God’s will.

Verse 2 says, “But Samuel said, ‘How can I go?

When Saul hears of it, he will kill me. ‘ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.”

Jonah thought it was safer out of the will of God than in it and he had a whale of time running from God. He learned that the safest place in the world is in the center of God’s will. Just like God told Abraham to get up and go to the land he would show him, he told Samuel to go to Jesse’s house and that he would then show him who to anoint. Which leads us to the third thing Samuel had to get over before he could get on with God’s will.

He had to get over his belief that God had to check with him before He decided to do something.

Verses 3–5 say, “And you shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.‘

[4] So Samuel did what the Lord said and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, ‘Do you come in peace? ‘

[5] And he said, ‘In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. ‘He also consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.”

God did not have to reveal his total plan to Samuel to see if he concurred with him. Samuel walked in partial darkness on the way to Jesse’s house. He had general directions, but not specific instructions. God doesn’t always check with us before he decides to do something. He gave Samuel general directions but did not tell him who to anoint as king, just to go to Jesse’s house and get prepared. Why does God do that to us? Why doesn’t He consult with us before He moves?

I think it is easy for us to get the roles reversed. We see ourselves as the architects and God as the builder. We lay out our plans for what we want God to do in our lives, our careers and our church-then we expect God to do the work. We’ve got it in reverse. God is the master designer; our task is to discover and do His will. He makes the plans-we do the work. Over the years I’ve been a part of planning groups on the local church and denominational level. I am quite amazed at the role prayer plays in those meetings. Most of the time it is ceremonial, not functional. Most of the time we are not seeking God’s will, we are imposing our will on Him, then expect Him to do the work. God made the plan. Samuel followed it. He had to get over it, before he could get on with it-he had to get over his belief that God had to check with him before He decided to do something.

He had to get over his natural hesitancy to do what doesn’t make any sense.

Verses 6–7 say, “Then it came about when they entered, that he looked at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.‘[7] But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ ” In the end, Samuel did not anoint the person Jesse thought he should, or even who he thought he should anoint—God had chosen someone that Jesse hadn’t even considered, he chose his youngest, least significant son-he chose David a man after God’s own heart.

But as we begin this journey, remember that Israel would never have had its greatest king if Samuel hadn’t been willing to get over it so he could get on with it.

He had to get over his grief that things are not the way they were, before he embraced the way God wants them to be.

Second, he had to get over his fear that doing God’s will is more dangerous than not doing God’s will.

Third, he had to get over his belief that God had to check with him before He decided to do something.

And fourth, he had to get over his natural hesitancy to do want doesn’t make any sense.

Think about the impact of these four statements, together, they pretty well define a single word: “faith.” Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

We can substitute grief, fear, control or intellect for faith, but when we do, we don’t please God.

Get over it, so you can get on with it.

1 Samuel 16:1–13 NKJV

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.” So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:14–15 NKJV

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.