Wednesday’s Message
March 18, 2020
LESSONS IN HUMILITY AND INTEGRITY – SAMUEL
1 Samuel 12:1-4
Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to you in all that you have said to me, and have set a king over you. 2See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and gray, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day. 3Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” 4They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from the hand of anyone.”
During our Wednesday worship in Lent we have been looking at lessons in humility and integrity. Humility includes having a desire to love and serve God and neighbor without making distinctions. Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Together, humility and integrity stand as the twin pillars of one’s character. In the season of Lent we have asked God to improve our character by creating in us a clean heart and renewing within us a right spirit. God answers this prayer by helping us to grow in our sense of humility and integrity.
Samuel was a servant of God whose life exemplified humility and integrity. His conception, birth and life were God’s answer to a prayer made by Hannah, his mother. She promised that she would consecrate her son to the Lord if her prayer was answered. She fulfilled her promise.
Samuel grew up in the temple and became a great prophet of Israel at a critical time in the nation’s history. It was a time of transition from a loose confederacy of tribes with individual leaders to a monarchy. Samuel anointed Saul as the first King of Israel.
The Bible verse above is part of Samuel’s farewell address to the people. He asked them to examine his life and his service. Personal integrity was so important to Samuel that he gave the people an opportunity to demonstrate any harm he had inflicted upon them so that he might make restitution. The people found no fault in his character.
For Samuel, doing the right thing especially meant doing no harm to others. People of integrity are mindful of others and make choices with their best interests in mind. Selfish actions (and non-actions) that harm others are resisted. This requires sacrifice and self-control.
Do no harm. Samuel’s integrity was a foreshadowing of the integrity of Jesus. Isaiah said of the promised Messiah, “a bruised reed he will not break.” Isaiah 42:3 He would not harm but he would help. He would not tear down but he would build up. Jesus came in humility to serve and give his life for others. He did not come in vengeance to wreak condemnation and havoc upon others.
In asking God to help us grow in humility and integrity, we pray that we would live our lives in such a way that we not harm others with our actions and inaction. During the current pandemic this ethic is very much on our minds. One of the reasons we are not gathering together these days is our concern for others. We are trying to do our part to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
In all aspects of life, as we make decisions we should have uppermost in mind the lesson of Samuel; do no harm.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, create in me a clean heart and let it be open to Jesus. Lead me in your ways of love and service and help me to do no harm to others. In the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
Together or apart, we are one in the Lord. Let us be together in prayer for one another, for our neighbors and the whole of God’s good creation. Peace and blessings,
Pastor Bill