Reading for Yesterday: Get Over It

Today's first reading is about David and Goliath. But I have some back matter I want to comment on.


In Monday's reading, Saul displeases God and in Tuesday's reading, Samuel locates David, Saul's successor.


I wanted to note part of a passage that wasn't read last Monday and part of a passage that was read yesterday.


After Samuel kills Agag, "he grieved over Saul, because the LORD regretted having made him king of Israel." In the next chapter, the Lord says, "How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way."


In other words, get over it. 


Here was a guy the Lord had chosen to be the first king of Israel and he ended up being a terrible disappointment. So God chooses to move on to Plan B and selects David to take over from Saul. 


Samuel, being human, is filled with grief, enough for the Lord to ask "How long will you grieve for Saul?"


Sometimes, I think, God wants us to ask us that same question. How long will you grieve for that person? Or How long will you grieve for that failed attempt? Get over it and do what I'm asking you to do next.