1 Samuel 9:17-21: a reflection

17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.” 18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” 19Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them, for they have been found. For whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all your father’s house?” 21Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”

When Samuel tells Saul that he is the one all Israel desires, Saul protests his own smallness: he is from the smallest tribe, and the least family in it, and cannot see why he should be singled out. Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, Saul answers, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this? Faced with the news that God had chosen him for a great role, Saul's response is not pride but a sense of his own smallness: he comes from the least tribe, the least family, and cannot see why God would single him out. Yet this is the one God had chosen. This shows that God chooses and calls those who consider themselves least. God chooses and calls those who consider themselves least. Do not disqualify yourself before God by your own smallness. God is not limited by how small or insignificant you feel. The one who feels least may be the one God has chosen.

Notice Saul's response to being singled out by God. When Samuel tells him that he is the one all Israel desires, chosen for a great role, Saul does not respond with pride or a sense of deserving; he responds with a sense of his own smallness. He is from Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes; and his family is the least of all the families of that tribe. Why then, he asks, should God single him out? Yet, small as he felt himself to be, from the least tribe and family, this was the very one God had chosen. This holds an encouragement for those who feel too small or insignificant for God to use. Like Saul, we can feel that we are from the least, the smallest, the most insignificant; that there is no reason God would single us out or call us to anything; that our smallness disqualifies us. But God is not limited by how small or insignificant we feel. He chooses and calls those who consider themselves least, those who cannot see why he would single them out. Our sense of our own smallness does not disqualify us from God's choosing and calling; indeed, God often chooses the least. We do well not to disqualify ourselves before God by our own smallness, but to be willing to be chosen and called even when we feel we are the least. Do not disqualify yourself before God by your own sense of smallness. God chooses and calls those who consider themselves least. Your feeling of insignificance does not limit God. The one who feels least may be the very one God has chosen.

That is worth taking to heart, for God chooses and calls those who consider themselves least, and we do well not to disqualify ourselves by our own smallness, as God chose Saul, who felt himself from the least tribe and family. We can feel too small or insignificant for God to use, disqualified by our smallness; but God chose Saul, who protested that he was from the smallest tribe and least family. God chooses the least. Do not disqualify yourself before God by your sense of smallness; be willing to be chosen and called even when you feel you are the least, for God is not limited by how small you feel. Do not disqualify yourself before God by your own sense of smallness, but be willing to be chosen and called even when you feel you are the least, for God chooses and calls those who consider themselves least, as when Samuel told Saul he was the one all Israel desired Saul protested his own smallness, answering that he was a Benjamite of the smallest tribe and his family the least of all the families of Benjamin, and asking why Samuel spoke to him like this; for faced with the news that God had chosen him for a great role Saul's response was not pride but a sense of his own smallness, that he came from the least tribe and family and could not see why God would single him out, yet this was the very one God had chosen, which holds an encouragement for those who feel too small or insignificant for God to use, since like Saul we can feel that we are from the least and most insignificant, that there is no reason God would single us out, and that our smallness disqualifies us, but God is not limited by how small or insignificant we feel and chooses and calls those who consider themselves least, so that our sense of our own smallness does not disqualify us from God's choosing and calling, and indeed God often chooses the least, so that we do well not to disqualify ourselves by our own smallness but to be willing to be chosen and called even when we feel we are the least.

Lord, when Samuel tells Saul that he is the one all Israel desires, Saul protests his own smallness: he is from the smallest tribe, and the least family in it, and cannot see why he should be singled out. Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, Saul answers, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this? Faced with the news that you had chosen him for a great role, Saul's response is not pride but a sense of his own smallness: he comes from the least tribe, the least family, and cannot see why you would single him out. Yet this is the one you had chosen. Show me Saul's response to being singled out by you. When Samuel tells him he is the one all Israel desires, chosen for a great role, Saul does not respond with pride or a sense of deserving; he responds with a sense of his own smallness. He is from Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes; and his family is the least of all its families. Why then, he asks, should you single him out? Yet, small as he felt himself to be, this was the very one you had chosen. This holds an encouragement for me when I feel too small or insignificant for you to use. Like Saul, I can feel that I am from the least, the most insignificant; that there is no reason you would single me out; that my smallness disqualifies me. But you are not limited by how small or insignificant I feel. You choose and call those who consider themselves least. My sense of my own smallness does not disqualify me from your choosing and calling; indeed, you often choose the least. Take that to my heart. Keep me from disqualifying myself before you by my own sense of smallness; help me be willing to be chosen and called, Lord, even when I feel I am the least, for you are not limited by how small I feel, and often choose the very one who considers himself least.