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1 Samuel 10 – Praying through the Bible #88 – A Prayer of Hide and Seek
“Hide and Seek” is a game I greatly enjoyed playing with my daughters. Rachel was an excellent hider, silent and still. She would lay flat on the dining room chair hidden by the table cloth. Ashley giggled so much and shook while giggling she was easy to find. But she made a great tattle-tale in pointing out where her big sister was hiding. I think she had more fun telling than hiding! Growing up means we stop playing “Hide and Seek” (unless with children). Or do we? Hiding is much too comfortable. And many think life is a game, seeking what they shouldn’t. So are you hiding or seeking?
Israel sinfully seeks a king to be like other nations. God gives them what they want, even one all can adore – “He stood a head taller than anyone else” (1 Samuel 9.2). I have to admit, I like this Saul character…at first. When Samuel anoints him, God changes his heart (10.9). When first asked about his meeting with Samuel, Saul leaves out, “Oh yea, I am your new king.” When divinely chosen before the tribes of Israel, Saul is hiding among the supplies (10.22). When disrespected by some wicked men although now a king, “Saul said nothing” (11.26). Humility seems to be the mark of Saul. Later in life what rules Saul the ruler is fear. Humility is often mistaken for fear.
When Saul hides, Israel inquires of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” (10.22). Israel seeks for what they never should have wanted; and Saul hides from what he doesn’t’ want to be. When found the people shout, “Long live the king!” (10.24). Then Saul goes home and the new king works the farm (11.5). Unwanted by some, demanded by others, chosen by God, unsure why he should be king (9.21).
Hiding comes in many forms. From not taking responsibility or accepting accountability, to lying and making excuses, or by not serving by using our God-given gifts. Some convince themselves hiding is the humble thing to do. It’s easy to be humble, just think you can’t do anything, right? That’s not humility. That’s self-doubt. That’s fear.
Seeking comes in different forms too; from greed to lust to power and prestige. Again we easily convince ourselves it is our “right” to have what is not ours, because others have it. Commercials tell us we “deserve” it. We even bring God down to our level, down in our gutter, by claiming His blessings: “God wants me to be happy, doesn’t He?”
Hiding and seeking are not just actions. They are preceded by attitudes. It is scary how someone appearing as selfless as Saul can turn into a jealous tyrant. How frightening it is how easily we can become like Israel, shaped more by our environment than by God. In the end, we seek for ourselves, and hide from God.
Prayer Challenge: Pray that we will not hide from God’s challenges, nor that we will seek our own will. We are not here to please ourselves, but to serve God.
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