Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Fast Free Week
The Venerable Isidore of Pelusium
Kellia: 1 Kings 12:6-15 LXX Epistle: 2 Peter 3:1-18 Gospel: St. Mark 13:24-31
1 Kings 12:6-15 LXX (1 Sam. 12:6-15 MT)
especially vs. 14 "If ye will fear the Lord, and serve Him, and obey His voice, and not rebel
against the commandment of the Lord; then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you
continue following the Lord your God." Samuel's speech, transferring power from himself to
Saul, divides into three parts: an opportunity to settle any outstanding claim against Samuel (vss.
1-5), Samuel's pleading of the case against the people for demanding a king (vss. 6-15), and an
assurance of God's continuing faithfulness supported by miraculous evidence (vss. 16-25).
Today's portion from the whole is very judicial in character. Samuel, as plaintiff, pleads apostasy
against the people as defendants - God being the Judge. Having already established his own
ethical basis for daring to make such a plea against God's people (vss. 1-5), the Prophet proceeds
to lay out the evidence of their infidelity while acknowledging their actual status as a monarchy.
He concludes by summarizing the possibilities of hope and tragedy before them.
Samuel documents the finding of apostasy: his prime witness is God Himself (vs. 6). The Lord
saved their forebearers, brought them out of slavery, and made them dwell in their own land (vss.
6, 8) Numerous times, when the people brought themselves into dire circumstances through
idolatry but cried to the Lord, He delivered them and made them dwell in safety (vss. 9-11).
Ironically, when they were confronted with a single assault by Nahash the Ammonite against one
of their border towns, they abandoned all confidence in God, despite godly warning, and
demanded the human solution of a monarchy instead of the proven Theocracy (vs. 12). So now,
for better or for worse, they are to live under a human king as they have demanded.
God, Who changes not, ever desires that His People, ancient and modern, should receive
blessings, rather than have "the hand of the Lord...against" them and their rulers (vs. 15). Taking
His People in whatever state they have created for themselves (vs. 13), the Lord provides a three
stage process by which they may "continue following the Lord" (vs. 14). Let us examine the
nature of the three elements in God's design for blessing His People. These apply to the Church.
First is "fear the Lord" (vs. 14), which, as St. Symeon the New Theologian makes clear, is a
blessed interior state closely related to faith or trust in God: "He [who] has the fear of God within
him...wears the invincible armor of faith." Understanding the necessity of having the fear of God
within, the Prophet David begs God: "Guide me, O Lord, in Thy way, and I will walk in Thy
truth; let my heart rejoice that I may fear Thy name." (Ps. 85:10 LXX). Fear of the Lord begins
in the heart and guides infallibly along the Lord's way of blessing, teaching one to hate every sign
of evil, pride, or arrogance that may arise within the self (see Pr. 8:13).
On the basis of fear of the Lord, a man chooses readily and naturally to serve the Lord. Both the
Greek and Hebrew versions reveal that Samuel yearns for God's People to understand that
"serving" God is, in essence, submission to Him in all things. Hear the Prophet Malachi: "For
those who fear the Lord, and who meditate on His Name, 'They shall be Mine,' says the Lord of
hosts"(Mal. 3: 16-17). Furthermore, while servitude to earthly masters crushes the spirit, the
service of God is a liberating and joyful response to God's gift of Himself to us (Jn. 3:16).
Of course, those who serve the Lord in response to His love obey joyfully. They do not rebel and
say "It is useless to serve God" (Mal. 3:14). As Samuel remarks: these "continue following the
Lord [their] God" (vs. 14), or literally, "they shall be after the Lord." That is, those who obey
will be strengthened by God, hear His voice, and receive eternal life (Jn. 10:27).
O Lord Jesus, Thou true and living Way, open our souls and abide in us unto eternal life.
