Involved. Personal. Detailed.

Throughout 1 Samuel, readers observe the lives and relationships of four major people:  Samuel, Saul, Jonathan and David. 

Samuel was a special man of God that was squirreled away by his mother, before his birth, for the Lord's service (1 Samuel 1). Samuel was not only a prophet, but a priest and judge for Israel in the time of judges - when Israel had no kings. Can you imagine being Samuel for a moment? Scripture states - 

"The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word." (1 Samuel 3:19-21)

He was the anointer of kings and voice of God for the Israelites during a time when Israel was being heavily influenced by the surrounding nations. 

However, the impact of the nations around Israel became so great that the Israelites rejected the rule of God through Samuel and preferred the governance of a human king (1 Samuel 8). Therefore, God granted their request, but with a warning of all the trappings that come with human government and specifically told Samuel that Saul was to be Israel's first king (1 Samuel 9). God was definitely involved, personal and detailed in the life of Samuel.

God is seen many times in Scripture using the smallest and/or the least of whomever to accomplish His will so that no man may boast. So was the case when God called both Saul and David to be king of Israel.

Saul was the first anointed king of Israel, but not the first in history to say - I think God has the wrong guy - for example Moses and Gideon. Upon Samuel dropping a huge hint that he was God's first selection -

"Saul answered, 'But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?'" (1 Sam. 9:21)

Then even after being anointed by Samuel and experiencing the power of God to the point of prophesying, Saul later hides away among the supplies as Samuel officially tries to deem him King of Israel (1 Samuel 10:20-24) before the country. Not a good first impression to the nation. 

After Saul's inauguration as King of Israel, God gave instructions, immediately through Samuel on what to start doing as king concerning the surrounding nations. But Saul rejected God's pick of himself even before surrendering to it. Then after submitting to God and His plan, Saul cannot follow directions and it cost him God's blessing of the kingdom of Israel. Was God involved in Saul's life? Yes. Was God personal in the life of Saul? Yes. Was God detailed in Saul's life? Very. But unfortunately rejected directly and indirectly by Saul. 

Jonathan was Saul's son. He was a powerful soldier and heir to the throne of Israel. But you almost can't say Jonathan's name without saying David's name in the same breath or sentence. Jonathan's real treasure was his best friend - David. David had been in King Saul's service as the soother of Saul's soul through his music. But now, after the slaying of the giant Goliath, Jonathan takes notice and found a warrior kindred spirit with David.

"After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt." (1 Samuel 18:1-4)

I believe Jonathan had two major relationship experiences with David - the first was when his kindred fighting spirit matched up with David's after the Goliath encounter and the second was when Jonathan realized God had selected David as the next king. 

Some might believe they are one and the same. This is because as noted in the exchange of 1 Samuel 18:1-4, Jonathan makes a special covenant with David, then bestows upon David his own robe, tunic, sword, bow and belt. Even though Jonathan is almost naked at this point, these gifts seem to act as enormous identification and bonding instruments because later in Scripture the reader can observe King Saul referring to David as "my son" (1 Sam. 24:16; 26:17; 26:21, 25).

God is all about relationships and close ones at that. When this life is finished, relationships are what we carry into the afterlife with us. Was God involved in Jonathan's life? Certainly. Was God personal with Jonathan? Very, He blessed him with a best friend. Was God detailed in Jonathan's life? Absolutely. This plays out in their relationship.

As mentioned earlier, before David was the second king of Israel and anointed to replace Saul, he was the youngest of his brothers, a shepherd who was musically inclined, but well-equipped with a sling. The fact that God says David is a man after His own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22) should therefore not surprise us because Christ Jesus called Himself "The Good Shepherd" twice in John 10:11 and 14. Then the writer of Hebrews calls God - "The Great Shepherd" in Hebrews 13:20.

But David did not go straight from the anointing of Samuel as king to kingship of Israel. There was an appropriate time for this declaration and David's early life consisted of finding God's correct time to step into that role.

In fact, the role of each of these men was played out perfectly for The Lord's will to be established - David on the throne of Israel in Jerusalem. When processing just how much God was involved in the lives of these men, Israel and the surrounding nations - the following Scripture passages come to mind.

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others." (Daniel 2:20-21)

"He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light. He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards."
(Job 12:20-25)

"The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance." (Psalm 33:10-12)

God's Fingerprints are everywhere. In every story, from creation forward, there is not a single account in Scripture where God's intimate involvement is not detected, where He is not personally engaged and detail oriented. 

While there are major events throughout history and in our world today that make us question - why did God not intervene or allow that? I feel confident He is working behind the scenes to fulfill His plan. His supreme sovereignty must be upheld. I have to trust in a Divine Designer, therefore an over-all design and that He is bringing it to fruition. The option is chaos, no plan and no God and I refuse to believe that. God is involved. God is personal. God is in the details.