Hey, What's that Sound?
Sermon
Show-and-Tell
First Lesson Cycle A Sermons for Lent and Easter
Object:
Here's a familiar story. Two large oak trees had fallen across Bob's front lawn during a huge thunderstorm the previous evening. Deciding to cut them up for firewood, Bob went to the local hardware store to purchase a chain saw.
"I need the best chain saw you have," Bob told the store manager.
"Yes sir," said the manager. "This one here will cut up to ten cords of wood in an eight-hour work day."
"I'll take it," Bob replied, "I need to get those trees off my lawn and turn them into fireplace fuel for next winter."
As Bob was leaving the hardware store with his new purchase, the manager reminded him, "Remember, be sure to keep it filled with the right mix of oil and gasoline."
"I know, I know all that," Bob responded, in a hurry to get home and start cutting wood.
"And don't forget to oil the chain every half-hour or so," added the manager who could tell that perhaps Bob had little if any previous chain saw experience.
With his hand on the exit door Bob sighed heavily and with an impatient voice, dripping with sarcasm, retorted, "Look, I'm in a hurry to get the job done. I can figure this out for myself. I'm not stupid."
"Hmmm..." thought the manger to herself.
So, Bob worked all day, faithfully oiling the chain every half hour. By suppertime Bob was hot, dusty, and exhausted. Sadly, he had been able to cut only one quarter of one cord of wood... certainly not close to the ten cords mentioned by the hardware store manger. "Tomorrow is another day," Bob thought. "I'll make up for lost time then."
Well, the next day was an instant replay of the first. Bob oiled the chain every thirty minutes, just like he was told, but he still ended the day aching, frustrated, and fatigued, with only a few pieces of cut and stacked wood to show for it. "This is ridiculous," Bob murmured to himself. "First thing in the morning I'm going to show up at the hardware store with my chain saw and get to the bottom of this. I'll demand that the manager either fix my saw, give me a new one, or return my money."
At the hardware store the following morning Bob confronted the manager. He dropped the chain saw at her feet and exclaimed, "You told me this thing would cut up to ten cords of wood a day. Well, I've worked myself to the bone with this saw for two days and it hasn't even cut one cord. What are you going to do about it?" Bob exclaimed defiantly.
"Let's take a look," said the manage keeping her voice calm. "Are you sure you kept oiling the chain?"
Growing more and more exasperated, Bob snapped, "Of course I did. I oiled the chain every half hour. You could set your watch by my chain oiling. I wake up at night every thirty minutes, thinking that its time to oil the chain. I'm exhausted I tell you. I did what you told me. This saw is broken. Something's wrong with it! You have to..."
Interrupting Bob's diatribe, the store manager said, "Let's see what the problem is." She grasped the handle of the chain saw with her left hand and jerked the handle of the cord on top of the motor with her right hand and suddenly a loud "brr" fills the hardware store.
"Hey, what's that sound?" asked Bob, timidly.
Like Bob, it's possible to go through life with our own repeated and frustrated attempts at success. Like Bob, it's possible to find ourselves exhausted and miserable at the end of each day with little or nothing to show for our efforts. Like Bob, we often have opinions that are so tightly held that they keep us from seeing the obvious source of power in front of us. Like Bob, we can easily overlook new possibilities and waste enormous energy by endlessly repeating the same mistakes.
Today's Old Testament text is a story of discerning God's power and presence. Where do we find it? How do we get it? What do we do with it?
In today's lesson we learn that Saul's kingship in Israel is near its end. Saul has disobeyed the Lord (1 Samuel 15) who then tells Samuel, "I have rejected him from being king over Israel" (1 Samuel 16:1). Then the Lord sent Samuel on a strange mission that concluded with the anointing of David as the next king. Now pay attention. As you read this text, notice that the main character is the Lord. The critical decisions are made by the Lord. The mission directions are given by the Lord. Samuel, Jessie, and his sons, and especially David, are mere actors in a story that the Lord produces, directs, and plays the lead role. David doesn't say a word. He simply shows up.
Now, where is God's power? God knows where and sends Samuel there (1 Samuel 16:1). God's power, like the chain saw power cord for Bob, is in surprising and easily overlooked places and people. God sent Samuel south to Judah to "Jesse, the Bethlehemite and his sons. God had already selected one of them to be king" (1 Samuel 16:1).
Now, what does this tell us about where God's power and presence can be discovered? Saul was from the north and the tribe of Benjamin. Samuel was much more familiar with the northern context, and expressed his fear of ever going to Bethlehem. So, the first place we know God's power is located is in the new, the unfamiliar, even the scary places and people... people and places that are easily overlooked and appear to be the least likely to be chosen by God.
After demonstrating his peaceful intentions, Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to worship with him in the local sanctuary. Samuel looked at each of Jesse's sons, noticing stature, strength, and handsome appearance. An impressive looking group all right. Surely, the Lord had chosen one of these strapping fellows to be the next king of all Israel. But the Lord rejected all seven, telling Samuel, "The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
In other words, don't rely on first impressions. What you see on the outside does not always indicate what is on the inside of a person. We've all heard phrases that describe folks whose outward appearance displays competence and confidence, but upon closer examination demonstrate uselessness and instability. Some that come to mind include the following: "Her porch light's on but nobody at home." "His elevator doesn't make it to the top floor." You might know a few more.
Wilma, 20th of 22 children, suffered from polio as a very young child. By age six, Wilma had also survived double pneumonia, scarlet fever, and whooping cough. She was frail and weak, often needing assistance to accomplish even the smallest tasks at home or school. Based only on her outward appearance, Wilma was destined for a life of poverty, dependence, and frustration. However, Wilma had a fierce determination to overcome this crippling illness.
Through grueling exercises and relentless discipline, Wilma not only began to walk, she started to run. Then Wilma not only ran, she ran fast, faster than anyone in her school. The little girl with frail legs and a fragile body had become a young woman with a powerful body and a courageous heart.
At the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Wilma Rudolph didn't just run, she sprinted her way to three Olympic gold medals: for the 100 and 200 meter dashes and as anchor in the 400 meter relay.
"The Lord does not see what mortals see... the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
So, where is the Lord's power and presence located? The Lord knew where and sent Samuel there in today's text. The Lord knows where and sends you there in your own life journey.
First, scripture reminds us that God's power is in new, risky, even scary places. Samuel went, although with some fear (1 Samuel 16:2) to the unfamiliar and potentially perilous southern regions near Bethlehem in order to meet with unknown strangers and anoint one of them as king when Israel already had a king. Now that's pretty worrisome, if not downright dangerous. And yet, the Lord was there and had already planned for Israel's future to emerge from this very encounter.
Second, our scripture lesson reminds us that the Lord's presence and power are deep inside our own hearts. Few, if any of us, will become great world leaders like David or Olympic champions like Wilma Rudolph. Nevertheless, it is the Lord's power within us that prepares us to enter the new and challenging spaces that lie just before us.
So, what do we do to get the Lord's presence and power anyway? Well, nothing, really. We don't do anything to "get it." God gives it to us! Look again at today's lesson. David didn't say anything at all. In fact, he didn't even do anything except show up, "and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward" (1 Samuel 16:13).
The Lord gave power and presence to us and for us on the cross. The Lord gave that power and presence to us and for us in the water of baptism, in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, in the living word of scripture, and in the gathering of the Lord's people. The Lord has promised to continue giving forever. How do we get this gift again? Like David in our lesson, just show up! God has given, is giving, and has promised to continue to give God's own spirit of power and presence forever.
And finally, what do we do with this gift when we get it? Just like Samuel in today's scripture, God will show us what to do, give you instructions on how to do it, and send you where it must be done.
Brrr... what's that sound, anyway? That's the power and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ filling our heart. That's the wind of the spirit of the Lord inviting you to become part of an exciting and soul-filling adventure. Amen.
"I need the best chain saw you have," Bob told the store manager.
"Yes sir," said the manager. "This one here will cut up to ten cords of wood in an eight-hour work day."
"I'll take it," Bob replied, "I need to get those trees off my lawn and turn them into fireplace fuel for next winter."
As Bob was leaving the hardware store with his new purchase, the manager reminded him, "Remember, be sure to keep it filled with the right mix of oil and gasoline."
"I know, I know all that," Bob responded, in a hurry to get home and start cutting wood.
"And don't forget to oil the chain every half-hour or so," added the manager who could tell that perhaps Bob had little if any previous chain saw experience.
With his hand on the exit door Bob sighed heavily and with an impatient voice, dripping with sarcasm, retorted, "Look, I'm in a hurry to get the job done. I can figure this out for myself. I'm not stupid."
"Hmmm..." thought the manger to herself.
So, Bob worked all day, faithfully oiling the chain every half hour. By suppertime Bob was hot, dusty, and exhausted. Sadly, he had been able to cut only one quarter of one cord of wood... certainly not close to the ten cords mentioned by the hardware store manger. "Tomorrow is another day," Bob thought. "I'll make up for lost time then."
Well, the next day was an instant replay of the first. Bob oiled the chain every thirty minutes, just like he was told, but he still ended the day aching, frustrated, and fatigued, with only a few pieces of cut and stacked wood to show for it. "This is ridiculous," Bob murmured to himself. "First thing in the morning I'm going to show up at the hardware store with my chain saw and get to the bottom of this. I'll demand that the manager either fix my saw, give me a new one, or return my money."
At the hardware store the following morning Bob confronted the manager. He dropped the chain saw at her feet and exclaimed, "You told me this thing would cut up to ten cords of wood a day. Well, I've worked myself to the bone with this saw for two days and it hasn't even cut one cord. What are you going to do about it?" Bob exclaimed defiantly.
"Let's take a look," said the manage keeping her voice calm. "Are you sure you kept oiling the chain?"
Growing more and more exasperated, Bob snapped, "Of course I did. I oiled the chain every half hour. You could set your watch by my chain oiling. I wake up at night every thirty minutes, thinking that its time to oil the chain. I'm exhausted I tell you. I did what you told me. This saw is broken. Something's wrong with it! You have to..."
Interrupting Bob's diatribe, the store manager said, "Let's see what the problem is." She grasped the handle of the chain saw with her left hand and jerked the handle of the cord on top of the motor with her right hand and suddenly a loud "brr" fills the hardware store.
"Hey, what's that sound?" asked Bob, timidly.
Like Bob, it's possible to go through life with our own repeated and frustrated attempts at success. Like Bob, it's possible to find ourselves exhausted and miserable at the end of each day with little or nothing to show for our efforts. Like Bob, we often have opinions that are so tightly held that they keep us from seeing the obvious source of power in front of us. Like Bob, we can easily overlook new possibilities and waste enormous energy by endlessly repeating the same mistakes.
Today's Old Testament text is a story of discerning God's power and presence. Where do we find it? How do we get it? What do we do with it?
In today's lesson we learn that Saul's kingship in Israel is near its end. Saul has disobeyed the Lord (1 Samuel 15) who then tells Samuel, "I have rejected him from being king over Israel" (1 Samuel 16:1). Then the Lord sent Samuel on a strange mission that concluded with the anointing of David as the next king. Now pay attention. As you read this text, notice that the main character is the Lord. The critical decisions are made by the Lord. The mission directions are given by the Lord. Samuel, Jessie, and his sons, and especially David, are mere actors in a story that the Lord produces, directs, and plays the lead role. David doesn't say a word. He simply shows up.
Now, where is God's power? God knows where and sends Samuel there (1 Samuel 16:1). God's power, like the chain saw power cord for Bob, is in surprising and easily overlooked places and people. God sent Samuel south to Judah to "Jesse, the Bethlehemite and his sons. God had already selected one of them to be king" (1 Samuel 16:1).
Now, what does this tell us about where God's power and presence can be discovered? Saul was from the north and the tribe of Benjamin. Samuel was much more familiar with the northern context, and expressed his fear of ever going to Bethlehem. So, the first place we know God's power is located is in the new, the unfamiliar, even the scary places and people... people and places that are easily overlooked and appear to be the least likely to be chosen by God.
After demonstrating his peaceful intentions, Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to worship with him in the local sanctuary. Samuel looked at each of Jesse's sons, noticing stature, strength, and handsome appearance. An impressive looking group all right. Surely, the Lord had chosen one of these strapping fellows to be the next king of all Israel. But the Lord rejected all seven, telling Samuel, "The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
In other words, don't rely on first impressions. What you see on the outside does not always indicate what is on the inside of a person. We've all heard phrases that describe folks whose outward appearance displays competence and confidence, but upon closer examination demonstrate uselessness and instability. Some that come to mind include the following: "Her porch light's on but nobody at home." "His elevator doesn't make it to the top floor." You might know a few more.
Wilma, 20th of 22 children, suffered from polio as a very young child. By age six, Wilma had also survived double pneumonia, scarlet fever, and whooping cough. She was frail and weak, often needing assistance to accomplish even the smallest tasks at home or school. Based only on her outward appearance, Wilma was destined for a life of poverty, dependence, and frustration. However, Wilma had a fierce determination to overcome this crippling illness.
Through grueling exercises and relentless discipline, Wilma not only began to walk, she started to run. Then Wilma not only ran, she ran fast, faster than anyone in her school. The little girl with frail legs and a fragile body had become a young woman with a powerful body and a courageous heart.
At the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Wilma Rudolph didn't just run, she sprinted her way to three Olympic gold medals: for the 100 and 200 meter dashes and as anchor in the 400 meter relay.
"The Lord does not see what mortals see... the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
So, where is the Lord's power and presence located? The Lord knew where and sent Samuel there in today's text. The Lord knows where and sends you there in your own life journey.
First, scripture reminds us that God's power is in new, risky, even scary places. Samuel went, although with some fear (1 Samuel 16:2) to the unfamiliar and potentially perilous southern regions near Bethlehem in order to meet with unknown strangers and anoint one of them as king when Israel already had a king. Now that's pretty worrisome, if not downright dangerous. And yet, the Lord was there and had already planned for Israel's future to emerge from this very encounter.
Second, our scripture lesson reminds us that the Lord's presence and power are deep inside our own hearts. Few, if any of us, will become great world leaders like David or Olympic champions like Wilma Rudolph. Nevertheless, it is the Lord's power within us that prepares us to enter the new and challenging spaces that lie just before us.
So, what do we do to get the Lord's presence and power anyway? Well, nothing, really. We don't do anything to "get it." God gives it to us! Look again at today's lesson. David didn't say anything at all. In fact, he didn't even do anything except show up, "and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward" (1 Samuel 16:13).
The Lord gave power and presence to us and for us on the cross. The Lord gave that power and presence to us and for us in the water of baptism, in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, in the living word of scripture, and in the gathering of the Lord's people. The Lord has promised to continue giving forever. How do we get this gift again? Like David in our lesson, just show up! God has given, is giving, and has promised to continue to give God's own spirit of power and presence forever.
And finally, what do we do with this gift when we get it? Just like Samuel in today's scripture, God will show us what to do, give you instructions on how to do it, and send you where it must be done.
Brrr... what's that sound, anyway? That's the power and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ filling our heart. That's the wind of the spirit of the Lord inviting you to become part of an exciting and soul-filling adventure. Amen.
