“When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, ‘Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!’ The king said to her, ‘Have no fear; what do you see?’ The woman said to Saul, ‘I see a divine being coming up out of the ground.’ He said to her, ‘What is his appearance?’ She said, ‘An old man is coming up; he is wrapped in a robe.’ So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.” 1 Samuel 28:12-14 NRSV
Given the timing of Halloween and All Saints day, I thought this passage to be a good starting point for talking about seeking wise counsel. As we know, this was just one of many in a long list of things that King Saul did to lose God’s favor. It would be easy to pick on him. After all, just a few verses before the ones listed above, he banished all the “mediums” (not the size.. more like an oracle. ha!) from his kingdom after Samuel’s death. Then he goes in secret to consult with one of the banished. But I don’t want to harp on Saul right now.
Instead, I want to hold him up as an example to us in life and in ministry. Saul found himself in a desperate situation. He had lost an advisor and was in a difficult time in his rule (the issues with David’s ascention had already begun). So, he went looking for advice. He respected Samuel and knew him to be wise. So he sought him out.
I live in a society that is increasingly individualistic – successful individuals are held up to regard and be offered as examples to follow. The problem I see is that this encourages people to set out on their own, try to be the next great pioneer and visionary… However, in scripture, I see goodness coming from within community and connectedness. I see great ministry as cooperative, not stemming from a single individual, but using the gifts of the entire body.
I sometimes catch myself wanting to have all the answers, all the ideas, and know all the right words to say. But the truth is that I need to seek wise counsel. I need to use the gifts of those around me. I need to talk to my peers, mentors, and those I do ministry with. I hope that you too will see the richness of gifts present in those surrounding you this week…and that you won’t have to use a ouija board to receive wise counsel!
Russ Bowlin is the Director of Ministries for Youth and Young Adults at First United Methodist Church in Victoria, Texas. Follow him on twitter at twitter.com/russbo
Featured image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/denverjeffrey/