Preoccupied
1 Samuel 10:17–27

Paul J. Bucknell

Preoccupation narrows our vision until our preferred solution seems more important than God’s voice and His better way.

Prioritizing God’s direction in our lives secures His fellowship and blessing.

Do you ever get preoccupied with the thought that you forget other equally important matters? I received an internet bill with a late fee. We thought we had taken care of it, but with the move, I guess not! They were kind and waived the late fee. Some things don’t matter so much, but some do!

Worldly preoccupation is always harmful to our relationship with God, as seen in 1 Samuel 10:17-27. Israel believed everything was fine when they wanted a king like the other nations around them. They aimed to strengthen Israel’s kingdom and exalt God’s Name.

1 Samuel 10:17-27 sharply reminds us of our tendency to focus on what seems most important to us while ignoring or avoiding what is truly critical. Our plans, hopes, and desires block out God's message, not allowing His voice to come through. We hear them, but treat them like mental spam. God graciously reveals His better way in verses 17-18. The following verses show how God lets go of His best and responds to their rejection—better than they deserve (see point 3).

1. God’s Pursuit (1 Sam 10:17-18)

17 Thereafter Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah; 18 and he said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’” (1 Sam 10:17-18)

God’s work with the nation of Israel was unique. Yahweh, their God, pursued them before and now offers them a second chance. In verses 17-18, God seeks their devotion; He wants them to set aside their focus on having a king as part of their plans.

• Samuel assembled them together (1 Sam 10:17)

The LORD instructed Samuel to gather the people, likely hoping they would undergo a time of national repentance. This assembly could serve as a chance to positively steer their future, a meeting where they might embrace God’s better plan. Earlier, God expressed it this way: “The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them” (1 Sam 8:7). I believe verse 17 is a hopeful statement meant to encourage a positive response; to see if anyone would call out to return to God as their king.

Our Blessed Lives

Our lives beautifully illustrate God’s pursuit of our hearts. He has given us so much. Can you deny it? The same was true for Israel. In verse 18, we see four specific ways God reminds them of His faithfulness.

“And he said to the sons of Israel, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’” (1 Sam 10:18)

• Chosen: Samuel reminds them of their identity (18)

Once gathered together, Samuel reminded them of their identity as the sons of Israel — “he said to the sons of Israel.” Their national name comes from their forefather Jacob. God suddenly appeared to him while he was running for his life. He had just deceived his father, Isaac, cheated his brother out of his blessing, and now had escaped. (Just one family member like Jacob can create a lot of family bitterness.)

On his way north, God revealed Himself to Jacob in a dream. We know it as Jacob’s ladder, where angels ascended and descended.

God grabbed Jacob’s attention by wrestling with him, but Jacob sensed something greater and chased after the LORD. “He (God) said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed” (Gen 32:28). And so, Jacob, now Israel, dedicated himself to live for God. Through him came twelve sons, who became the twelve tribes of Israel.

With twenty precious years of his youth passed, he returned to the Promised Land to that exact spot and remembered his vow. If God brought him back blessed, he would serve His God.

Maybe Samuel hoped that God’s blessing on the wayward Jacob, now Israel, would make their hearts break before their generous God. But the Lord received no response from the people—no sign of remorse or humility. They seemed not to hear him; God’s words weren’t reaching them.

• Adopted: God’s deliverance from Egypt (18)

All the Israelites, including Jacob, went down to Egypt following Joseph. After four hundred years, God miraculously brought them out of Egypt and back to the Promised Land. God says, “I brought Israel up from Egypt.” The adoption of Israel as God’s own possession became clear through the Passover (Exodus 12). He chose them, making Himself their Redeemer and their Rewarder. God began to train His people to obey Him as the source of blessing.

• Claimed: God worked on Israel’s behalf against the world empire (18)

“I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians.” The LORD undoubtedly stirred up their memories of the many miracles He performed to claim them as His people, having delivered them from the demise of their arch-enemy, Egypt. This same testimony would follow them wherever they went. The people of Jericho feared the Israelites because they had heard of God's amazing feats(Joshua 2:9-11).

• Rescued: God rescued them from many other oppressive forces

God protected them from “the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.” The Israelites’ existence and benefits depended on God’s choice of them. God served as their great king, did He not? He is their Savior, the best of all kings.

No Neutral Ground

They were not at a neutral decision point. It’s not as if many gods had equally blessed or not blessed them so they could choose any of them freely. To pick an alternative, they had to reject God. God alone had befriended and blessed them. Among all the people groups, God chose Israel and took delight in them as in a favored vineyard, “Let me sing now for my well-beloved, a song of my beloved concerning His vineyard” (Isaiah 5:1). He is proud of His adopted sons; they carry His Name, Spirit, and words.

God’s Blessings on Our Lives

What a wonderful display of God’s gracious work in their lives. Their very existence relies on His care for them. He invites them to trust Him completely. We don’t start neutral, as if nothing has happened in our lives. God has led us, blessed us, and sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. Paul in Ephesians 1 says, “Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). More broadly, all of creation shows God’s goodness, calling us to pursue our Maker, yet they rejected God’s best because they were preoccupied with their ‘better’ plan.

God greatly blesses us as His people. Don’t quickly abandon your Christian family and heritage. Behind the meetings, meals, love, and teaching is God Almighty, who first sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die for everyone, regardless of the nation to which you belong. God is good, and there is no greater plan, way, or method than His. What do you believe about God?

To keep my heart warm toward the Lord, I see each day as a chance to respond to God’s abundant love poured out on me in Christ Jesus. Hearts become lukewarm when we forget the many things He has done for us. I dislike to think where I would be if God had left me as a self-absorbed little sinner boy. “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2).

No one on the planet can hide from God's goodness. Jesus came into the world to save it. God showed His ultimate sign of goodness when He sent His Son to die for us. How will you respond? God also seeks our hearts; He desires our complete trust in Him.