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ignoring criticism

1 Samuel 10:17-27 (JDV)

1 Samuel 10:17 Samuel summoned the people to Yahveh at Mizpah
1 Samuel 10:18 and said to the Israelites, “This is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’
1 Samuel 10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to him, ‘You must set a king over us.’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before Yahveh by your tribes and clans.”
1 Samuel 10:20 Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected.
1 Samuel 10:21 Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matri clan was selected. Finally, Saul, son of Kish was selected. But when they searched for him, they could not find him.
1 Samuel 10:22 They again inquired of Yahveh, “Has the man come here yet?” Yahveh replied, “Notice, he is hidden among the equipment.”
1 Samuel 10:23 They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else.
1 Samuel 10:24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one Yahveh has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
1 Samuel 10:25 Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of Yahveh. Then Samuel sent all the people home.
1 Samuel 10:26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and efficient men whose hearts God had touched went with him.
1 Samuel 10:27 But some wicked men said, “How can this save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing.

ignoring criticism

Here is the second instance in which Saul should have spoken up, but he said nothing instead. He had been proclaimed king, and some wicked men immediately began questioning his right to be what he was. There are times when addressing one’s critics just adds to their criticism. Was Saul right to pass this by? Or, was the historian who recorded these words showing a weakness that — if unaddressed — would eventually lead to his downfall?

It takes wisdom to deal with criticism appropriately. Choosing to ignore it was not a wise move for this young king.