Today's readings doesn't make easy sense, why and what God thought, as did. Communication is befuddled by less than best behaviour by Saul and – without understanding so much why – Jonathan. Reads like a breakdown. And as for the need to battle… more questions.

We obviously don't get the context, living in such different times and doubtless back-stories never revealed. What we can read is: God asks, we ask of… and we hear and follow – or not. If: We choose.

And why we do, or don't, do this, or that? To make sense Biblically, has implications that go way-beyond obviously rational perspectives. What seems right and irrelevant, may not be. This not necessarily, in relation to what's 'seen' but the other dimension… this, God has dealings in and through our cooperation, the mechanism of engagement.

Let’s find out what God thinks about this

This sums up, about the greatest need, humanity has. This, the all that matters, if we care to beat the enemies of this world. If we don't care, (and this understandable), get God in and about us would – certainly should – change this. God's compassion is particularly for the poor and oppressed. For all – actually. Because beyond the physical – we all are. But primary attention – those attacked collectively and physically.

For God to speak is action. More than A to B = information received and God only passing something 'on' to us. While this can just about be the case it's: God to us = accomplishing the word spoken.

Said other ways; God does what God speaks. God 'thinks' we should bring about, as much of the other-good, God realm, on earth and – now – as can. No mysterious let-up. Look at the Cross to be clear why.

But why not as much, and the killing and abuse seems so unabated? The qualm and anguish staring back at us? Anger for some? No wonder, no God?

Yet if, and the more we find out, not only what to do, but what God thinks. We'd have the power to rout enemies all over the place. The word comes and...

Samuel listened, like life depended on it. Does.