The story of Saul and his defeat of the Amalekites is disturbing. Today we would not dare to think that God would order us to kill anyone. We have grown in our understanding of God in the past 3,000 years. But the point of the story is still true: although Saul was given exact instructions by God he did things his own way instead. This is the human tendency to twist the words of God around to suit ourselves. For instance, God commands us to love and forgive, and yet we bear grudges and seek revenge. God can do just fine without our direction and interpretation! Let God be God.

Putting new wine into old wineskins is foolish. The threadbare old wineskins cannot handle it and they will burst and waste good wine. Fresh, strong, new wineskins are required. The story symbolizes the teachings of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed. It requires a new way of thinking, living, and loving - people cannot just continue as usual. To receive the Word of God properly we need to let go of old habits, opinions, prejudices, and ways of viewing other people. We even need to change the way we think of God. Only then can the word begin to do its work.

How open are we? Perhaps today we can be attentive for a challenge from God's Word to change.