David and Saul
1 Sam 16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
We are not to mourn over something that God has rejected. If God doesn't morn, why should we? I think of the Catholic practice of morning and praying for the dead in hell. I believe this is called purgatory. Does God morn? No, they will not be saved by much prayer and morning. We listen only to God's word.
Samuel's support and close relationship with Saul had ended. When it seems our hopes for the future are gone, look unto the LORD. His plans will continue. Moses did this when he was against the Red Sea, seemingly in a hopeless position with the world's forces chasing him.
Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exo 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
Exo 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
He will do the same for you, his beloved children of faith.
...fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Saul was the type of king the people chose, God was not pleased with Saul. Even as Saul remains on the throne, God has another king selected after his own heart. Fill your horn with anointing oil, my servant Samuel, I will send you to anoint the king of my choosing.
1 Sam 16:2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
1 Sam 16:3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
Samuel feared Saul, but God had already made the way. If we follow God's plans we need never fear man or devil. A sacrifice shall be offered and the family of Jesse shall be invited, I will show you who the king shall be. Do you see the revealed will of God unfolding? To find the answer to God's plans, first we must obey what God has revealed to us. We must obey God's revealed will first. We study the Bible to know the will of God. Then His Spirit guides us in our daily walk.
1 Sam 16:4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
Perhaps the elders were thinking God's judgment was coming to them? They had heard what had happened to king Agag, of the Amaleks. Sinful men tremble at the presence of God, Samuel was the spokesman for God. Have you come in peace? The Holy Spirit is peaceful, not a threat to those who belong to the LORD.
1 Sam 16:5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
There was ceremonial cleansing before making an offering to God.
Exo 19:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Jesus is our sanctification, we come into God's presence through our relationship to Jesus. He is our cleansing, we are the set apart children of God, through the blood sacrifice of our Lord Jesus.
1 Sam 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.
Jesse's son's were brought to Samuel, the first born first. He looked the part, "surely the Lord's anointed is before him." He had distinctive features.
1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
This is one of the famous scriptures, often quoted. The LORD looks upon the heart, not the outward appearance. This is opposite of the way of the world.
1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1 Cor 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1 Cor 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Sam 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
1 Sam 16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
1 Sam 16:10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
These were all the son's Jesse had brought to meet the prophet of God.
1 Sam 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
There was one more son, but he was a young shepherd boy. Somewhat ignored and yet faithful to his responsibility. Fetch him. There is no one that God does not see, all are important to him. If we feel we are the least in our family, the one ignored, God knows we are there and perhaps the least shall be favored by him.
1 Sam 16:12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
He was ruddy, red faced, perhaps with red hair? He had a beautiful look about him, and of a good spirit. Have you met strangers who had something about them, that you new was from the Lord? You became instant friends. This was the impression made upon Samuel. Not pretending, not of worldly frame, but a blessed one of God.
And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
1 Sam 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
As Joseph was favored before his brothers, David was favored; not by the father, but by the prophet of God. I think of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was the anointed of God living in a family of brothers and sisters. They knew he was different, but did not see him as God saw him. I'm sure that Jesse's sons were wondering just what was going on. They would someday see David as their king. This was the choice of God.
He was chosen and given the Spirit of God at the same time. This is the anointing of God, not just outward oil, but the inward oil of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is not just an outward washing but the inward washing of the baptism in the Holy Spirit of Jesus. Unless the anointing is of the Lord, it is just a symbol. The same applies to baptism in water. It is the favor of God that baptizes in the Holy Spirit. Blessed are those who are favored of God. Those who have ears to hear and eyes to see the things of God.
1 Sam 16:14 But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
As David received, Saul lost the anointing of God's Spirit. Without the anointing we are subject to the influence of the devil. God sent the evil spirit to Saul. Why? Because Saul did not want the good spirit of God. If we refuse the goodness of God, God gives us over to the evil spirits. The spirits rule in the hearts of man. We have God's Spirit to fill our being, then there is no place for the devil. If we reject God, then we are asking God to allow evil spirits to come in. Satan rules in the children of disobedience. We can't claim to be of God and invite the evil things of the world to fill our hearts.
1 Sam 16:15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Those who are around a person, know when the spirits come. There is a change. The fruit of satan, to steal, kill and destroy. It is a negative divisive spirit. Do not be in bondage to a destructive spirit. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Our first duty as obedient children of God is to praise our God. A bad spirit cannot praise God.
Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isa 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Isa 12:4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
Isa 12:5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
1 Sam 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
1 Sam 16:17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
1 Sam 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
It just so happened that David was chosen to play the harp in the presence of the king. A coincidence? no it was to be for the proving of God's anointed king.
1 Sam 16:19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
Although David was anointed as God's choice as king of the people, he went back to tending sheep. Often our callings are not realized immediately. We should continue where we were when we were called, until we are released.
1 Cor 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
1 Cor 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1 Cor 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1 Cor 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1 Cor 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Saul's message for David was his release from the responsibility as shepherd of sheep. He would be brought to the kings dwelling. David must obey in each step of his calling.
1 Sam 16:20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
David's father sends provision with David, perhaps as a peace offering to Saul.
1 Sam 16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
The name, David, means "beloved or loved one." David was an excellent young man and Saul immediately trusted him. He gave him the important and close position as armor bearer, Saul's close companion in battle.
1 Sam 16:22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
King Saul, as a formality requests permission from Jesse for his son to remain with him. Saul could just take anyone because he was king, yet he asked out of respect.
1 Sam 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
The harp was a small stringed instrument. His music was anointed of God and helped Saul rid himself of tormenting spirits. The evil spirit was sent by God because Saul rejected the word of God. All people were made for God's spirit to complete them. If God is rejected, he allows another spirit to enter into the darkness of the heart. He was given over to his choices.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Praise is the first step to recovery from spiritual torment and depression, next we read God's word and follow his Spirit, obeying him in all things, offering thanksgiving, being filled with love and peace.
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