1 Samuel 16:21-23 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly, and he became his armour bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, let David I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 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.
Just one more instance of our Lord’s mysterious workings. Who else could have conjured up such heart stopping drama, filled with so much intrigue, deceit and all the other things that make a good tale? The scene opens with the elders of of Israel asking Samuel for a king, cause his sons, whom he had appointed judges in his stead were all steeped in corruption. This hurt Samuel, but he took the Lord’s advice and anointed them a King: Saul, the tall handsome son of Kish, the Benjamite, ‘…and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he…’ 1Sam.9:2. Hn! Could that be the same Saul? Now Saul is sent on a wild goose chase looking for his father’s lost donkeys, where he meets Samuel on a feast day, how appropriate, and Samuel anoints him. Note that when Saul hears the news, he declares himself unworthy. ‘…A Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of the families.’ 1 Sam.9:21. Shows how power can cause drastic changes. Contrast that with his authoritarian behaviour later on. Anyway, Saul was officially appointed king of Israel, at Mizpeh. They even had to go and bring him out of hiding. And Saul did good for a while, then he disobeyed the Lord, and poor Samuel, who loved Saul, was sent to anoint another king. He had to use subterfuge to get to Bruh David’s family, claiming sacrificial duties, for Saul would have killed him if he knew his true purpose. Seven of Jesse’s sons were bypassed. Then Bruh David was brought in and became the anointed one, much to the surprise of his family. Note how the Lord chose unlikely men, as He is wont to do, to be the first kings of Israel. With Bruh David’s anointing, I guess everybody was wondering how he would become king, with Saul still going strong, and his son Jonathan, a warrior in his own right still alive. But Friends, they were reckoning without the greatest creative writer ever: our God. And the drama unfurls. ‘But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him:’ 1Sam.16:14. Wow! The plot thickens, when Saul’s servants see he’s in rough shape and prescribe music for his illness. Saul agrees. He must have known that ‘where there’s music, there can be no evil,’ (Cervantes) And as luck would have it, one of Saul’s servants knew this son of Jesse ‘…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.’ That description should have warned Saul. But he sent for Bruh David: ‘And he loved him greatly, and he became his armour bearer.’ He even asked Jesse for permission to keep him, ‘…for he hath found favour in my sight.’ And whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, Bruh David plucked his harp ever so sweetly; ‘So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed form him.’ Ah Friends, who was to know that such a touching relationship would end so tragically? But it’s the Lord’s way. He’ll willingly raise us up, but if we don’t measure up, He’ll take us right back down without batting an eyelash. So the ball’s in our court. Be obedient, or we’ll end up like Saul. Much LOVE!…remember…the Lord giveth…and the Lord taketh…
Just one more instance of our Lord’s mysterious workings. Who else could have conjured up such heart stopping drama, filled with so much intrigue, deceit and all the other things that make a good tale? The scene opens with the elders of of Israel asking Samuel for a king, cause his sons, whom he had appointed judges in his stead were all steeped in corruption. This hurt Samuel, but he took the Lord’s advice and anointed them a King: Saul, the tall handsome son of Kish, the Benjamite, ‘…and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he…’ 1Sam.9:2. Hn! Could that be the same Saul? Now Saul is sent on a wild goose chase looking for his father’s lost donkeys, where he meets Samuel on a feast day, how appropriate, and Samuel anoints him. Note that when Saul hears the news, he declares himself unworthy. ‘…A Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of the families.’ 1 Sam.9:21. Shows how power can cause drastic changes. Contrast that with his authoritarian behaviour later on. Anyway, Saul was officially appointed king of Israel, at Mizpeh. They even had to go and bring him out of hiding. And Saul did good for a while, then he disobeyed the Lord, and poor Samuel, who loved Saul, was sent to anoint another king. He had to use subterfuge to get to Bruh David’s family, claiming sacrificial duties, for Saul would have killed him if he knew his true purpose. Seven of Jesse’s sons were bypassed. Then Bruh David was brought in and became the anointed one, much to the surprise of his family. Note how the Lord chose unlikely men, as He is wont to do, to be the first kings of Israel. With Bruh David’s anointing, I guess everybody was wondering how he would become king, with Saul still going strong, and his son Jonathan, a warrior in his own right still alive. But Friends, they were reckoning without the greatest creative writer ever: our God. And the drama unfurls. ‘But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him:’ 1Sam.16:14. Wow! The plot thickens, when Saul’s servants see he’s in rough shape and prescribe music for his illness. Saul agrees. He must have known that ‘where there’s music, there can be no evil,’ (Cervantes) And as luck would have it, one of Saul’s servants knew this son of Jesse ‘…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.’ That description should have warned Saul. But he sent for Bruh David: ‘And he loved him greatly, and he became his armour bearer.’ He even asked Jesse for permission to keep him, ‘…for he hath found favour in my sight.’ And whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, Bruh David plucked his harp ever so sweetly; ‘So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed form him.’ Ah Friends, who was to know that such a touching relationship would end so tragically? But it’s the Lord’s way. He’ll willingly raise us up, but if we don’t measure up, He’ll take us right back down without batting an eyelash. So the ball’s in our court. Be obedient, or we’ll end up like Saul. Much LOVE!…remember…the Lord giveth…and the Lord taketh…
SCRIP-BITS 