Wednesday 06/03/20
Series: Thru the Bible
Message – A King’s Envy
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Thru the Bible: 1Samuel 16-19
The lessons we learn from Saul are very hard and relevant to EVERY ONE of us. King Saul was not entirely a bad guy or king…at first. It was the same human tenancies we all have of concern of what other think about us, pride when confronted over doing wrong and when someone under you and younger than you exceeds you in your area of expertise. These were the sins of Saul – but the real lessons are that it is the little foxes that spoil the vine or a little yeast rises the whole lump of dough AND those who are in positions of greater authority are subject to stricter judgment. That may seem unfair since no one calls & anoints themselves with authority from God, but when God gives authority He also gives additional grace. That increased influence causes your heart to be more aware of God and His direction in your life, that comes at the cost of being held responsible for that increased awareness.
Kings Saul allowed his envy of David to consume him.
Each progression of Saul towards a hardened heart met him with an evil spirit which attached itself to him. Mind you, in each of these he had a choice. Nothing about ANY spirit MAKES you do anything – neither the Spirit of God nor a demon. Even when it says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon David and took control of him, it does not mean his freewill was gone, it simply means He took possession of Him. His influence was powerful over and within him. This is an Old Testament equivalent (if such a comparison can be suggested) of being filled with the Spirit under the New Covenant.
Chapter 16
1 Samuel 16:1-23,
“(1) The LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons.”
So we start off with a lesson immediately! As Christians, we are to honor what God honors and let go of our allegiances to those who God rejects. This includes, as Jesus would later tell us, all family members as well. We should NEVER place before the Creator ANY of His creatures regardless of our relation to them.
“(2) Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ (3) Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you.” (4) Samuel did what the LORD directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?” (5) “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. (6) When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the LORD’s anointed one is here before Him.” (7) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart.” (8) Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “The LORD hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. (9) Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD hasn’t chosen this one either.” (10) After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The LORD hasn’t chosen any of these.” (11) Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” (12) So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance. Then the LORD said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” (13) So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah. (14) Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD began to torment him, (15) so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.”
So far as we have yet discovered in scripture, God does not initiate evil spirits tempting, afflicting or tormenting people, yet His hand HAS to be involved in some way or it could not happen. God IS king! He IS Creator and Owner and He is also Arbiter. NOTHING can happen from the spiritual world towards the natural world without His judging it as warranted and judicially acceptable.
We see this most clearly in the record of King Ahab and Job. Satan makes accusation (he is the accuser after all) and God arbitrates concerning the accusation. Is temptation warranted, is attack justified in order to prove, is torment from an evil spirit permissible…etc.
In this case, with the belief that God does not show favoratism, then what happened here with Saul was due to an accusation placed before God concerning Saul’s duplicitous heart and the position he held in Israel and the anointing he had upon his life. God, seems to have ruled in favor of the accusation and allowed the evil spirit entrance into Saul’s life and influence over his heart.
Notice however, in this next section, that God in His mercy allowed music to create temporary oasis’ for Saul in his mental anguish and even anointed David – the true King – to serve Saul and play for him for relief.
“(16) Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the harp. Whenever the evil spirit from God troubles you, that person can play the harp, and you will feel better.” (17) Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.” (18) One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is also a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the LORD is with him.” (19) Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” (20) So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul. (21) When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. (22) Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” (23) Whenever the spirit from God troubled Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”
Chapter 17
1 Samuel 17:1-58,
“(1) The Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. (2) Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah; then they lined up in battle formation to face the Philistines. (3) The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them. (4) Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall (5) and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed 125 pounds. (6) There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze sword was slung between his shoulders. (7) His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 15 pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him. (8) He stood and shouted to the battle formations: “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. (9) If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.” (10) Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other! (11) When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.” ”
Never let satan lure you into accepting his terms for an engagement. For example, you have a shopping addiction which you have been surrendering to God and trusting Him to replace that with something godly. Then the enemy starts encouraging friends and family to call you to go out shopping with them. You reason in your head… “I’ve been doing much better in regard to that, I don’t even think about it as much as I used to. I think I’ll go just for the fellowship.” Next thing you know your mind is accosted with all kinds of temptation and you succumb and end the day in defeat. You just allowed the enemy to pick the place and time of your battle. You were the visiting team and he had the at-home advantage.
Also, never…NEVER allow the enemy to intimidate you!
“(12) Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons, and during Saul’s reign was already an old man. (13) Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third, (14) and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul, (15) but David kept going back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock in Bethlehem. (16) Every morning and evening for 40 days the Philistine came forward and took his stand. (17) One day, Jesse had told his son David, “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. (18) Also, take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them. (19) They are with Saul and all the men of Israel are in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.” (20) So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry. (21) Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other. (22) David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were. (23) While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard. (24) When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified. (25) Previously, an Israelite man had declared, “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the household of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.” (26) David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (27) The people told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.” (28) David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart–you came down to see the battle!” (29) “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.” (30) Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before. (31) What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him.”
David encourages towards faith
“(32) David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” (33) But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.” (34) David answered Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, (35) I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. (36) Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” (37) Then David said, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you.” (38) Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. (39) David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. (40) Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.”
You will never be successful in life if you are always trying to be someone other than who you are called to be. David was first a lover of God, a shepherd and a patriot. He BECAME a warrior in time, but he could not go out into battle as someone other than who he was.
I have had to face this many time in ministry. I have spoken with people who were leaders in Christian movements, taught in front of them and eat dinner with them over long conversations and later heard MY words used in their messages and it increased their following, yet, here I am teaching a small group in a home church and couldn’t gather a large crowd on my own to save my life. There are those who evoke a huge following and yet, at the height of Jesus’ popularity He had less followers than most churches have congregants. I have come to the conclusion that you are what you are and that size and fame are of little consequence, they are distractions to true ministry and are NOT healthy nor adequate measurements of spiritual success. Spiritual success is YOU fulfilling the call of God on YOUR life – be that big or small. If you honor God with what you have been given – at the judgement you will be honored with much.
David speaks his heart and oh what a heart he had!
“(41) The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. (42) When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. (43) He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods. (44) “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!” (45) David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies–you have defied Him. (46) Today, the LORD will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, (47) and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD’s. He will hand you over to us.”
Is it any wonder that God called David a man after His Own heart. He speaks NOT with presumption, but honor concerning God. In David’s heart this was not a national matter – it was a matter of respect for God. Israel coward before Goliath because they were SELF-aware, David rose up in boldness because his heart was offended that this non-covenant gentile was taking it upon himself to defy God. David’s eyes were not on himself of his own safety. In his view Israel was not being defied – the GOD of Israel was being defied. This caused him to run NOT to God’s defense, but to God’s service. His actions were a prayer “Use me God of Israel to show forth Your power and make Your Name honored throughout the world in the midst of your people.”
“(48) When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. (49) David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. (50) David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David had no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him. (51) David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they ran. (52) The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. (53) When the Israelites returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps. (54) David took Goliath’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent. (55) When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, “Whose son is this youth, Abner?” “My king, as surely as you live, I don’t know,” Abner replied. (56) The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is!” (57) When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. (58) Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” “The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David answered.”
Now this appears to be a chronological problem here, but there are any number of answers to this. Saul was a busy man, and older man and a man who was mentally tormented by devils. David was a very young man when Saul first met him and it is quite possible that years have passed since he left Saul and returned home. It is quite possible that David had grown, his voice grown deeper, his body more muscular and his face now sporting a beard where before there had not been one. All of these things could easily conspire to cause this last of recognition without placing undo strain upon the facts presented in the passage.
I myself have run into youth just a few years after I first met or taught them and they had changed so significantly that I had no clue who they were.
1 Samuel 18:1-30,
“(1) When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan committed himself to David, and loved him as much as he loved himself. (2) Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house.”
A friendship is born / a covenant is made
“(3) Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. (4) Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.”
Like Saul, David was brought into a royal court in the cloths of a commoner. Jonathan so loved David his friend that he gave him some of his royal cloths, that his presence in the court or royalty might be more dignified and therefore more well accepted.
“(5) David marched out with the army, and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the soldiers, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well. (6) As David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. (7) As they celebrated, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. (8) Saul was furious and resented this song. “They credited tens of thousands to David,” he complained, “but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?” (9) So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.”
Jealousy…like much wine, is not fitting for a king, but is in their hands even more destructive than in the hearts of those who wield far less power.
“(10) The next day an evil spirit from God took control of Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the harp as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, (11) and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice. (12) Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left from Saul. (13) Therefore, Saul reassigned David and made him commander over 1,000 men. David led the troops (14) and continued to be successful in all his activities because the LORD was with him. (15) When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him. (16) But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops. (17) Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife, if you will be a warrior for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “My hand doesn’t need to be against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” (18) Then David responded, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” (19) When it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife. (20) Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him. (21) “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.” (22) Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.'” (23) Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor man who is common.” (24) The servants reported back to Saul, “These are the words David spoke.” (25) Then Saul replied, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price except 100 Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'” Actually, Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. (26) When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, (27) David and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife. (28) Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, (29) and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on. (30) Every time the Philistine commanders came out to fight, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers. So his name became very famous.”
Chapter 19
1 Samuel 19:1-24,
“(1) Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much, (2) so he told him: “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there. (3) I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I’ll tell you.” (4) Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: “The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. (5) He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?” (6) Saul listened to Jonathan’s advice and swore an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed.” (7) So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before. (8) When war broke out again, David went out and fought against the Philistines. He defeated them with such a great force that they fled from him. (9) Now an evil spirit from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing the harp, (10) and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear. As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul and escaped. That night he ran away. (11) Saul sent agents to David’s house to watch for him and kill him in the morning. But his wife Michal warned David: “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!” (12) So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped. (13) Then Michal took the household idol and put it on the bed, placed some goats’ hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. (14) When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, “He’s sick.” (15) Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, “Bring him on his bed so I can kill him.” (16) When the messengers arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goats’ hair on its head. (17) Saul asked Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!” She answered him, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?'” (18) So David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel left and stayed at Naioth. (19) When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, (20) Saul sent agents to seize David. However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s agents, and they also started prophesying. (21) When they reported to Saul, he sent other agents, and they also began prophesying. So Saul tried again and sent a third group of agents, and even they began prophesying. (22) Then Saul himself went to Ramah. He came to the large cistern at Secu, looked around, and asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “At Naioth in Ramah,” someone said. (23) So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came on him, and as he walked along, he prophesied until he entered Naioth in Ramah. (24) Saul then removed his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel; he collapsed and lay naked all that day and all that night. That is why they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Blessings!
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Blessings!
