Good morning! Happy Sabbath!
Question of the day: What is a favorite song or hymn that has ministered to you?
Today we are going to finish 1 Samuel chapter 16. Let's take a moment and review last week's passage.
David in Saul’s Service
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”
17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”
19 Then Saul sent 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 a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.
21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
There are six points I want us to focus on from this passage.1. Spirit of God withdrawn:
Why was the spirit of God withdrawn?
When we are called to a job or anointed or ordained for a position by God, whether at church or out in the world, can we also lose God's spirit?
Ellen White writes about this: "When King Saul realized that he had been rejected by God, and when he felt the force of the words of denunciation that had been addressed to him by the prophet, he was filled with bitter rebellion and despair. It was not true repentance that had bowed the proud head of the king. He had no clear perception of the offensive character of his sin, and did not arouse to the work of reforming his life, but brooded over what he thought was the injustice of God in depriving him of the throne of Israel and in taking the succession away from his posterity. He was ever occupied in the anticipating the ruin that had been brought upon his house. He felt that the valor which he had displayed in encountering his enemies should offset his sin of disobedience. He did not accept with meekness the chastisement of God; but his haughty spirit became desperate, until he was on the verge of losing his reason. His counselors advised him to seek for the services of a skillful musician, in the hope that the soothing notes of a sweet instrument might calm his troubled spirit. In the providence of God, David, as a skillful performer upon the harp, was brought before the king. His lofty and heaven-inspired strains had the desired effect. The brooding melancholy that had settled like a dark cloud over the mind of Saul was charmed away."
2. Empty Spaces:
I struggled and studied a lot about this sentence where it says, "an evil spirit from God." How can that be and what does it mean? We will unpack it even more in this study of David later so this morning we are going to keep it simple.
- Many commentaries suggest mental illness.
- Others, that God allowed the evil spirits to enter him.
After speaking with Ryan and reading a lot this week, I think it is safe to say that when God withdrew His spirit from Saul there was an empty space. This void left by the spirit of God was prime real estate for the evil spirits to settle in and torment Saul. Just as there are empty spaces in us if we don't ask for the presence of God to dwell in us.
3. Sit with the sheep:
David, anointed David was still with the sheep! He was fighting lions, singing, and just being alone. I can't imagine the solitude. Is there anything in your life that makes you want to say to God, "seriously why am I still here?"
What should we be doing with this sheep tending time?
4. Developing our gifts:
While you are sitting on the hillside watching your sheep what skills could you be practicing, or developing?
5. Praise God:
While David sat there on the hillside he praised God. It was practice but it was more importantly praise. How many times do we let our current situation or our fears keep us from praising God. If we are leading with anything other than praise, we need to STOP, take a breath and switch to praise! Praise Him!! Praise Him!!!!
6. Using our gifts for God:
There is no question in my mind that David was not just playing pretty harp music, but He was playing his songs of praise. Why? Music alone doesn't have the power to send the evil spirits running, but, BUT praises to God do! Let God use your talents at work, in your home, in your church. Let Him use them for His glory!
6. Filling empty spaces:
Here is the beautiful thing about the presence of God. The presence of God left Saul, but it was very much present with David. David being filled with the spirit of God, played music and then the spirits left Saul and he was able to experience peace. Wow. Seriously, how beautiful is that.
Don't underestimate the power of letting the spirit of God reign in you! What a positive difference it can make in the lives of those around you. What about in your childrens lives? What about in the lives of your coworkers? What about in the lives of your friends?
Another extremely important point is the power of praising God, especially with music! When speaking about music we use terms like, "it flooded the room," or "fills a room," likening it to water. Water is something that is incredibly powerful and has a way of filling every nook and cranny. It finds a way into any space.
Isn't it a beautiful thought that music much like water finds its way into every nook and cranny in our hearts and minds, in our body. Music, has the ability to chase the evil spirits away because it fills in everywhere. It fills a room. Where music, the praises to God dwell, the evil spirits flee. Here in this story the music, music from a heart dedicated to God sends the spirits running, even from a man who wasn't willing to repent and invite God in. Speaks to the power of the presence of God. Speaks to the power of praising God through song.
This next week may each of us, daily, hourly, invite the Holy Spirit to set up home in our hearts and minds. May we be willing to sit with the sheep, develop our gifts, use them or share them for Him and fill our hearts and minds with praise, with music! Let heavenly inspired music fill your home, fill your car, fill your mind! Happy Sabbath
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