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one would be the eighth, or the be ginning of something nev,. .David was not a perfect man, but his heart was right before God. The Lord indicated that David was His choice, and S a m u e l proceeded, to anoint him. The anointing meant his appointment to the office, his accept ance of the office (this is implied), and his ability for the office through the coming of the Spirit of the Lord upon him. But he was not yet to -be set upon the throne. He was to face the murderous hatred of Saul, the banishment from his home, the sus picion of his brethren, the years of waiting while meeting persecution and danger. All of this was a part of the discipline training necessary before he would be king in actuality. IIL S aul C h a s t e n e d (14-18) When Saul rebelled, the Spirit of the Lord was taken from him. This was an Old Testament aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, quite different from New Testament times when the Spirit 'comes to the believer as a permanent resident, instead of merely upon him, for ability to serve God. When the Spirit of the Lord de parted from Saul, “ an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him” (v. 14). We must not confuse this spirit with the evil spirits; this was a good spirit sent for evil, or judgment. And judg ment is always with a view to vindi cating God’s righteousness and calling a people to Himself. This “spirit” was similar to the one that “smote the first born” in Egypt. We are told that God "cast upon them the fierceness of his anger . . . by sending evil angels among them” (Psa. 78:49; cf. Ex. 12:23; 2 Sam. 24:16; 1 Chron. 21:15, 27). Like Adam, Saul had fallen under the power of*Satan when he departed from the Lord by disobedience. The - “ flesh,” or old nature, despising the testimony of God, finds itself under the dominion of Satan, and from this point on Saul becomes the picture of Satan’s man opposed to God’s man.' Saul’s servants, evidently thinking his was a psychological trouble, pre vailed upon him to send for David who was expert with the harp, and when he came his playing seemed to soothe Saul’s troubled soul, but Saul’s servants knew, what seemingly .Saul did not, that the Lord was with David. Points and Problems 1. "I have rejected him from reign ing over Israel" (16:1). This state ment compared with 15:23 reveals the fact that God did not reject Saul until Saul had first rejected God. The ele ments of Saul’s failure are scattered all through chapter 15, and show clearly the reason for God’s action in removing him from the throne.
it. Men turned from death to life because of Paul’s sword. Paul wanted to make alive instead of to kill. It is possible for us to have two kinds of swords today. Many people are becom'ng so discouraged that they take their own lives, as well as the lives of their fellow men. Others are using the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph. 6:17), and by it are giving life to others. God is looking for people today who will, like Paul, use the Word of God to give life to lost men and women. finding fault with God. “How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him? . . .1 have pro vided me a king” (v. 1). God’s re sources are-not exhausted because one man fails. The Lord has abundant provision to meet every need of His people. We must be guarded against the display of mere sentiment toward God, which will always find fault when the provi dences of God run counter to human desires. Sentiment is not lové (cf. 1 John 5:3). We must not only know, but also agree with the purposes of God if we would walk with Him (cf. Amos 3:3). Samuel appears very human as he says, “How can Î go?” (v. 2). He had plenty of cause for his fear. Should Samuel anoint another man to be king, what would Saul do? If Saul was unafraid to rebel against the Lord, would he hesitate to vent his wrath against the Lo.'d’s servant? But the Lord relieved Samuel’s mind by tell ing him what to say (vs. 3-5). II. D avid C hosen (11-13) The Lord knew where His chosen one was, and what he was. When the seven sons of Jesse were brought be fore Samuel and were all disregarded by the Lord, the seemingly unimpor tant David was brought into the scene (vs. 11, 12). It is not without signifi cance that David was the eighth son. Nature’s perfection, the seven, had, and has, nothing foi God; the chosen BLACKBOARD LESSON
We will let this black sword remind us of his sword. You will recall that in an hour of great disappointment he used his sword to take his own life. In turning Saul’s sword over, we find that the back of it is splashed with red, which reminds us of his blood that was spilled by his own sword. Paul had a sword, but his was a sword of life rather than a sword of death. We will let this silver one remind us of his sword. His sword was the Word of God. It was a life- giving sword. Notice the red cross on I *Samuel 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. .2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it* he will-kill me. And the Lord said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. S 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. 4 And Samuel did that vyhich the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And .the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 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. II And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There re- maineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send arid fetch him: for: we wllf not sit down till he come hither. 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. 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. 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. . . 15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troUb- leth thee. 16 Let our lord now command thy serv ants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp: arid 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. 17 And Saul said unto his servants. Pro vide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18 Then answered one of the servants, arid 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. GOLDEN T E X T : “ For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" f 1 Sam .’16:7). D E VO TIO N A L R EAD ING : Psa. 72:12-19. Outline and Exposition I. S a m u e l C o m m is s io n e d (1-5) S AMUEL had not become fully reconciled to God’s purpose to depose Saul. His s o r r o w over aul’s failure seems to have deepened until, perhaps unconsciously, he was
SEPTEMBER 10, 1944 D A V ID A N O IN T E D K IN G 1 S a m u e l 16:1-5; 11-18
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