1 Samuel 16

 In this passage, 3 persons' relationship with the LORD were described.

(1) Samuel-the LORD would uplift his spirit by sending him to anoint the next king. 

16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go! I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons.”

He knows the heart of the LORD very well and appointed the one that the LORD appointed as king. 

16:3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you should do. You will anoint for me the one I point out to you.”
16:4 Samuel did what the LORD told him.

Whatever the LORD said he would do.

v.12b The LORD said, “Go and anoint him. This is the one!” 16:13 So Samuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers.

(2) Saul-the Spirit of the LORD left him and the spirit that caused him pain was with him.

v.14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

16:15 Then Saul’s servants said to him, “Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!” 

v.16b Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you...

(3) David-when Samuel anointed him the Holy Spirit rushed on him. 

16:13 So Samuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day onward

Even the servant of Saul commented that the LORD was with him.  

v.18 He is a brave warrior and is articulate and handsome, for the LORD is with him.”

When the evil Spirit came upon Saul David's music could make him feel better.

16:23 So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone.

The big picture:  The Spirit of the LORD left Saul. The Spirit of the LORD was with David. Samuel was afraid that if Saul found out that David was the anointed one Saul would kill him. On the other hand, Saul was suffering and only David could bring him relief because the Spirit of the LORD was with him.  Was Saul too insensitive to realize that the Spirit of the LORD left him now? When he was suffering and David rescued him did he not find this curious. 

Reflection: Saul disobeyed God and was rejected by God. Even he could pretend that he saved the fittest and fattest to bring offerings to God he did not care about God. When God's Spirit left him he did not care. When David brought him relief he did not question why. Are we like Saul? We only look  religious on the surface and not care if God was with us? Do we pray that we are sensitive to the guidance of the LORD?

On the other hand, do you admire Samuel and his relationship with the LORD? God cared about him and he obeyed God's will. If we want to enjoy the close intimate relationship with God we can learn from Samuel to be obedient. Just like when he was a young boy Samuel said, LORD please speak, the servant is listening. He still had the same attitude when he was old now.

2024

v.1-13

Bright spots

The theme of this passage is to select a new king to replace the one being rejected. But the main character is not the king, but God. Note the relationship of God and the king, and the initiation of God over the selection of a new king

v.1 I have rejected him as king over Israel...I have selected a king for myself...

v.3 I will show you what you should do. You will anoint for me the one I point out to you...

God spoke to Samuel when he made assumption of whom was selected by God, and His reason

v.7a I have rejected him...

v.7b God does not view things the way people do...the LORD looks at the heart.” 

Finally, God did what He said He would do, and His Spirit finished the business by fell upon the candidate

v.12 The LORD said, “Go and anoint him. This is the one.”

v.13  The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day onward

Summary:

The king is His king. He rejected some, and selected the right one. He will show people who is the king and based on what criteria He chose them. Finally, His spirit fell upon the chosen one to enable them to function as king.

God is interested in politics and He is active in politics. He is the One who is in control.   

Reflection

Jesus is the Son of David and He is the Messiah Who will rule the earth. He is the One that God selected. For me, I need to submit to Him and see that as a submission to God. The Spirit of the LORD is upon Him. 

How much submission I have for God, for the other authority figure God put in my life (husband, church leader, government)? How do I honor that God is the One who is in control of my life? How do I honor Jesus as the coming Messiah?

v.14-23

Bright spots

1. What is the evil spirit?

It is repeated that it is from the LORD v.14, 15, 16

Its coming upon Saul seemed to be related to the leaving of the Spirit of the LORD v.14

When it came upon Saul it tormented him (original language just said "fall upon"). Only when David, whom the LORD is with, played the lyre, it would leave and Saul would feel better. v.16-18, 23

(NET) The phrase need not refer to an evil, demonic spirit. The Hebrew word translated “evil” may refer to the character of the spirit or to its effect upon Saul. If the latter, another translation option might be “a mischief-making spirit.”

2. David was not only cure of Saul, but he was a person whom the LORD is with. v.18. Besides, his good qualities were recognized by Saul's servants. "He is a brave warrior and is articulate (NET Heb “discerning of word.”) and handsome" (Heb “a man of form.”) v.18. Even Saul liked him a great deal and was very pleased with him v.21, 22. 

Reflection

Saul vs David was obvious here. The torment was due to his disobedient to God x2. It was a judgment to him. The reward of His Spirit left, but the judgment came. Pray that I see the seriously of disobedience to God. 

From David's good qualities, Saul's servant recognized that he was a person who the LORD is with. A brave warrior, discerning of word, and a man of form. Do I have any quality that people can see that God is with me? 

Questions

1. But the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD

2. God does not view things the way people do. People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 13:14 The LORD has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him, (“according to his heart.” The idiomatic expression means to be like-minded with another, as its use in 1 Sam 14:7 indicates.)

3. The LORD looks for people who is loyal to him, to be like-minded with Him. Do I have the mind like God? Am I loyal to Him. Pray that my following is not a one-time or short-term, but loyal to Him. 

4. The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day onward.

a son of Jesse in Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave warrior and is articulate and handsome, for the LORD is with him.” 

God prepared a person by giving them His spirit before He made them king. His Spirit is also seen outwardly so that other people will recognize. 

Audrey