PRIDE'S STENCH


Related image Saul is still king of Israel and now will not have the guidance of Samuel. Even though Saul has been rejected by God as king, he will reign for 25 more years.  Samuel has been directed to go to Bethlehem where he will anoint a king.  The youth, David, is called in from keeping the sheep, a servant's job, and is brought before Samuel.  God chooses David, and Samuel anoints him as king. It has been guesstimated that David may have been 10-15 years of age. Super kid for sure!  He will become king in waiting for 25 long and arduous years as Saul pursues David relentlessly.  All of Saul's character flaws will drive him even to the point of murderous attempts against David's life in the readings which will follow.  

At this point in the narrative, Saul is being visited from "an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him".  Not sure what all that may mean, but we do know that God is good and that He is Sovereign over all principalities and powers, good and evil.  God has withdrawn His spirit from Saul and he is no longer under the protection of the Holy Spirit. (Remember before the Holy Spirit is given to indwell believers in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is given to empower a man or woman temporarily for the task which he or she has been enlisted by the Lord.)  Saul is left to his own master!  

We hear the servants of Saul, who are concerned for his physical well-being, and they suggest a young man who has ability to play a harp which just might soothe Saul's melancholy spirit.   The servant's description of David is so intriguing: how do they know he is a "skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, handsome, and the Lord is with him"?  Their recommendation is enough, that Saul sends for David.  David comes, and Scripture records that Saul "loved him greatly" and he becomes his armor bearer.  David comes as he is needed by Saul to serve him with music.

 As I read, I realize that there may have been some years involved for the relationship to grow and to deteriorate.  I wonder how Saul, who loved David greatly, could move to hating him greatly in later chapters.  How subtle and deceitful our hearts can become!  We may experience that Saul, like you and me, can be driven by fear and fear seems to always surround itself with its more desirable companion, pride.  Perhaps this is why I am again reminded that "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  1 Peter 5:5b  I don't know about you, but I do know that my pride has a certain stench, odor, which always smells of me, me, me!  #IHAVETHREESONS

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more