Unfortunately, pride is present in our nature, ready to rear it’s ugly head as we gain success and favor with people because of accomplishments in our lives. “Keep your heart pure” warns Paul as he mentors Timothy because it is in these exact moments that evil works hard to change our minds, thinking we are better than anyone else, including God.  Who needs God when we can do good all by ourselves?  Yikes, danger lies ahead. Added to pride is the need to seek and demand the consistent praises and pats on the back from everyone around us, even if what we did wasn’t the best plan of action!  The perfect storm brews as elements of ego-driven arrogance, pride, and greed for more take over our being—all the characteristics of evil.

Only God, who created all and is sovereign over all, could have orchestrated what happens next in God’s story of faithfulness and kindness to His people.  Saul used to be a man who loved and revered God; but then he defied God in all he thinks, says, and does. God steps in to intervene on behalf of His People.  God took His Holy Spirit from King Saul; for God’s spirit does not reside in dark places.  An evil has taken over Saul’s being; rendering him mentally, spiritually, and emotionally incapable of being king over God’s people.  Interestingly, Saul was tall and handsome with a kingly presence that the people admired.  Saul, at first, gave glory to God who gave him strength to overcome the enemies in war. God chose him for his humble spirit, as Saul was surprised that God would allow him to serve Him as King of Israel.  But now, Saul allowed the temptations of greatness to overcome him.

God intervenes for God knows. God has already chosen another candidate to replace King Saul.  God had David in Him mind before He was born. (Pause to wrap our minds around that thought!)  David is the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse so he is relegated to watch over the sheep as his job in the family.  As the youngest, he also serves the older brothers in whatever they ask him to do.  David is also a gifted musician who sings beautiful hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God who he loves with all his heart.  David communes with God out in the fields; for He trusts God to be his protector while he cares for the sheep.  Scriptures allude that David becomes the “apple of God’s eye.”  David is also known as a man after God’s own heart.

1 Samuel 16

Samuel Anoints David

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evilspirit 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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

FUN FACT:  The phrase “apple of God’s eye” is used in several Bible verses to describe something or someone precious and highly valued. (See also Proverbs 7:2, Zechariah 2:8) While David doesn’t explicitly use the phrase to describe himself, he does pray in Psalm 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” In this context, David is asking God for protection and favor, likening himself to the most precious part of God’s eye. The phrase itself is a metaphor for something extremely dear and worthy of protection. In ancient Hebrew culture, the “apple” of the eye referred to the pupil, the most sensitive and vital part of the eye. 

We will read later that as king, David is not perfect and falls for the temptations of evil. But David knows God enough to repent when he sins against Him with a heart who still seeks the heart of God.  Herein lies the difference between Saul and David.

The irony of David, the newly chosen and anointed king, serving King Saul is not lost on us!  David experiences what happens when God’s Holy Spirit is removed from a being who once knew God and did what God said.  Could this be why David compassionately wrote this prayer of repentance after his sin of adultery with Bathsheba? —

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12  Yes, the title of Psalm 51 states the truth: For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

David saw Saul at his worst—spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally wracked and wrecked in his inmost being because God’s Spirt was removed from him. As David played his lyre and sang God’s songs from his heart, he was a witness to an unrepentant heart of pride that was broken in pieces without God.

Our response to God is an individual time with God because He loves to commune with us. We must deal with God personally—for we were created for a personal, intimate loving relationship with Him. After Christ left earth, God’s Holy Spirit came with power to live in all who believe that Jesus did indeed die but rose from death in victory three days later. THIS is our hope of eternal life with Him just as He said!  AND, here’s more good news—God’s Holy Spirit will not leave us!  Jesus promised in the New Covenant with God; He would be with us always—until the end of the age.  (Matthew 28:20)  The gift of God to us is His Holy Spirit residing in us.

The only removal being done is our repented sins; “as far as the east is from the west, so have our sins been removed,” buried in the deepest sea” to be “remembered no more”!  (Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 8:12; Micah 7:19)

In our known world is a system that ranks the value of humans by the amount of wealth amassed, the number of things possessed, along with seen consistent successes on the outside. But God’s value system is not of this world.  Jesus’ Kingdom plan that He taught is a reason for joy! Jesus told John that a new kingdom was coming—a kingdom where people have value not because of what they do, but because of whose they are.  “We are God’s children!”  Joint heirs with Chris who saved us.

We often pick leaders by credentials rather than character. Next time we must select a leader, ask questions about character—not about résumé. Find evidence of who they are and who they listen to for advice.  And…may we spend more time cultivating our character rather than our references from those who see only what we allow them to see on the outside for “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Oh Lord,

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. (Psalm 51)

In Jesus Name, for our good and Your Glory, Amen