Burunche’s Blog

1 Samuel 19:1 – 24 “Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David, so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there. I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, so I can ask about you. And if I find out anything, I will tell you.” Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you. He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?” Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”

So, Jonathan summoned David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul to serve him as he had before. When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him. But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But the spear struck the wall and David eluded him, ran away, and escaped that night.

Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” So, Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.” But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.” And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head.

And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away and he has escaped!” Michal replied, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away, or I will kill you!’”

So, David ran away and escaped. And he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy. When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well. So, Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy. Finally, Saul himself left for Ramah and came to the large cistern at Secu, where he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “At Naioth in Ramah,” he was told.

So, Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon even Saul, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah. Then Saul stripped off his robes and also prophesied before Samuel. And he collapsed and lay naked all that day and night. That is why it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

King Saul is really losing his mind! First, Saul orders Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. Jonathan quickly informs David and advises David to hide himself out in the fields. Jonathan thinks he has convinced Saul to spare David’s life when Saul swears an oath to that effect; however, Saul’s oaths are really useless. The next time David is playing his harp to soothe Saul, Saul tries to pin David to the wall with his spear. David runs to his home; however, his wife Michal, who loves him, advises him to flee. Michal lets David down from an upstairs window, and David escapes. But what happens next is fascinating.

While David believes in the One True Living God, Michal obviously is still an idol worshiper. Michal takes a teraphim, a household god, wraps it in cloaks and places goat hair on its head. If Michal were worshiping the Lord of Israel, she wouldn’t tolerate a teraphim in her home. The existence of this household god in Michal’s possession strongly supports the idea that King Saul and his family never worshiped the God of Israel but rather worshiped the idols of the tribes surrounding them. Sadly, this idol worship will later lead to a tragedy for Michal.

At this point, David decides it’s time to report back to Samuel, who is still living in Ramah. When Samuel learns of Saul’s bizarre behavior, he and David relocate to Naioth, where there is a school of prophets over which Samuel is presiding. Saul sends three groups of messengers to seize David; however, as soon as these men come under the influence of the Holy Spirit, they begin prophesying and leave David alone. Finally, Saul figures that if he wants something done right, he should do it himself, so he too comes to Naioth. But as Saul is traveling to Naioth, he comes under the influence of the Holy Spirit and begins prophesying as he walks along. When Saul reaches Samuel at Naioth, Saul strips off his robes and lies naked, prophesying for a day and a night. This incident gives rise to a popular saying, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Don’t mess with a real prophet if you don’t want to be totally humiliated! The world is full of self – styled prophets who will tell people what they want to hear. But a prophet who is speaking by the influence of the Holy Spirit will always tell the truth and may speak things that can completely embarrass you. Now at Naioth, there are Saul’s three groups of messengers as well as Saul. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Saul has stripped off his royal robes and is lying naked. The Holy Spirit has moved on Saul’s messengers as a sign that the Lord God of Israel is in control and not King Saul. Now that same Holy Spirit has led Saul to remove his robes as a further sign that his kingship is coming to an end.  

Why doesn’t David begin prophesying? David has been submitted to the Holy Spirit for years and has no need of any demonstrations of his obedience. But Saul and his men have never really submitted to the One True Living God until now.

APPLICATION: The One True Living God is not to be scorned! King Saul has become a legend in his own mind; however, he has never truly worshiped the Lord of Israel. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and Saul has never been fully obedient, despite slaughtering all kinds of animals for ritual sacrifices.

Psalm 95:6 – 11 tells us, “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” So, I swore on oath in My anger, “They shall never enter My rest.”

Saul has always settled for form over function, for preserving appearances while he does his own will. Even if we do our own wills in God’s Name, we will never succeed because we are already starting from a wrong basis. When David went to Samuel, he did not begin prophesying because he had been writing prophetic songs for much of his life. David’s heart was clean and he did not need to strip off any worldly trappings.

What is the state of your heart? Are you a David, following God whole – heartedly? Or are you a Saul, keeping up appearances and trying to do your own will, even if you claim to be doing things for God? When God had Samuel anoint David, God told Samuel that He sees the heart and is not impressed with outward appearances. Today, let us truly worship the One True Living God!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord Jesus, thank You for living as a man, dying for our sins, and for Your glorious resurrection. Holy Spirit, move in the hearts of all who read this devotional, that they will truly know You in Your fullness. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 18:17 – 30 “Then Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter, Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” So, when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him. “I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So, Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”

But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

And the servants told Saul what David had said.

Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, he grew even more afraid of David. So, from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.”

Saul has decided that David is really his enemy, failing to realize that he, Saul, is the problem. It is God who has chosen David to be the next king because of David’s pure heart; David fully realizes that he has no resources on his own apart from God. Rather than have David assassinated, Saul tries to encourage David to engage the Philistines in hopes that they will do his dirty work for him. (Tragically, later on when David has impregnated Bathsheba, David uses the same sneaky device to kill Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba’s husband. David arranges for Uriah to be sent into the thickest part of a battle where he is slaughtered.)

Saul’s first ploy is to give his oldest daughter to David; however, David gives a wise and humble answer. “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” Saul’s daughter Michal falls in love with David. Saul immediately seizes this opportunity by requiring one hundred Philistine foreskins as a dowry, essentially demanding that David kill one hundred Philistine warriors before he can marry Michal. But David and his men kill two hundred Philistines and David presents their foreskins to Saul. Now Saul realizes that the Lord is with David and that Michal loves David and will be loyal to him. David, meanwhile, is scoring additional successes in battle.

APPLICATION: Centuries after David lived, St. Paul posed the question, “What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) David succeeded because God was with him and was empowering him. When Saul threw down the challenge of killing 100 Philistines, David and his men killed 200, leaving no doubt that David had fulfilled Saul’s demands. Although this demand sounds grisly, such things were not unheard of at that time, and Saul was exercising his royal prerogative.

While none of us would choose to be put in David’s position, we may still find ourselves facing demands on our job that seem incredible. David’s example should encourage us. David was able to win through by the power of God. God does not play favorites; that same power is available to us today.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that when we face challenges, Your mighty power is available to us just as it was to David. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 18:1 – 16 “After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

 So, David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. And as the women danced, they sang out:

“Saul has slain his thousands,

and David his tens of thousands.”

And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

So, Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. Therefore, Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back, and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.”

Jonathan, Saul’s son, was a brave warrior. When Jonathan met David, they realized they were kindred souls. David had already killed Goliath and was now leading the army of Israel out to war. The two men understood each other and had no need for lengthy explanations. Once a military person, always a military person. Most former military people have little use for people who have never served but who still feel they are experts on military matters. Trying to describe the experience of being under fire is almost impossible, and fielding ignorant observations leaves many military men and women fed up with the general public. Remember that Jonathan and his armor bearer had tackled a Philistine camp by themselves and had come out victorious. By this point, Jonathan may also have begun to realize that there was something wrong with his father and that his father was becoming emotionally and mentally unhinged. Both Jonathan and David needed a close friend and God allowed them to find each other. As tokens of close friendship, Jonathan gave David the robe he was wearing, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow and his belt.

God gave David success in all his efforts. Saul’s officers and fighting men were undoubtedly relieved to have someone sane leading them, and they responded admirably. But a new problem surfaced; the people in the street were singing songs about Saul slaying thousands while David slayed tens of thousands. Saul became insanely jealous! Saul was the king and David was an interloper! Surely, David must have his eye on the kingdom!

Was Saul aware that Samuel had already anointed David as the next king? Possible but doubtful. Samuel had been careful to disguise that assignment as a routine sacrifice. Perhaps the elders of Bethlehem gossiped about the situation; however, it’s possible that only Jesse and his sons were parties to David’s anointing. Certainly, David’s older brothers wouldn’t be in a hurry to spread the news; they were still furious about being passed over by Samuel.  

“The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.” Saul was becoming increasingly paranoid and may have become delusional as well. The mention of “prophesying” is confusing. Was Saul actually prophesying by the power of the Holy Spirit, or was he speaking by the inspiration of a demonic spirit? Saul’s attempt to spear David twice suggests that Saul was increasingly coming under the influence of the demonic.  

“So, Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. Therefore, Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back, and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.” What’s happening? If Saul was worried about David’s influence over the people, why didn’t Saul take over military leadership instead of giving David an even – larger stage on which to perform? By this point, Saul was close to the end of his reign and was probably in his late 60’s. Perhaps Saul was tired of fighting or perhaps he was hoping that the Philistines would kill David, saving him the trouble. At any rate, God was blessings David’s efforts magnificently.

APPLICATION: The progressive deterioration of King Saul is one of the saddest stories in the Old Testament. Rebellious and arrogant, first, Saul lost the opportunity to found a dynasty, and then he lost the kingdom. By all accounts, Jonathan, Saul’s son, was an excellent man who deserved a better father. There is nothing to indicate that David was doing anything to undermine Saul. As a young military commander acting under the guidance of the Lord, David was simply glad to be fulfilling God’s will. Throughout David’s life, he consistently honored Saul as a second father and refused to do anything to damage Saul.

What can we learn from this situation? There is a slogan painted on small public buses that reads “No condition is permanent.” Proverbs 27:24 asks, “For riches are not forever; does a crown endure to all generations?”  As long as King Saul was alive, he still had the chance to turn his heart back to the Lord of Israel and to truly worship and serve Him. Even though Saul had lost the kingdom, he still had the opportunity to do good. But at some point, Saul had already turned away from the Lord. Not once did Saul refer to the Lord of Israel as his Lord, but he continued to refer to the Lord as the God of Samuel, the Lord of Samuel, or merely the Lord. Saul never really knew God at all. It’s entirely possible that as a young man, Saul may have gotten caught up in some kind of idol worship that blinded his eyes to the Lord.

David was doing nothing to harm Saul but was only proceeding to follow the calling God had placed on his life. But years of involvement with the demonic was causing Saul to become increasingly confused and violent. David and Saul were on a collision course. Perhaps Saul had told himself that there would be plenty of time to worship the Lord later. But “later” never came.

What are we doing with our lives? Whom are we worshiping? We are in Easter Week and you are reading this devotional on Maundy Thursday, the day that commemorates Jesus’ last supper with His disciples. That night, Jesus knew He was going to die, even if the disciples did not. Jesus knew that He had been sent to be the sinless blood sacrifice for the sins of all those who would believe in Him.

Saul or David, eternal damnation or eternal salvation. Saul continually turned away from the Lord and eventually died a confused and bitter man. David followed the Lord and received the accolade that he was a man after God’s own heart. The choice is ours. Choose wisely.

PRAYER:  Father God, please help all who read this to know You in Your love, Your mercy, Your fullness, and Your grace. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 17:12 – 37 “Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons in the days of Saul. And Jesse was old and well along in years. The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah. And David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand.

One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain (20 dry quarts or 22 liters) and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring back an assurance from them. (Bring back some token that they are all right.) They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

So, David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry. And Israel and the Philistines arrayed in formation against each other.

Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard.

When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him in great fear. Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see this man who keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.”

David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

The people told him about the offer, saying, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”

“What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?” Then he turned from him toward another and asked about the offer, and those people answered him just as the first ones had answered.

Now David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, who called for him.

And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him!”

But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

“Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”

When the story begins, David is still out herding sheep. David’s three oldest brothers have gone to join King Saul’s army and are now in the Elah valley, watching Saul defy them on a daily basis. Although Saul has selected David as his armor bearer, David has been going back and forth between Bethlehem, where his father is, and Saul’s army. Although Goliath has been challenging the Israelites for forty days, David has evidently been back in Bethlehem all that time and so has not learned of Goliath’s challenge. Jesse sends David back to the camp with grain and bread for his brothers and with cheese for their commanding officer.

Every morning, the Israelites have been marching out from their camp, shouting war cries and advancing to the battle line ….. until Goliath appears. And every time Goliath appears, the Israelites have run back to their camp. David arrives to meet his brothers in the battle line and witnesses Goliath’s challenge and the Israelites’ terrified responses first – hand. Some well – intentioned soul informs David of Saul’s promises of wealth and the hand of his daughter in marriage for any champion defeating Goliath. But when David’s eldest brother Eliab overhears this conversation, he immediately begins insulting David, implying that David has only come to witness the battle and has abandoned his sheep in the wilderness.

At this point, several things are clear. It’s quite likely that David’s seven older brothers are still jealous and furious that Samuel has anointed David and not one of them. David’s older brothers have come to feel entitled, viewing David as little better than a servant. It’s also apparent that David’s brothers have no idea of how many sheep David has been herding or the dangers that David has faced. Evidently, Jesse has never sent one of the older sons out to herd sheep. Sadly enough, David’s family has come to view David as dispensable.

When Saul learns of David’s interest, he too underestimates David, telling David that Goliath has been a warrior from his youth. But David counters that argument by informing Saul that he also has been accustomed to battle, only he has been facing lions and bears by himself. David has been grabbing these vicious animals by their fur and killing them! It’s quite possible that David’s older brothers have never faced the kind of dangers that David has been facing for years.

Not only does David have battle experience, but David has two other advantages: David has faith in the Lord and the Lord’s anointing rests upon him. While Saul tells David, “May the Lord be with you,” it is David who is the true believer.

APPLICATION: I was raised on an Illinois farm in the 1950’s and 1960’s. In those days, most farm work was done by hand, and we had a wide range of animals and poultry. As the oldest child in the family, I followed my father out to the farm as soon as I could walk. As a child, I pitched manure with a four – tined pitchfork, shoveled ground feed from a pickup truck into a storage bin, and learned to milk cows by hand. I have had my feet stepped on by beef cattle and have been slammed into the side of the barn by them. I have scooped half – frozen mud out of hog watering tanks in the dead of winter with a prairie wind howling out of the northwest at forty miles an hour. I have chopped silage out of a pit silo under similar conditions. Blessedly, I never had to fight any lions or bears, but the work was hard, and there were times when I was in danger. My experiences were far from unique; my friends could all tell similar stories, and I was only doing what previous generations of farm kids had done.

Learning to face adversity as a child gives you an enormous advantage later in life. Once you have faced major challenges as a child, things that adult life throws at you become more doable. Even though Saul’s soldiers were carrying weapons, it’s likely that none of them had ever been tested in battle. They had no idea of how to size up Goliath, how to spot his weak points, and how to formulate a strategy for victory. No wonder that these men would take to their heels as soon as Goliath would show up! David, on the other hand, was actually a seasoned warrior who was accustomed to analyzing dangerous situations and finding the best means of defending himself. As a small man facing a large man, David knew that he had to stay beyond the reach of Saul and Saul’s weapons; hence, David’s choice of his slingshot as his weapon of choice.

What can we learn from this part of David’s story? Don’t waste your work experiences! You may think that you have been assigned the dirtiest jobs in your place of work. You have no idea how God is going to use that training and information later on. If you will bless God in the midst of your struggle and thank Him for the lessons He is teaching, one day you will see the reason behind the suffering.

Two of my favorite Christian poets and hymn writers are Annie Johnson Flint and Fances Ridley Havergal. Both these women struggled with major health problems. Annie was a skilled teacher; however, she developed crippling rheumatoid arthritis that brought that dream to a swift end. Frances Ridley Havergal also faced health challenges and died at age 43, from peritonitis. Neither of these women was famous; however, both of them wrote hymns and poems that have continued to inspire millions to this day.

James 1:2 – 4 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The day David needed battle experience and courage, he already had both those advantages because of the dangers he had already faced. None of David’s brothers had ever killed a single lion or bear, but David had killed both. The suffering you have complained about may be the very thing God is using for your promotion.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You that You can redeem every bit of suffering in our lives, using it for Your purposes and for Your glory. May we follow hard after You all the days of our lives! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 17:38 -58 “Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, put a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor. David strapped his sword over the tunic and tried to walk, but he was not accustomed to them.

“I cannot walk in these,” David said to Saul. “I am not accustomed to them.” So, David took them off. And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.

Now the Philistine came closer and closer to David, with his shield-bearer before him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome. “Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

As the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

Thus, David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand, he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him; and he cut off his head with the sword.

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

When the Israelites returned from their pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps. David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent. As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”

“As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”

“Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king.

So, when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul.

“Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul.

“I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied.”

Saul had good intentions but little understanding. When David stood before Saul, the only thing Saul could think of was to dress David in his (Saul’s) armor and to give him a sword. But David was about to face a giant whose reach was far greater than David’s. Swords and armor would be worthless under such conditions. Saul was used to fighting men his own size while David had already been killing animals far bigger than he was. David had more experience in such situations than Saul did. Selecting five smooth stones that would work well in a sling, David advanced to the battle.

As David approached, Goliath began cursing him by the Philistine gods. David’s reply is one that echoes down the ages. “But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

Make no mistake! This battle was not merely a physical one. The Philistines had been invoking the names of their gods, but now David came in the Name of the One True Living God. David RAN toward the battle line, setting a stone in his sling as he did so. David needed speed so that he could get in, shoot that stone from his sling, and then retreat beyond the reach of Goliath’s spear. One smooth stone plus the power of the One True Living God and Goliath lay dead on the ground. Not taking any chances, David seized Goliath’s sword and cut off his head!

The Valley of Elah is about 15 miles (23 km.) west of Bethlehem and about 20 miles (32 km.) east of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s located on the western edge of the Judean lower hills and was an important travel route from the coastal cities up to the center of the land of Judah and its main cities of Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Hebron. The distance between the point at which David killed Goliath and the city of Gath is roughly six miles. Ekron was eleven miles north of Gath.

Make no mistake! The defeat of Goliath was not merely a physical one, but also a spiritual one as well. It is possible that as long as Goliath was roaring out his challenges and invoking the Philistine gods, those same demons may have deceived the Israelites, causing them to believe that the entire Philistine battle line was full of giants. Once Goliath was no longer a threat, the Israelites realized they were facing normal – sized men and charged on the Philistines, killing many of them and chasing the remnant as far as the cities of Gath and Ekron.

APPLICATION: It’s amazing how easy it is to create giants in our own imagination! Challenges that are not dealt with promptly may come to assume gigantic proportions in our minds. But if we will face these challenges and begin to take action against them, we may find that they shrink rapidly. Paul Assaiante and James Zug have written a book entitled “Run to the Roar: Coaching to Overcome Fear.” The book description is as follows: ““Run to the Roar” is the story of a coach who succeeds in recruiting young men from around the world, getting them to work as a team, managing personalities, calming egos, and encouraging daily effort and focus under pressure.” The book is based on the experiences of the coach of the Trinity men’s squash team. “For 244 consecutive dual matches over the past twelve years, the Trinity men’s squash team has gone unbeaten. No other team in any collegiate sport has achieved the same sustained level of greatness.” (Strand Publisher’s description)

As long as the Israelites sat in their camps, they were safe but defeated. It was only when David moved in the power of the Holy Spirit to kill Goliath that the Israelites were able to go forward. What giants are you facing today? Perhaps it is something as simple as needing to declutter your home. You may feel that you are facing towering piles of books or papers. Pray and ask God for guidance and strength and then make a small start. Remember, it only took David one smooth stone to kill Goliath. Your giants may fall more easily than you think if you face them.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are facing giants of various kinds. Help us to look to You for Your Holy Spirit power and then to begin dealing with the giants. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 17:1 – 11 “Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.

The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them.

Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height, (Goliath was approximately 9 feet 9 inches or 297 centimeters tall), and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels, (5,000 shekels is approximately 125.6 pounds or 57.0 kilograms.) and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. (600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms.) In addition, his shield bearer went before him.

And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and labor for us.”

Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”

On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

Saul was no coward, but he had never faced a giant before. When the Israelites first came into Canaan, there were giants in several different places, and they routed those giants with the help of the Lord. Caleb at age 85 took on the task of clearing out giants from the town that he re-named Hebron. But these giants and the manner in which God dealt with them had become the stuff of legends, old wives’ tales to frighten children. Now Saul was having to face up to reality; giants still existed and one was challenging his army.

Why did Goliath appear at this particular time? Certainly, Saul wanted nothing to do with him, and yet, Saul may have been partially responsible for Goliath’s arrival. Saul did not worship the One True Living God. Had Saul been playing with Dagon worship? Dagon was the major Philistine deity. Or had Saul involved himself in other pagan rites? All we know is that the Holy Spirit had departed from Saul and all the Israelites, leaving them “dismayed and greatly afraid.” As a leader, Saul had left his people spiritually unprotected by failing to truly worship the Lord. There were probably other Israelites who were also worshiping pagan deities, which didn’t help either. The spiritual wall was down, and the Philistines came through the breaches. The Israelites were at a loss as to what to do next.

APPLICATION: What do you do when a giant shows up? There are all kinds of giants out there, from local ones to international ones. As I am writing this, Russia is attacking Ukraine and the Ukrainians are hanging on. Russia is far bigger and more powerful than Ukraine; the Russian forces definitely possess the relative proportions of Goliath. But most Ukrainians are Christians and Christians around the world are praying for Ukraine. God continues to do miracles in Ukraine. One hospital was running out of supplies just as a van pulled up, bringing the very items that they needed. Relief workers are telling stories of God’s protection and provision.

Many of us are facing or have faced giants, giants of poverty, struggle for education, discrimination on the job, family antipathies, and other problems. If we look inside ourselves, we feel we are woefully inadequate and we see no solutions, apart from continued submission to terrible circumstances. But if we will trust God, He will bring deliverance and relief. Notice, we will still have to face our giants; giants don’t go away because you have turned your back on them. But God can give us perfect solutions and perfect peace if we will only trust Him.

Why not tell God all your problems and then wait quietly to see what He will advise you to do? But be prepared! God may order you to do the very thing you have been dreading. If God orders you, then you can rest in the knowledge that He is the One who will give you the strength and the power to go ahead.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are many people facing gigantic problems. Be with them, strengthen them, help them and keep them. Be with the Ukrainians and bring an end to that war! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 16:14 – 22 “After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him. Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you. Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”

And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”

One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

So, Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David. When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.

Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.”

The Spirit of the Lord has departed from Saul, but why? Originally, God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul as king over Israel; however, at critical moments when obedience was absolutely essential, Saul rebelled, giving only partial obedience, which was actually no obedience at all. The Holy Spirit will not remain where He is not welcome. Now a “spirit of distress from God” is troubling Saul. But is this spirit actually from God or from Satan? We might wonder if the Israelites have misinterpreted things; why might God send such a spirit on anybody? The Holy Spirit woos gently, but people can ignore the Holy Spirit. Perhaps God is sending a “spirit of distress” on Saul in hopes of bringing Saul to Himself. On the other hand, we know that Saul has steadfastly refused to obey the Lord for a long time. Perhaps this spirit of distress is from Satan because Saul has refused the protection of God’s Holy Spirit.

There is also another possibility regarding this spirit troubling Saul. When Saul was assigned to kill King Agag, he refused, leaving that job for Samuel. Could it be that Agag invoked the name of a pagan god that both Saul and he were worshiping? People are made for worship, and if they will not worship the One True Living God, they will still worship someone or something. We know that Saul has repeatedly spoken to Samuel about worshiping “Your (Samuel’s) Lord.” Can it be that Saul has been secretly worshiping demons and now the demons are troubling Saul? When David is playing the harp, he is likely playing songs of praise to the Lord, something that demons cannot tolerate, so they leave. David’s praise songs invite the presence of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of peace, and the Holy Spirit has already rushed on David at the time of Samuel’s anointing him. As long as David continues to praise the Lord, the Holy Spirit is present. Once David leaves, Saul’s presence, the Holy Spirit leaves with him.

APPLICATION: “There is no such thing as neutrality in the spiritual world!” It was the early 1990’s and I was conversing with a Catholic priest who had been initiated as a traditional diviner during his work on his doctoral thesis. We were discussing the Konkomba bush spirits, and my friend was insisting that these spirits were neutral, being neither for God nor for Satan. But I contended that such neutrality did not exist. I came to realize that my friend’s involvement with the occult had rendered him spiritually blind in this area.

Spiritual blindness and demon possession may go together! Today, there are so many things to distract us from God. Through the internet, we can access unlimited numbers of videos and watch them on cell phones for hours. We must carefully guard our hearts and minds so that we refuse to watch anything wrong or perverted. If we are not careful, we may come under the influence of the spirits that prompted those posting the videos.

We can access online church services and watch them as well. But notice something: David was actively involved in worship, and the Holy Spirit was with him. Saul was only in the presence of the Holy Spirit as long as David was present. When David would leave, the “spirit of distress” would return.

David was a worshiper, and if we desire the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we too must worship. “But,” you lament, “I can neither sing nor play an instrument.” Fine, but you can still think and speak. You can worship God just as much by praying prayers of gratitude and praise, as long as those prayers are from your heart. You can sing when you are by yourself and God will still hear your praises just as well as if you are in the midst of a big congregation.

Let us be very careful! The things you watch and listen to will continue to echo in your mind long after you are no longer watching or listening. Make sure you are feeding on the Word of God and on things that exalt Him, rather than casually submitting yourself to any influences available.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be careful about the influences we allow into our minds and hearts. Help us to worship You in spirit and in truth every day of our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 16:1 – 13 “Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!”

The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.”

So, Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

“In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Thus, Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”

And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.”

“Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

So, Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

So, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.”

Saul has turned away from the Lord and now the Lord is turning away from Saul. It is Saul himself who has formed an obstruction between himself and God. God instructs Samuel to fill his anointing horn with oil and to go to Bethlehem; however, Samuel realizes that Saul has become dangerous and fears that Saul will kill him. Samuel’s statement is a sad commentary on Saul’s spiritual deterioration. The Lord advises Samuel to take along a heifer for a sacrifice, something that Samuel would commonly do anyway.

It’s ironic that even though Samuel fears Saul, the elders of Bethlehem tremble when they see Samuel and ask if he is coming in peace. Obviously, the elders of Bethlehem are worried that Samuel may be coming to confront them on some issue. What are these elders hiding? Who knows? But Samuel reassures the elders, consecrating them and inviting them to the sacrifice. It’s likely that Jesse is one of the elders, so such an invitation would taken for granted.

When Samuel asks Jesse to have his sons present themselves, Jesse is probably both excited and worried. Samuel, the prophet, is asking to see his sons; what’s going on? Has one of the boys committed some sin? Is God about to wipe out everyone in Jesse’s family? Samuel doesn’t explain but simply begins going from one son to the next, carrying his anointing oil with him. Finally, Samuel himself is baffled and turns to Jesse. “Are these all of your sons?” Samuel asks. “Well, there’s the teenager out watching the sheep,” Jesse replies in confusion. While Jesse keeps a straight face, he’s thinking, “DAVID??? Samuel wants to see DAVID? Why? David is the youngest and smallest; he’s just a small boy. What’s going on?” 

Jesse calls David, and as soon as David comes, God orders Samuel to anoint David. “So, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.” Throughout Samuel’s life, he has felt the presence of the Lord, but when the Holy Spirit rushes upon David, Samuel stands entranced and amazed. The weight of holiness enfolding David is so strong that it is overwhelming. Samuel is almost driven to his knees. The Hebrew term for the Holy Spirit is “Ruach ha – kodesh.” “Ruach” can mean either “spirit” or “breath.” Samuel realizes that God has breathed over David, empowering him. For Samuel, there is no doubt that David is most certainly the Lord’s anointed who will become king instead of Saul.

APPLICATION: For years, God’s choice of David has given hope to untold numbers of believers. David’s story is the ultimate “feel good” tale. The least likely member of the family turns out to be a future king. David has been risking his life, guarding the family flocks. By David’s own admission later on, he has had to kill lions and bears with only his sling and his staff as weapons. There is nothing to indicate that Jesse has worried about David; after all, Jesse thinks so little of David that when Samuel comes inviting Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice and the feast afterwards, Jesse doesn’t even invite David, but leaves him out in the field with the sheep.

Why has God chosen David, a fifteen – year old nobody? For years, while tending those sheep and goats, David has been spending time with God. While other shepherd boys might be playing games or sleeping, David has taught himself to play the harp and has been talking with God. To protect the sheep and goats, David has also become a deadly marksman with a sling. Today we think very little of slings; however, in the ancient world, slings served the same purpose as long – range rifles in the hands of sharpshooters. Judges 20:16 gives this description: “Among Benjamin’s elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.“ A sling is highly portable and requires only rocks and a skilled user to render it a lethal weapon.  

One thing David has NOT been doing as he sits all alone with his sheep; David has not been wasting time feeling sorry for himself. There is nothing to indicate that David has worried about his age or his position in the family; instead, David has been steadily growing spiritually and physically.

Are you a David? Have you been given a lowly position in your organization? Do you feel marginalized? Take heart! Remember that all the time that David was out there in that pasture by himself, God was still with him. Each time David picked up that harp and played to the Lord or picked up that slingshot and practiced his sharp – shooting, God was there watching and smiling.

Colossians 3:17 tells us, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Are you a cleaner or a janitor? Then clean to the glory of God! Make the place you clean shine so that anyone who comes there will be comfortable. In New York City, one man was operating an elevator in a huge office building. Rather than leave the elevator unadorned, this man began asking people who rode his elevator for their prayer requests and posting anonymous prayer requests on the walls of the elevator. In addition, this man also decorated the elevator beautifully. Workers in that office building would stand in line to ride that elevator to the exclusion of others, just to see what was new that day and to get the operator to pray for them. Many people testified that simply riding that elevator became one of the brightest spots of their day. Most of the people in that office building remained anonymous, but everybody knew their friend, the elevator operator.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that You have called us to be right where we are right now and that You can make us a blessing to all those around us, if we will only let You. Help us to listen for Your voice and to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 15:24 – 35 “Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.”

“I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”

As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. So, Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

“I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

So, Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.”

Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.”

And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.”

Saul is a people – pleaser, not a God – pleaser. All Saul’s life, he has been driven by popular opinion. Having no relationship whatsoever with the One True Living God, Saul can only listen to the voices around him. Even when Saul is caught in total rebellion, he begs Samuel to forgive his sins against God and to return with him; he does not beg God to forgive his sins. Saul thinks that as long as Samuel will forgive him and accompany him, then he’s square with God and he can worship God. Saul wants to be honored among the elders of his people, presumably, the elders of the tribe of Benjamin, and the Israelites. But what kind of worship does Saul intend to do? Saul has not repented; he merely has regrets and is hoping to get off lightly.

Saul wants to go back and stand before the people, offering animals and impressing everyone as to what a great leader he is. Saul fails to realize that this time, he has failed irrevocably and has forfeited the kingdom by his disobedience. Samuel is fed up and turns to leave. When Saul grabs Samuel’s robe, the piece he grabs tears away from the robe as a sign that God has torn the kingdom away from Saul. Samuel further reminds Saul “Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

Even after such an impressive sign, Saul remains unrepentant, begging Samuel to accompany him for the sake of appearances. Samuel reluctantly agrees to return with Saul; however, his heart is not in it.

Meanwhile, King Agag is beginning to think he’s going to get off lightly. Why has Saul saved Agag? Has Agag promised Saul hidden treasure if Saul will spare his life? Has Saul been secretly worshiping the same deities as Agag and has Agag invoked the names of those deities? At any rate, it is not Saul who kills Agag, but aged Samuel, who hacks Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. In effect, Samuel makes Agag a sacrifice to the Lord.  

The saddest part of the whole story is the conclusion: “Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” How tragic! Saul has now been rejected by both the Lord and by Samuel, God’s representative. God even regrets that He has ever called Saul to be king.

APPLICATION: Proverbs 29:25 tells us, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Saul is driven by popular opinion and has little regard for God. Much of what Saul does is for show. Saul wants Samuel to return with him to keep up appearances. What might happen if Saul were to truly repent and to fall on his face before the Lord? Certainly, God would respond to true repentance by forgiving as He always does. Saul would still ultimately lose the kingdom but he would have a personal relationship with the One True Living God – something precious that nobody could take away from him. But Saul is not a believer, nor does this cataclysmic even result in a change in Saul’s heart. Later on, Saul actually develops mental problems, possibly from the demons he has worshiped in secret. All that mental anguish could be avoided if Saul were to truly repent and begin to actually follow God.

Samuel returns to his home in Ramah and stays there, refusing to visit Saul any more. What’s the point? Saul has rejected God and has also rejected Samuel’s counsel. Any visits would simply be a waste of time and energy.

Saul has already lost the opportunity to found a dynasty by refusing to destroy the best animals captured from the Amalekites. Now Saul has lost his kingdom as well. The ultimate tragedy of Saul is not merely these losses but also the fact that not once has Saul ever actually humbled himself before God. All Saul’s acts of worship have been simply that – acting.

Does God hate Saul? Absolutely not! God is grieving because He wants Saul to come to Him simply and pray and worship in the most profound manner possible. God has always wanted Saul to love Him and to love His Word. Only God knows how many chances He has given Saul to worship and how many times Saul has turned away, settling for making a show instead. True worship is not a matter of the number of religious rituals one observes, but one’s heart attitude. God desires Saul to sit quietly and say the same thing that the child Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” God has always wanted Saul to become His obedient servant.

Hundreds of years later, Jesus told the woman at the well in Samaria that “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) How do we worship God? Do we worship God at all, or are we depending on someone else to do the worshiping for us? There is nothing wrong with watching on – line services or services on social media, provided our hearts are truly joining in the worship as well. But we cannot merely be observers. If we are not turning our hearts toward God, then we are entertaining ourselves but we are not worshiping.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we have not worshiped You as we should have. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives and help us to worship You at every opportunity. Thank You for guiding us and leading us in paths of righteousness. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Samuel 15:1 – 23 “Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they ambushed them on their way up from Egypt. Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction (The Hebrew term refers to giving over things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering) all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

So, Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise, I will sweep you away with them.” So, the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt. He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.

Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.”

And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.

Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.”

When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”

But Samuel replied, “Then what is this bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle that I hear?”

Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”

“Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied.

And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’ So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction. The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

But Samuel declared:

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice?

Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

God instructed Samuel to order Saul to destroy ALL of the Amalekites, including men, women, children, infants, and all of the animals. Why would a loving God order such annihilation? The only answer that makes sense is that everything in the Amalekite kingdom had already been irrevocably dedicated to demons. Anything or anybody that survived would carry demonic influences with them, and the Israelites had no need of any more demons to add to the ones they were already worshiping. The point was that Saul was given orders, and he failed, compromising and then whining like a small child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.” Note the phrase “they were unwilling.” God had already given a command; at that point, Saul’s ideas about what should happen were irrelevant. The Nike slogan applied here: “Just do it!” Why did Saul save Agag? What was the point? Did Saul intend to parade Agag through the streets and then kill him? Did Saul intend to execute Agag publicly in a particularly dramatic fashion, thus glorifying himself instead of God? Saul and his men saved “the best of everything else;” in other words, LOOT!!! Not willing to follow God completely or to trust that God would repay them, Saul and his men wanted a quick pay day.

“Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.” Carmel is a mountain range overlooking the seacoast, while Gilgal is some distance to the east. Obviously, Saul has become so enamored of himself that he has set up a monument to his victory on the highest place he could find and has now taken off for Gilgal. Unfortunately, that monument is probably the last monument Saul will ever erect due to his insubordination. To confront Saul, Samuel must travel to Gilgal as well.  

The saddest part of Saul’s attempts to manipulate Samuel was the repeated use of the phrase “the Lord YOUR God.” Despite the fact that God gave Saul the kingship and that God had preserved Saul’s life for so many years, Saul had never formed a personal relationship with God himself, but was still clinging to Samuel’s spiritual coattails. But if the Lord was not Saul’s God, whom was Saul worshiping? Was Saul clinging to idols and was that part of the reason he was unwilling to totally destroy everything pertaining to the Amalekites?

“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry.” We know that later on, Saul resorted to divination, but was Saul already employing divination and worshiping idols at the time he failed to completely destroy everything pertaining to the Amalekites? Saul evidently felt the Lord of Israel was a local deity who could be propitiated by elaborate offerings, thus freeing Saul to continue to act as he pleased. (Part of the reason Saul saved the best animals – he hoped to sacrifice a few to the Lord and then to keep everything else for his soldiers and for himself. Perhaps some of Saul’s soldiers also influenced him, “Did Samuel REALLY tell you that you had to destroy everything?”)

APPLICATION: Centuries after Saul’s downfall, the temptation to practice witchcraft remains a potent one. All of witchcraft is aimed at controlling someone or something – individuals, the weather, events, etc. Rebellion is the foundation stone of witchcraft; those practicing witchcraft are refusing to trust God to work things out but choose to take matters into their own hands. In effect, such people are telling God that they know how things should work better than He does, even though God is all – powerful, all – knowing, and all – sufficient. Rebellion and control are the two sides of the witchcraft coin.

Saul lost his kingship because he refused to carry out instructions completely. Incomplete obedience and lying about it still amounts to rebellion. If we were given the same opportunities Saul was given, would we do any better? If our relationship to God is not a personal one, if we view God as some grand old man in the sky to be bought off in some fashion, when the pressure comes, we too will fail miserably.

The question each one of us must answer individually is this: Who do you say God is? Who do you say Jesus Christ is? If you know Jesus Christ to be the only Son of his heavenly Father, empowered by the Holy Spirit and if you are truly following Jesus, then when testing comes, those relationships will preserve you. But if you are trying to ride on the coattails of someone else’s faith, beware! You too can lose!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, let all those who read this devotional truly put their trust in You and in the blood sacrifice made by Jesus Christ for the sins of the whole world. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.