Hail To The LORD'S Anointed!

The Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 16:

Should we be surprised when the world clings to its own kingdom as if it were its own authority and power? Are we called to grieve forever over the disobedience of the saints as if their obedience is our salvation? (v.1)

Is our trust in God so weak that we think God needs us to get the job done? (v.2)

Luke 19:37–44 (NKJV)

37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:" 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." 41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

And should we fear the kingdom that sets itself up against our liberty to worship? (v.2)

Isn't this why Saul said Samuel was blessed because he has vowed to protect the freedom of worship? (15:13)

1 Samuel 15:13 (NKJV)

13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord."

But it's not the freedom to sacrifice (worshipful charity) that Samuel is worried about concerning Saul but the freedom to practice (obey) the voice of God, which commanded Samuel to anoint a new king, that Samuel fears Saul. (v.3)

Why is it good news that Samuel was still feared by the people, and particularly by the elders of Bethlehem? (v.4)

How does this express that there is still a remnant (in Israel) that seeks the glory of the LORD? (v.5)

Romans 11:2–5 (NKJV)

2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

What does this tell us about the failure of Eli's priesthood in that he was not stewarding the Levites properly by feeding the unreached with the blessings and promises of God? Therefore what sent Samuel on a mission to take the Word of God to the people rather than trusting the people to come up to the tabernacle to him? Wasn't the Levite's responsibility to educate the worshipers on what they must do so that the curse doesn't abide in them and be made alive and active (in them) when they come up to the tabernacle to offer their sacrifice? Therefore isn't that what Samuel is doing by taking a sacrifice to them, that they may see and understand before they come up for judgment? (v.5)

2 Timothy 4:5 (NKJV)

5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Numbers 8:10–11 (NKJV)

10 So you shall bring the Levites before the Lord and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites; 11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord, like a wave offering from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of the Lord.

Numbers 8:19 (NKJV)

19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near the sanctuary."

Hebrews 4:11–13 (NKJV)

11 Let us, therefore, be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

1 Corinthians 11:30–32 (NKJV)

30 For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

How is Samuel trying to suppress his fleshly instinct to judge by his carnal senses and by the cultural tradition of the firstborn? (v.6-7)

Why is it necessary that we all remind ourselves of this "natural" inclination in all of us that judges self-righteously by this natural eye?

Galatians 3:3 (NKJV)

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Romans 7:21–24 (NKJV)

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Isn't this what got Samuel in trouble with the last man he chose to be king? (v.8)

1 Samuel 9:1–2 (NKJV)

1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

Therefore what is Samuel looking for in the next candidate to be king? (v.9)

Isn't he searching for a young man whose mind is still fashionable and who is willing to learn? (v.10)

Matthew 18:1–5 (NKJV)

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Now Saul did become as a new man, but he is still clinging to his old man. Therefore this candidate must be someone who has not allowed the old man to grow so corrupt and someone who is not ashamed of being like a little child concerning their spiritual maturity so that they pursue that spiritual growth that is necessary for their job qualification. And indeed one who is rejected by men and the least esteemed in their eyes to rule. (v.11)

Luke 6:26 (NKJV)

26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)

3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

But why couldn't Samuel wait to anoint him? What future does he see in him? (v.12)

Why does Samuel anoint him in front of his brothers when Saul was anointed in secret? (v.13)

1 Samuel 9:27–10:1 (NKJV)

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us." And he went on. "But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God." 1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: "Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?

What was Samuel expecting to happen to him because of this public display so that he would be prepared when the time came to replace Saul? (v.13)

Acts 14:21–23 (NKJV)

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

In what way did the Spirit come upon David that He did not come upon Saul? Therefore what does this say about David except that he was already (born from above) and ready to move in the Spirit on his own? And that this affirmation by the prophet only poured out the Spirit upon David without measure? (v.13)

1 Samuel 10:2–6 (NKJV)

2 When you have departed from me today, (...) you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

1 Samuel 10:9–10 (NKJV)

9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

John 3:34 (NKJV)

34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.

And therefore, what was the difference between Saul's repentance and David's when they each sinned as king in the form of the word according to precedent? (v.14)

Psalm 51:4–6 (NKJV)

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Psalm 51:11–12 (NKJV)

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Was the difference in Saul's attitude toward teaching sinners the way of the LORD? (v.14)

Psalm 51:12–14 (NKJV)

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

1 Samuel 15:17–28 (NKJV)

17 So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? 18 Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?" 20 And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal." 22 So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king." 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord." 26 But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel." 27 And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.

Therefore isn't this why Saul was cursed with this evil spirit? But what was this evil spirit intended to drive Saul to do if it was not to relinquish his grip on the kingdom to the one whom God has chosen? (v.15)

1 Samuel 18:7 (NKJV)

7 So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."

1 Samuel 21:11 (NKJV)

11 And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: 'Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands'?"

1 Samuel 29:5 (NKJV)

5 Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: 'Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands'?"

When the Spirit of the LORD departs from us, it is not as though God sends an evil spirit to terrorize us. Rather it is as though our own conscience torments us concerning the evil that we are not willing to confess in us. This is how the Lord deals with those that he loves.

Consider that Saul was not treated like Agag, who was excommunicated from the land of promise, being delivered over from death to death. Instead, Saul still has a seat at the table of God's promises, but he is not going to have a clean conscience until he steps down from teaching and administrating a false way because the LORD has made his ministry a false word. Therefore it was only the administration of the Spirit that has departed him. (v.16)

Psalm 119:104 (NKJV)

104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:128 (NKJV)

128 Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.

1 John 1:6–2:5 (NKJV)

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

Hebrews 5:12–14 (NKJV)

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Therefore consider how ironic it was that this is the means by which David had the opportunity to display his anointing and ministry of the Word as he was called upon to ease Saul's troubled conscience. (v.17)

Luke 10:17–22 (NKJV)

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

Also, consider that is why we have a separation of church and state. The king is not to exalt his authority over the church, nor is the church to exalt her authority over the king so that we all have a secret place where our sins are hidden from the face of God. We are not to be found drunk with power over the brothers of the new covenant. Consider that Saul could have been made subject to death because of his rebellion, but this new institution of a king was to prevent that because this was the land of promise! Therefore Saul was responsible for falling upon his own sword as an individual of that blessed kingdom.

Psalm 51:9 (NKJV)

9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

Luke 5:8 (NKJV)

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

1 Corinthians 11:20–22 (NKJV)

20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

Deuteronomy 21:18–21 (NKJV)

18 "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. 20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' 21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.

1 Corinthians 11:28–32 (NKJV)

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

1 Chronicles 10:4 (NKJV)

4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me." But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.

But this too will trouble Saul's conscience because he will see and learn firsthand how a more qualified David is to lead and shepherd God's people. (v.18)

Therefore consider how the Providence of the LORD is working everything together to fulfill Samuel's words. (v.19)

In what way was it expected that the king would always be satisfied with a gift? (v.20)

Has there always been an additional tax to support the king, or was it only expected to be provided upon request? Wasn't the king originally to be counted among the priests for the Levitical provisions?

1 Samuel 9:7–8 (NKJV)

7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" 8 And the servant answered Saul again and said, "Look, I have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way."

1 Samuel 2:35 (NKJV)

35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

Therefore, how was it that the "more qualified" was made to serve "the lesser" if it was not through genuine love? (v.21)

Luke 22:25–30 (NKJV)

25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Matthew 18:1–5 (NKJV)

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Therefore David served before Saul's face and had not at any point conspired to secretly establish a takeover against what God had already established for Israel's security. (v.22)

Therefore the only thing that was in David's heart was to serve the LORD by serving the king. (v.23)

And in this, Saul was genuinely refreshed and made at peace until his conscience seized him again because it could not remove the guilt and what was spoken against him by Samuel as the Word of God. Therefore in spite of all of David's generosity, it could not cleanse nor forgive Saul's disobedience.