God Cherishes You

Connecting you to God's love regardless of your circumstances

Home/Archives for prophet Samuel

prophet Samuel

God Covered David with His Spirit, Removing It from Saul

                  Last time, we saw how the people’s choice for a human king (Saul), turned out badly – exactly as God predicted. (See The First Time Was Not the Charm – Just as God said.).

The anointing:

            The prophet Samuel was still moping about the loss of God’s favor over Saul, even though it was completely justified. Jehovah tells him to move on:

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.” 1 Sm. 16:1 NLT

                  Samuel gathers the elders of Bethlehem for a meeting with Jesse and his sons to anoint a king for Israel. Jesse brings each of seven sons, all handsome and well built, like Saul; but God doesn’t choose any of them. In fact, He tells Samuel what to look for:

 “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Sm. 16:7 NLT

Perplexed, Samuel asks Jesse if he has presented all his sons. Jesse replies that there still is the youngest son, who taking care of his sheep and goats. Samuel sends for him.

When he, David, arrives, God chooses him as king of Israel and Samuel anoints David’s head with oil.

(Mind you, David is king in God’s eyes, but he will not reign officially until years later.)

A brief and loving companionship:

Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. 1 Sm. 16:14 NLT

                  Saul is facing his judgment for his repeated disobedience.

                  Saul’s servants take note of this and tell him to find a harpist whose music would turn the spirit away when the musician played.

            One of the servants just happened to remember that David fit that bill. Coincidence? Not! God is beginning to shape David for his reign. In fact, not only did David’s music soothe Saul, but he also came to love David and promoted him to be his armor bearer.

An unpredictable victory:

                  The Philistines lined up on one side of a valley to do battle with Israel, and Saul’s army lined up on the other.

The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them. Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed one hundred twenty-five pounds. There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze javelin was slung between his shoulders. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed fifteen pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him. 1 Sm. 17:3 – 7. CSB

                  Goliath taunts Saul and his army, daring them to send their champion to do battle with him. They were paralyzed with fear and dread. This went on for forty days!

            Included in Saul’s army were three of David’s brothers. Jesse decided to have David bring food to them and report back to him of their status. When he got to the two armies facing one another, he heard Goliath’s challenges and the cowardly response of the Israelites.

                  David spoke to men standing next to him:

“What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes the disgrace [of his taunting] from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God?” 1 Sm. 17:26, 27. AMP

                  David’s words were reported to Saul, who had David brought to him. David offers to fight Goliath, but Saul tries to dissuade him, saying that Goliath was a professional warrior and that he wouldn’t stand a chance.

                  David retorts that he has killed both a lion and a bear, and then speaks out of faith:

“…this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”  1 Sm. 17:36, 37. CSB

            Saul relents and tries to give David his armor, but it was too bulky and awkward, so he takes it off and approaches Goliath armed only with a staff and a sling with five stones he found in a stream bed.

                  When Goliath sets his eyes on David, he blurts out:

“Am I a dog, that you come to me with [shepherd’s] staffs?”  1 Sm. 17:43 AMP  

“Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. 1 Sm.17:44. NLT

                  David responds:

David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 1 Sm. 17:45 – 47. NLT

            David runs full bore at Goliath, immediately slinging a stone into his head, causing him to fall on his face. Grabbing Goliath’s sword, David beheads the giant. Seeing this, the Philistines flee, and Israel chased them and plundered their campsite.

                  Saul now kept David full-time. He made him commander of his army. Saul’s son Jonathan also greatly admired David and they made a covenant to be life-long friends.

So much for the bromance:

As they were coming [home], when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, [songs of] joy, and musical instruments. The women sang as they played and danced, saying, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 1 Sm. 18:6 & 7. AMP

(Of course, no one slew thousands or tens of thousands. It was only whimsical license.)

Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed [only] thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” Saul looked at David with suspicion [and jealously] from that day forward. 1 Sm. 18:8, 9. AMP

                  The division begins. Stay tuned…

                  Goodnight and God bless.

The First Time Was Not the Charm – Just as God Said

Last time, we saw that Israel demanded a human king to rule over them rather than

God. Through the prophet Samuel, Jehovah told them that even though He was their rightful King, He would allow them a king, even though it would be disastrous (see What Results When We Reject God’s Kingship?).

            One sure thing about God, He never lies.[1] Let’s meet this first human king:

There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin…His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. 1 Sm. 9:1, 2. NLT

                  One day, Kish’s donkeys wander off, and he sends Saul and a servant to bring them back. Saul was just about to give up the search, when his servant remembers that there is a ‘man of God’ in a town that they were approaching (who just happens to be the prophet Samuel).

            On the previous day, Jehovah told Samuel that He was going to send a man from the tribe of Benjamin, whom he was to anoint as the new leader of Israel. God’s intent was to use Saul to deliver Israel from their Philistine enemies.

                  When Saul approached, Samuel told him that his father’s donkeys had been found, but also that he had a most important message to tell him from God Himself:

Then Samuel took the flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has the Lord not anointed you as ruler over His inheritance (Israel)?  1 Sm. 10:1 AMP

                  Samuel is privately making Saul aware that he will be king. He tells Saul to go position himself at the ‘high place’ (place of worship). There, he will meet a group of prophets engaged in prophesying, and that the Spirit of God would come upon him and empower him for this first monarchy in Israel. He finishes his conversation with a warning:

“After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.” 1 Sm. 10:7, 8. NLT

            Then, Samuel, speaking for God, rebukes the people in a public address, for rejecting Him:

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘It was I who brought Israel up from Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ But today you have rejected your God, who Himself saves you from all your disasters and distresses; yet you have said, ‘No! Set a king over us.’ Now then, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your families (clans).” 1 Sm. 10:18, 19. AMP

                  God had all the tribes draw lots for their choices in who would be king. Just by chance (?), Saul was publicly chosen to be their ruler.

            A month passes, and Saul hears about an attack on a town in Israel by Nahash, an Ammonite king (descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew). The town wants to enter a peace treaty, but the king’s price to pay for that peace, is the removal of everyone’s right eye.

                  Saul is filled with the Spirit of God, cuts up a team of oxen and sends the pieces to all of Israel, telling them that the same thing will happen to their oxen if they do not rise as an army to rescue the town. 330,000 men showed up.  

                  The Ammonites were slaughtered. How so?

“…today the Lord has brought victory to Israel.” 1 Sm. 11:13 AMP

            After the victory, Saul was officially enthroned as king of Israel. At that time, Samuel admonished the people one more time about wanting a human king, but God mercifully offers a caveat:

“If you will fear the Lord [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, then both you and your king will follow the Lord your God [and it will be well]. But if you do not listen to the Lord’s voice, but rebel against His command, then the hand of the Lord will be against you [to punish you], as it was against your fathers.” 1 Sm. 12:14, 15. AMP

“The Lord will not abandon His people for His great name’s sake, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.” 1 Sm. 12:22 AMP

                  The Christian Bible translations tell us that Saul was 30 when he became king and reigned for 42 years.[2] The Hebrew text does not present any numerical values for this time period.

            King Saul sent his son, Johnathan, to attack and defeat a Philistine garrison. The Philistines retaliated:

The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! 1 Sm. 13:5 NLT

                  Note that Israel had not embraced the Iron Age yet. So, the chariots presented quite a threat. Israel showed up with slings, bows, and arrows. Saul’s army fled.

Now Saul waited seven days, according to the appointed time which Samuel had set, but Samuel had not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering away from Saul. So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do]. 1 Sm. 13:8 – 10. AMP

            Only priests could offer sacrifices to Jehovah, and He is immensely strict when it comes to His statutes. Indeed, in that very instant that Saul began his sacrifice, Samuel shows up, and he is hot!

“What have you done?” Saul said, “Since I saw that the people were scattering away from me, and that you did not come within the appointed time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked for the Lord’s favor [by making supplication to Him].’ So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.” Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for [if you had obeyed] the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man (David) after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as leader and ruler over His people, because you have not kept (obeyed) what the Lord commanded you.” 1 Sm. 13:11 – 14. AMP

Unbeknownst to Saul, Johnathan, in faith, took his armor bearer, and the two of them faced their foes. God imbued them with His Spirit.

                  They immediately killed 20 men by themselves and God Himself sent an earthquake.

            Ahijah was a priest who sought God for His will to Saul regularly. He had come to pray for the troops, but Saul stopped him because he wanted to make his own plans. Yet another breech of Jehovah’s protocol.

                  And then, Saul ordered Ahijah to bring the Ark of the Covenant to use like a good luck charm. One mistake after another…

The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. 1 Sm. 14:52 NLT

            God calls upon Saul once more:

One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” 1 Sm. 15:1 – 3. NLT

                  Instead, Saul lets the Amalekite king live, and kept the best of the spoils for themselves. This did not escape the eyes of God:

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” 1 Sm. 15:10, 11. NLT

            The next day, Samuel tracks down Saul, who is having a monument of himself being made, and admonishes him for his disobedience to God:

“For rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling), and disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you as king.” 1 Sm. 15:23 AMP

                  Saul finally admits that he has sinned against God, but Samuel doesn’t let up:

“The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. Also the Splendor and Glory and Eminence of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

1 Sm. 15:28, 29. AMP

Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, for Samuel grieved over Saul. 1 Sm. 15:35 AMP

                  Will the second time be the charm? We’ll see next time…

                  Goodnight and God bless.

[1] Nu 23:19

[2] 1 Sm. 13:1

Rejecting God Leads to Broken Relationships

   Almost everything is subject to God. However, regarding His human (and angelic) creations, He granted them ‘free will,’ so that they can choose whether or not to be in a relationship with Him.

   Jehovah granted this because He wants us to freely choose to love Him. True love is always freely given; it cannot be coerced…

   Near the closing of the age of the judges, (see Communication Breakdown), the Israelites were being oppressed again by their life-long enemies, the Philistines. In response to His people’s outcries, God raises up the last ‘judge’ (also a prophet), named Samuel.

   God speaks through Samuel, telling the Israelites that if they would return to Him, He would cover them again with His favor and liberate them (1 Sam. 7:3). Desperately, they obey, and the Promise Keeper delivers.

   Twenty years pass. The people began to worry about Samuel’s advanced age; and they want him to appoint a successor to rule over them. However,they didn’t want another ‘judge,’ from which to receive instruction from God. Instead, because they had been cavorting with the ways of the world, they wanted a human king – just like those of the surrounding pagan countries.

   In anguish, Samuel brought the people’s request before God. You can feel the pain in His response:

“Do everything they say to you,” the LORD replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed after other Gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment.

Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will rule over them. 1 Sam. 8:7 – 9. NLT

   Thus, Samuel warned the people as God instructed him – telling them that their new ‘king,’ (named Saul, who was chosen for his good looks and tall stature), would send their sons to war, enslave other sons to make weapons of war, subjugate yet others to grow Saul’s food, conscript their land for his own use, and tax them 10% of their finest possessions (1 Sam 8:11 – 18.)

   Unfazed by these dire prophecies, the people demanded their King Saul; and yet, in spite of them, God is merciful:

“All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him and the LORD has granted your request. Now if you fear and worship the LORD and listen to His voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD as your God. But if you rebel against the LORD’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.” 1 Sam. 12:13 – 15. NLT

“The LORD will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the LORD to make you his very own people.” 1 Sam. 12:22 NLT

   So, God said that He would work with the king if the people stayed with Him.

   However, within just two years, King Saul had sinned before God and fulfilled every prophecy Jehovah declared about Him.

   True to form, when man wants to be a god, it always turns out badly. God removed His favor from Saul’s rule, and Samuel abandoned him as well.

Wanting to be a god is prideful:

Pride goes before destruction… Pr. 16:18 NKJV

   Things go downhill for Israel, just as they go sour when we reject God. Why? Because then Satan has our ear, assaulting us with his dark suggestions. Moreover, when you have chosen to close yourself off from God, He lifts His favor off of you – making you more vulnerable to the adversary’s attacks.

   When we walk without God, we have anger issues (see Anger Kills), and we pass our ungodly behavioral consequences onto our children (see What Are We Teaching Our Children), which sucks out the quality of their lives.

   We’ve seen that a steady diet of the devil’s babble, facilitates your creation of ego (see The Dark Mind), which makes you think your self-worth is suspect. Then it can manipulate you into behavior that sets you up for a slow suicide.

It does so by suffocating you with a darkened illusion of your past, so that you cannot step into the present (see The Past Sure is Tense).

   And because most people are closed off in their own heads, trying to figure out how to fix their unique situation, the ability to have a meaningful and truthful dialogue with other people is non-existent (see Communication Breakdown). Loneliness ensues.

   God is love, He is relationship. His template for the human model for relationship is found in the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles. When we break our connection with God, we no longer have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so we can no longer access that necessary wisdom in our human relationships.

   All these things occur when you don’t walk with God. The biggest consequence of living this way, is that when you reject God, your relationship with Him, with yourself, and with others, is broken.

   Our entire lives are lived within the framework of relationships. Yet for most people, living in relationship is the hardest part of living.

   Outside of God, no one gave us a manual for how to relate to others. In fact, we’re thrust into relationship at birth, and then we blindly plow through each successive one, trying to learn how to do relationship. Worse, we are indoctrinated with how our parents do relationship, with all its unworkable parts – especially if God is absent in the home.

   Then, rather relating to God, you look to the Dark Mind (ego), whose only purpose is to gain control over your psyche and have you in its servitude. Because of the lies it smeared your conscience with, you fall in and out of ‘acquaintances,’ because you are afraid to share who you really are.

   We look at life through ‘filters’ consisting of our Life Story, with all of its embellishments of meanings that we gave to the string of events lived thus far. This is not because our past was so wonderful, but due to the trauma that we perceived within them.

   Ultimately, many people surmise that others aren’t safe, and fear that they will reject them. So, they throw up walls of defense in the form of false self-images, hoping others will at least fall in love with their ‘mask.’

   Our soul takes on a slipperiness, wiggling out of the ‘acquaintance’ before we get hurt. Thus, our primary need for love and acceptance goes unmet.

We don’t even love ourselves, because our ego has taught us that we have revolting characteristics. Again, we try to separate from ourselves with yet another mask.

   Until these challenges are resolved, nothing will fill your emptiness. For if you don’t know how to love yourself, how can you expect others to know?

   Ultimately, we show up for relationships at a HUGE disadvantage – looking for someone to ‘fix’ us. We’re sad, grieving over what we think is wrong with us; and we are exhausted from trying to seek out someone who will give us what we believe that we don’t have.

   Ironically, when we meet people, we hold up our false persona to those we seek, desperately hoping that they will believe we already have what we are convinced we lack.

   We dance frenetically, trying to garner the favor of others, so that we might receive external repair.

   Okay. Now you’ve seen what state many people are in when they approach a relationship, after they have rejected their Creator.  Next time, we will observe how they end up deconstructing whatever transient relationship they are able to muster. This is the epitome of our undoing.

   In order to be able to better solve a problem, we have to know how we constructed it, so that we can stop the offense, by offering more exacting prayer as we lay our rejection of God aside…

            Goodnight and God bless.

Discover more

Archives