Sermon - Audio1 Samuel 15-17 - Audio
1 Sameul 15-17 - Reading
Daily Insights - Please Comment
I Sam 15 – Another example of weak leadership resulting in God’s rejection of Saul.
v. 1-3 – One purpose of such total destruction was to stop the spread of pagan worship. The destruction of the Amalekites is based on Deut. 25:19.
v. 23 – Divination – to seek to discover hidden knowledge usually by aid of supernatural powers. (Websters) Saul may have been attempting to manipulate with gifts in the same way that idol worshippers did.
v. 27 – The high priests garments had an elaborately decorated hem (Ex. 28:33-34), Samuel’s robe probably also had a distinctive fringe or design marking him as a prophet that symbolized power and authority. If a husband was to divorce his wife, he would cut off the hem of her robe. Grasping the hem of someone’s garment is a gesture of supplication and submission. Saul’s grasping of Samuel’s skirt was a final plea for mercy. The tearing of the garment represented the tearing of the kingdom from Saul’s hands.
v. 32-33 – Samuel takes on the task that Saul failed to finish. “Hacked…to pieces” was not the normal means of putting to death. Usually slaying before the Lord involves sacrificing an animal, but in this case Agag himself is the sacrifice, justly put to death for his own sin.
I Sam 16 – David annointed
v. 1-13 – Oil symbolized the gifts of God to the people and the responsibilities now laid on their leaders through this ceremony. In Israelite practice, anointing was a sign of election and often closely related to endowment by the Spirit.
v. 12 – God indicates to Samuel that of all the sons of Jesse, David, the least likely, is his choice. God often uses the uneducated, poor, or lowly. We have no business devaluing our own abilities and gifts for service. We may feel as though we have little to offer. But when God calls, he also empowers. Don’t underestimate His ability to work through you.
v. 13-14 –A transition is seen in v. 13-14. In v. 13 David receives God’s spirit and in v. 14 Saul lost it. Though God himself never does evil, he sometimes sends evil agents to accomplish his purposes: such as sinful people crucifying Christ.
v. 25-26 – David sees Goliath’s challenge as an attack on God. Therefore, this becomes a spiritual battle in David’s eyes.
v. 37-39 – Because of David’s faith in God, he shows more willingness to fight on behalf of God and His people than Saul.
v. 55-58 – Saul asks whose son is this. Even though Saul knew David from before, he did not know the name of David’s father. Saul is asking about David’s background – his family and social status – in order that he may ask his father to keep David permanently.
10 comments:
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry
Is this saying that rebellion is just as bad as divination or that the two share the same philosophical roots and grow out of the same mindset or that they really are the exact same thing?
Can someone talk about the harmful spirit from God mentioned in 16.14
Tim,
Samuel is the first of many prophets to come that will focus on this truth. Saul may be adhering to the sacrifices, but his heart is hardened in rebellion towards God. The main truth being given in these verses (v22-23) is that God doesn't just want/require a sacrifice, but that He demands that all sacrifices be given out of a pure heart. The correct motives must come with the correct offering. This goes back to truths found with Cain and Abel in Gen 4.
On the topic of definitions:
divination in the JSB is defined as: "the effort to learn about the future or the current situation, particularly such an effort undertaken by occult means, such as consulting mediums." We see these called abominations to the Lord, much like idolatry in Deut 18:9-14
Saul's outright rebellion to God was just as awful as divination. His hardened heart was an exaltation of self above the Creator...thus idolatry. In my opinion, whenever we outright choose against the will of God, we commit idolatry.
Different "practices," but same mindset of exaltation of something else, above God.
Rebecca,
This "spirit" is a difficult one to understand. I spent over an hour looking into various thoughts on this passage. This is the ESVSB's take:
"A harmful spirit sent by the Lord tormented Saul as a form of judgment for his sin of turning against the Lord (1 Sam. 15:22–29). Though God himself never does evil, he sometimes sends evil agents to accomplish his purposes (such as the Babylonians coming to punish Israel, cf. Jer. 20:4–6; or sinful people crucifying Christ, cf. notes on Gen. 50:18–21; Mark 14:21; Acts 2:23; 4:27; 4:28; see also 1 Kings 22:20–23)."
I think the bigger thing to look at here is the outcome of this spirit. How does it work into the larger story? We see in verse 23 that David, with his songs, was the only one that could get rid of this spirit. God opened up a door for the one who was to supplant Saul. If that spirit hadn't come...who knows.
Is there anything to the fact that God sends a harmful spirit to Saul and then sends his anointed David to sooth that Spirit?
Because we read that God sends the harmful spirit and Saul finds David to play the lyre for him which chills him out.
Nick,
Yes there is. You can read my response above to Rebecca that discusses this a bit. But this allowed David to gain more favor with Saul and the people around Him. Think also how much this would have done for David's faith! This was obviously no small thing that happened. We see people later on that know David as a faithful servant to Saul. I'm sure they would remember these times as well. I think this one instance is a great event in the "larger story."
Oh yeah,
Read the other comments too.. :) oops sorry
A couple of ideas on the "evil spirit" thing.
That David was needed to soothe the spirit did give the future king a chance to see how the government worked first hand and without being the one everyone was sucking up to.
I was struck by Rebecca using the word "hurtful" and I thought of how us humans tend to confuse "evil" and "uncomfortable". We tend to lable anything that ripples our pond as evil while many things that do so are really for our good although uncomfortable. We do tend to learn in valley experiences but tend to class anything that is not a mountaintop as bad.
In "The Blue Letter Bible" the Hebrew translated as evil often carries the meaning of hurtful, unpleasant or unkind. This would fit well with the curses passages in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Thus the spirit while not evil in the sense of opposing God would still make you miserable.
1 Sam 16:18 "...Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing,(BO) a man of valor, a man of war..."
Was this the boy David who keeps sheep? Why is he described as a man? A man of Valor? A man of War? Was this somehow true of David at this age?
Rich,
Man of Valor - Was most likely a man of wealth, prestige, and good standing. This is more than likely discussing not only David at this age, but the family he came from.
Man of War - The WBC states: "His skill in or training for combat is expressed by being called a “man of war.” Also, the ESVSB states that they may have known of David's fights with Lions and Bears (17:36). That makes sense along with the WBC commentary, because I don't think anyone can defeat lions and bears without proper training in war.
*I always marvel at what was accomplished through David at such a young age. While our youth (and sometimes adults) sit at home playing video games and watching TV, David is out slaying predators and following after God's heart.
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