King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 11 notes
1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
I asked myself this morning the difference in punishment between when Saul intruded into the priestly office and when he refused to carry out the instructions to destroy Amalek completely.
When he intruded into the priest's office, the Lord said his throne will not continue perpetually, but when he refused to destroy Amalek, even whiles he was still king 👑, God dethroned him.
In the first instance, likely down the line he would have died, and David would take over his throne after his death ☠.
But in the second instance, God anointed a new king whiles Saul was still king 👑 and active on the throne, and replaced him with David.
Sadly, even Jonathan was killed; maybe he would have been co-regent with David, and that would be contrary to the word of God that Saul's reign had ended.
2And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
It's no child's play being a prophet of the Lord... Such a risky errand.
No wonder most of them were persecuted and suffered many things.
The Lord had given an instruction, yet Samuel had his reservations, and rightly so. God loves to hear our thoughts, reservations and reasonings. It is not an act of disobedience, but trying to make sense of things. We ought to relate to God more like this, rather than some distant God who doesn't want any contradictions and rebuttals when he talks.
He is our father.
Saul could now kill Samuel. Amazing, the man who made him king. Saul was long lost at this point.
3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
Prophets and priests anoint kings. Meaning the kingship was subject to the priesthood and prophets of God. Though the king now rules as judge over the people, his rulership was to be subject to the theocracy.
He, the king, was the physical representative of the people, and the prophet was the representative of God, and they both were to govern the people in line with the will of God.
The prophet shepherds the king, and the king the people.
4And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.
7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Does that mean God knew Saul will disobey him later? Or Saul's heart was right initially but changed later? I suspect the former. God knew Saul would mess up, but God used him for the time being.
8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
What a grand entrance for David - the moment he arrived... It was almost as if God was announcing his cherished handiwork as it is put on display.
No pressure here, but what a scene.
That is how I want the Lord to announce me when the time is ready.
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
It is worth noting that even before the Spirit of the Lord came upon David, his character was pleasing to the Lord, for which the Lord chose him. Then he gave him his Spirit as an advantage and backing.
14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
The happenings in the corridors of power: a maniac with evil spirits was ruling the land, yet his own people kept quiet because each had their interest.
Suggesting a new king would be overthrowing their own selves. So they found a way of managing his madness, just to keep up appearances.
17And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
Dake's says this is a parenthetical verse, but in chronological order, from the anointing we should have moved to chapter 17, where he did battle Goliath.
David must really have been very cunning in playing. Look at all the songs and psalms he composed which we use today. He was the origin, the source. He must have been really very good. Real good, real original. He was of God, inspired by him many times, and even prophetic in his writings.
19Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.