This is part three of John’s four part study. Here he preached on the Spirit in the life of Saul compared with the Spirit in the life of David.
Notes are below. The material is made available so that any may use it, adapt it and preach it.
2 Kingdoms Colliding
Recap:
Samuel became Judge but was not all he could have been.
We saw that the HS is essential for leadership, even in the OT.
We looked at the appointment of Saul.
Saul the Ploughman.
1) 2 Kingdoms Colliding
2) Saul and the Spirit
3) David and the Spirit
Key Passages: 1 Sam 13:7-14 (Saul loses kingdom), 1 Samuel 18:1-11 (Saul loses his mind)
We don’t know why Samuel asked Saul to wait for seven days. But what is clear is that Saul was never meant to carry out the sacrifice, even if Samuel had never arrived. God tells Saul that his dynasty will end.
1) 2 Kingdoms Colliding (Difference between HS and evil spirit) John 1:5
We can see in 1 Samuel that where the HS is constructive, the evil spirit is destructive.
The attributes of Light (Most of these refer to David)
Throughout 1 Samuel the HS can be seen to endow people with certain abilities. Administrative ability lead and army (1 Samuel 8:15; 22:7; 8:12), the ability to perceive injustice (1 Samuel 11:6, 30:4), the ability to respond to injustice powerfully (1 Samuel 11:6; 30:17), the ability to succeed greatly where it is in harmony with God’s will (1 Samuel 18:5; 18:16), courage (1 Samuel 17:45: 26:7), peace of mind (1 Samuel 17:46; 26:24), respect and honour (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:9).
The Traits of the Darkness
However, the evil spirit fills Saul with fear and paranoia (1 Samuel 18:11,12;19:9). Saul’s fear and paranoia made him do weird things: he couldn’t think clearly, it perpetuated misjudgements (1 Samuel 14:24). He grew jealous and distrustful of David, even after an attempt on his life, David remained loyal. This would have been humiliating for Saul and undermined his authority.
2) let’s think about Saul’s anointing by Sam (again)
Saul Never Encounters God on His Accord
Saul anointed by Samuel but even just to accept the anointing God had to give him a new heart. He got three signs and then demonstrates his anointing? No, it is only the result of proximity, every other instance where Saul encounters others. With the exception of the deliverance of Jabesh Gilead, in achieving this he only achieved the very minimum of what he was called to achieve. So Saul encounters the prophets after his anointing and again much later in the narrative where he is now openly chasing David to kill him and he chases him to Ramah (where David was hiding with Samuel and where it was believed there was like a community of prophets) when Saul reaches the vicinity of Ramah, the HS comes on him and he lies there prophesying.
Nameless and fragrant or Famous but foul
Can you tell me who that community of prophets were? Can you tell me who the prophets coming down the hill were? No? They remain nameless. So who would you rather be?
Nameless
Would you be happy to remain nameless but wherever you go you carry the fragrance of the Lord.
Someone who encounters God when you are with a certain group of people. It’s the easy way.
Famous but foul
Men who have achieved, of course but did the achieve the right kind of thing. Riches on earth but no riches in heaven. You probably won’t be a nobel laurette or an oscar winner and you probably won’t have a number one album but these things matter little if you’ve been someone who has carried the fragrance of the Lord.
Which am I? The answer is both, sometimes I need to rely on others for blessing and sometimes I am the one who brings the blessing. If you feel like a Saul then seek fellowship, continual fellowship. Seek continual fellowship anyway.
3) David and the Spirit.
Saul and David’s anointing
Saul dynasty has been rejected. God tells Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse of Bethlehem, David. There are some important differences between Saul’s anointing and David’s anointing. David is anointed as a King not a vice-regent. The HS comes on David at his anointing. Saul required a change of heart, three signs and confirmation of lots but when it came down to it he was still in his field. Initially the people had asked for a king and God gave them a vice-regent on their own terms but now God gives them a King on his terms, a man after his own heart.
Are you a Saul or a David?
Are you a Saul or a David? There was something different about the fabric of these two men. Saul was never really a man after God’s heart. Just to get him to deliver Jabesh Gilead, he had to have all these changes imposed on him. He never came willingly. That’s what you need for starters if you want to be someone after God’s own heart. You’ve at the very least got to be willing.
New hearts available today!
A willingness is a start. God can give you a new heart. Most of us here today will be people after God’s own heart. Perhaps there are some who are not but you are willing. Saul didn’t have the right heart and just as you heard Graham last week mention Jer 31:31-33. there were prophets in the OT that anticipated a time when new hearts would be freely available. This is that time. You can ask God for a new heart.
Conclusion
Help me to affect others like Saul did not. Help me to carry the fragrance of Christ.
Help me to be a David, a man after your heart.
