1 Samuel 17:12-15 Firstborn

 ”Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.“ I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep: It seems David was only called to the palace as needed, when Saul was afflicted by the distressing spirit.

b. David was the youngest: David is said to be the youngest of eight sons of Jesse. Yet Psalm 89:27 calls David God’s firstborn, demonstrating that “firstborn” is as much a title and a concept as a description of birth order. Therefore, when Paul calls Jesus firstborn over all creation in Colossians 1:15, he isn’t trying to say that Jesus is a created being who had a beginning. He is simply pointing to the prominence and preeminence of Jesus. (Guzik)

Firstborn 

”For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Of course I believe in predestination, since it’s plainly taught in the Scriptures. The doctrine could be assumed, even if the word was never explicitly used. It’s a thrilling truth that doesn’t upset me at all. The fact that He chose me and began a good work in me proves that He’ll continue to perform it. He wouldn’t bring me this far and then dump me.” (Smith)

That He might be the firstborn among many brethren: This is the reason for God’s plan. He adopts us into His family (Romans 8:15) for the purpose of making us like Jesus Christ, similar to Him in the perfection of His humanity. (Guzik)

Is Jesus your firstborn?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 17:11 Whom Shall I Fear?

 ”When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. They were dismayed and greatly afraid: This was Goliath’s exact intention in issuing the challenge. The reason why he came out with full battle equipment and paraded in front of the Israelite army was that he wanted them to be dismayed and greatly afraid. Goliath defeated the Israelites with fear alone.

i. In any contest, it’s always useful to demoralize your opponent and strike fear into their heart. First, it may keep them from ever going to battle with you because they are so afraid. Second, if it does come to battle they will fight with fear and apprehension and so with your words, you’ve done a lot to win the battle before it even begins. This is a significant strategy of the devil against believers.

b. When Saul…heard these words: Saul had a special reason to be afraid. Goliath was the giant among the Philistines and Saul was head and shoulders taller than other Israelite men (1 Samuel 9:2). Saul was the logical choice to square off against Goliath, and we can expect that others assumed that he should fight Goliath.

c. Dismayed and greatly afraid: As the battle loomed, this was Saul’s state. At one time he was known as a fierce and successful military leader (1 Samuel 14:52). But that was before the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). As the Spirit left Saul so did his courage. (Guzik)

Whom Shall I Fear?

”The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?“ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The earth is not my home and being in Christ Jesus, I don’t fear death because I know that my last breath on earth will be my first breath in heaven.

If you fear death, please examine your heart condition before Christ Jesus before it’s too late.

Blessings 

1 Samuel 17:1-10 “a middle man, the man between two.”

 ”Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”“ ‭‭

I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. They encamped in the Valley of Elah: The green rolling hills surrounding the Valley of Elah still stand today and they witnessed one of the most remarkable battles in the Bible. It began when the Philistines, constant enemies of Israel during this period, assembled their army on a mountain, and on an opposite mountain stood the army of Israel.

b. And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath: He was a large man (six cubits and a span can be anywhere from 8’5” to 9’2” – that is, 256 to 280 cm), and he had armor and weapons to match his size.

i. Goliath was tall, but his height is not unheard of in history. Poole on Goliath’s height: “Besides the giants mentioned in the Scriptures, Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, and others, make mention of persons seven cubits high, which is near double to an ordinary man’s height.” Youngblood mentions the documented case of Robert Pershing Wadlow, who was eight feet eleven inches tall at the time of his death on July 15, 1940, at the age of twenty-two.

ii. Goliath was from Gath and Joshua 11:22 says that a people known as the Anakim were still there in Joshua’s day. That was some 400 years before this, but it shows how there may have continued to be men of unusually large size from the city of Gath.

iii. Different sources give different estimates, but Goliath’s armor and weapons together probably weighed somewhere between 150 and 200 pounds. This was a big man, and strong enough to carry and use these huge weapons.

c. Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.… I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together: Goliath issued a bold challenge to the army of Israel. Adam Clarke says that the word champion really comes from the Hebrew word, “a middle man, the man between two.” The idea is that this was a man who stood between the two armies and fought as a representative of his army. (Guzik)

“a middle man, the man between two.”

”For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,“ ‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Man Christ Jesus is our middle man, the Man between two, between God and men!

Is He your middle Man?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 16:19-23 When David Played!

 ”Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.“

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

a. Send me your son David, who is with the sheep: Since this happened after Samuel anointed David, this means he simply returned to the sheepafter his anointing. Perhaps David didn’t yet understand the significance of what Samuel did. Or if he did, he understood that it was God’s job to bring him to the throne. In the meantime, David would simply go back to the sheep.

b. Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight”: David did not have to manipulate his way into the palace or into Saul’s favor. He allowed the LORD to open the doors for him. David didn’t have to wonder, “Is this of the LORD or is this of me?” because he let the LORD open the doors for him.

i. “Wonder not that David was so suddenly advanced, from a poor contemptible shepherd, to so great a reputation; for these were the effects of that Spirit of the Lord, which he received when he was anointed.” (Poole)

c. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer: David was an outstanding young man who was worthy of his name (“Beloved” or “Loved One”). Saul took to him immediately and gave him the important and trusted position of armor bearer, his chief assistant in battle. A soldier’s life often depended on the courage and faithfulness of his armor bearer, and Saul knew David was worthy of this position.

i. This was an important time in David’s life, and training for God’s destiny for him. For the first time he lived in a royal court and began to learn the customs and manners he needed to know to be a good king later in life.

d. David would take a harp and play it: A harp is a lyre, the ancient version of the guitar. This isn’t one of the big harps you might find in an orchestra.

e. Then Saul would become refreshed and well: God used David to minister to Saul. David was happy to be used. What seemed like a great arrangement would not stay great for very long.

(Guzik)

i. God was at work in ways no one could see. It seems plain to us from our distant perspective, but at the time perhaps only Samuel knew what was going on. “Unwittingly, Saul was becoming dependent on the one designated to succeed him.” (Baldwin)

When David Played The Harmful Spirit Departed!

How interesting that the Lord sent them both! 

One was troublesome and the other soothing!

Let this be a lesson for us, when you are troubled seek the Lord! 

Can’t sleep because your mind is troubled, read the Bible until you are soothed!

Blessings 

1 Samuel 16:18 Worship Ministry

 ”Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”“

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Look, I have seen a son of Jesse: Saul’s servants suggested a search; Saul commanded the search, and then one of Saul’s servants found this son of Jesse named David.

b. Skillful in playing: David needed skill to lead Saul in worship and to minister to him in music. The technical quality of his music was important. The heart matters, but so does technical ability.

i. This doesn’t mean that a person must be a virtuoso before God can use them. But it does mean that they cannot tolerate a too casual, unconcerned, lazy, “we don’t really need to practice” attitude. Skillful in playing reflects an attitude as much as it reflects an ability.

c. A mighty man of valor, a man of war: David needed the character of a warrior to effectively lead Saul in worship and to minister to him in music. Worship ministry is a constant battleground. There are often conflicts and contentions surrounding worship ministry and if someone isn’t equipped and ready for spiritual warfare they will probably be spiritually and emotionally “injured” in worship ministry, and probably “wound” others.

i. So much of what makes a person a good musician or a good artist goes against true worship ministry. The need for ego satisfaction and the desires for the spotlight, prominence, and attention each work against effective worship.

d. Prudent in speech: David needed to speak wisely to effectively lead Saul in worship or to minister to him in music. Good worship ministry needs a lot of diplomacy. Everyone has an opinion on music and a suggestion. Effective worship ministers know when to speak and when to be quiet on the platform, among the team, and in the congregation.

e. A handsome person: David was a good-looking young man (1 Samuel 16:12). An effective worship minister doesn’t need to be a fashion model, but their appearance is important. They need to present themselves so as to be invisible. If they are so dressed up or so dressed down that their appearance calls attention to themselves, it needs to change.

f. The LORD is with him: This is the most important attribute. The other measures will grow and develop, but it must be said of any worship minister, the LORD is with him. This means that they are called by God, submitting to God, and submitting to whatever leadership the LORD has placed over them. (Guzik)

Worship Ministry 

A worship ministry at church is a favorite thorn of the devil because if he can disrupt this ministry it derails the flow of worship music to the Lord. In the last nine years our church has gone through many directors of worship. One left after two years but the others fell from grace for one reason or another. 

Please pray for protection for our new worship director and that the Lord uses him mightily.

Blessings 

1 Samuel 16:15-17 Worship

 ”And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a distressing spirit from God is troubling you”: This was obvious to Saul’s servants, but it does not seem to be obvious to Saul. Often our spiritual condition is far more apparent to others than it is to ourselves.

b. Seek out a man who is a skillful player: Essentially, Saul’s servants advise him to find what we would call a “worship leader.” They will seek out a man who can, using music, bring the love, peace, and power of God to Saul. King Saul needed to be led into worship, so it was important to seek out a man to do the job.

i. God created music and gave it the capability to touch people with great power. Music can be used for great good or for great evil, because it so powerfully communicates to our inner being.

c. You shall be well: In the past, Saul received the Spirit of the LORD in the presence of music (1 Samuel 10:10). Perhaps this is an effort to create that experience again. (Guzik)

Worship 

Praise is the Rehearsal of Our eternal Song By Grace We learn to Sing, and in Glory We Continue to Sing. (Charles Spurgeon)

Let’s face it, I cannot sing but when I’m truly worshipping the Lord I sing and it’s with all my heart! ❤️ 

David played the harp and later as king David he wrote worship songs as recorded in the book of Psalms. 

Our worship leader Sunday sang this song and informed the congregation it was based on Revelation 4:

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”“

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Enjoy & Blessings!

Echo Holy (with lyrics)(2021)

https://youtu.be/6sAH_fFApt4

1 Samuel 16:14 Distressing Spirit

 ”But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

a. The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul: In 1 Samuel 16:13, the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. As the Holy Spirit came upon David, a distressing spirit came to Saul and troubled him.

b. A distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him: If God is all-good, why did He send a distressing spirit upon Saul? There are two senses in which God may send something. He may send something in the active sense or He may send something in a passive sense. Actively, God never initiates or performs evil; He is the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). Passively, God may withdraw the hand of His protection and therefore allow evil to come, without being the source of the evil itself.

i. This is indicated by what happened with Saul. First, the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul. This meant Saul lost his spiritual “protection” and covering. So, Satan was more than ready to send a distressing spirit to fill the void in Saul.

ii. This is why the continual presence of the Holy Spirit for all Christians is such a comfort. We don’t have to fear that God will take the Holy Spirit from us (Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

c. From the LORD: Perhaps this was to judge Saul’s past wickedness and rebellion against the Holy Spirit’s guidance. This may be an example of God giving Saul over to his sin.

i. Saul clearly had the Spirit of the LORD upon him at one time (1 Samuel 10:10). As he was proud and rebellious against God, Saul resisted the Holy Spirit. He told the Holy Spirit “No” and “Go away” so many times that God finally gave Saul what he wanted. But Saul never realized the price to pay when the Spirit of the LORD departed from him. Saul thought he would be freer to do his thing without the Spirit of the LORD “bugging” him. He didn’t realize he would be in even more bondage to a distressing spirit that troubled him.

ii. Even in this state Saul could repent. He was not past the place of repentance and restoration. It was up to him to receive God’s correction and respond with a tender, repentant heart before the LORD.

d. A distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him: Today, Saul would probably be diagnosed as mentally ill. Yet his problem was spiritual in nature, not mental or psychological.

i. There are many people in mental hospitals today that are really suffering from spiritual problems. It is certainly wrong to assume that every case of mental distress is spiritual because chemical imbalances and physiological problems are also real in this fallen world. Even so, there are certainly some that need liberation from a distressing spirit and may never find it in our modern mental health system. (Guzik)

Distressing Spirit

I am reminded of a distressing spirit in Luke!

”When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.“

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬-‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you ever witnessed a person with a distressing spirit?

I have!

Blessings