Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Amalek had fought Israel when they were coming up out of Egypt (Exodus 17:8-14). They had attacked Israel from behind (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). But the Israelites had only defended themselves, not entered Amalek territory. Now the time for judgment was on the Amalekites as prophesied (Numbers 24:20). Samuel charged Saul with God’s instructions: kill them all. Destroy all the people and their livestock. This was a harsh, but well-deserved, punishment on Amalek for what they had done. This was a great mercy to the rest of humanity to amputate this cancer out from their whole. By killing the Amalekites, they preserved life on Earth.

Saul gathered two hundred thousand men at Telaim and down they went. They gave the Kenites the chance to remove themselves, and they did. Then they attacked the city and all the valley. Saul took the king, Agag (possibly a title like Pharaoh or Caesar), captive. They killed all the people, but kept the best of the livestock. They destroyed everything that they found worthless. This action would make it seem like they had simply attacked for spoil, not acting in judgement like they were supposed to be. They were supposed to be agents of God, but they were colouring outside the lines. And God was watching. “Surely my Lord does not do anything unless he has revealed his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). God told Samuel what Saul did. And that Saul grieved Him (Ephesians 4:30). That Saul had turned back from following God and did not keep God’s commandments. Samuel, who had liked Saul, also grieved and cried all night before the Lord.

The next morning, Samuel set out after Saul, but Saul wasn’t at Carmel where he was supposed to be. Saul HAD been at Carmel, had set up a monument to himself, and then went around and down to Gilgal. They’re about a hundred and sixty kilometers apart. Samuel caught up with Saul at Gilgal. Saul’s first words? “May you be blessed by Yahweh! I have kept the word of Yahweh” (1 Samuel 15:13). Samuel asked about the animal noises. Oh, that. Saul said they (not him, the others) brought them to be a sacrifice to the Lord your God (notice, not Saul’s God), but we destroyed the rest. Samuel told him to be quiet and listen to what God told Samuel.

Samuel pointed out Saul had been given very explicit instructions. Very simple ones. And he had not done them. Saul argued. He HAD done it. He went on the mission. He destroyed the Amalekites. Then Saul blamed the PEOPLE. THEY kept the best for a sacrifice to the Lord YOUR God. Samuel pointed out that the Lord didn’t take delight in sacrifices. They were only a manifestation of the heart’s desire. God sought obedience. WHOLE-HEARTED obedience. Rebellion is like witchcraft (an abomination) and stubbornness like idolatry (also an abomination). In essence, the people (who Saul was responsible for as king) were making the customary offering to God after a victory BUT doing it with plunder and not their own, ensuring that THEIR stuff didn’t diminish. Contrast that with David later (2 Samuel 24:24).

Saul admitted he had sinned. He had feared the people and listened to them and not to God. He obeyed the people. He asked forgiveness and that Samuel come back and worship with Saul. Samuel refused. He told Saul he had been rejected as king over Israel. Samuel turned to go and Saul grabbed at his cloak which tore and fell to the ground. Samuel said the Lord had torn the kingdom from him (hence the two years as king in 1 Samuel 13:1) in the same way and has given it to someone better. He also told Saul the Lord would NOT relent in this matter.

Saul begged. Yes, he had sinned. But come worship with him so that the people would see them together. Return with me, said Saul, so I can worship the Lord YOUR God. Samuel relented and went with Saul, and Saul did worship, but their relationship was forever broken. Samuel also asked for the king of the Amalekites. Samuel killed him, then went back to Ramah (his home) and Saul went to his home (Gibeah). They never saw each other again until the day Saul died (thirty-eight years from now – Acts 13:21). Samuel mourned Saul and God regretted Saul.

“Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn about Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel! Fill up your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for myself among his sons.”” (1 Samuel 16:1)

Now the Lord didn’t tell Samuel it was wrong to mourn for Saul. Only that the time for mourning was past (Psalm 30:5). God had gone with His second choice, His plan B, and it was in Bethlehem. Samuel was concerned to go because he knew the jealousy of Saul. God told him to take a heifer and go offer sacrifice – a legitimate reason to be there – with all hooplah – like usual for a prophet. But while he was there, he could also anoint the next king. Saul wouldn’t see past the sacrifice, would not get suspicious, and Samuel and the new king would be safe. Off Samuel went.

He arrived at Bethlehem. He told the elders to sanctify themselves and come to the sacrifice with him. He consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. That’s when he saw Jesse’s sons. He saw Eliab the firstborn, a man who LOOKED pretty good. But God said outside appearance doesn’t count. God looked at the heart alone. Which means of course that SAUL had a good heart and was the victim of his OWN choices. Next came Abinadab. Nope. Shammah. Nope. They went through all of Jesse’s sons. None were chosen. Then Samuel said, is there anyone else?

There was one. The youngest. Off tending the sheep. There is a tradition that says Jesse learned about the curse on the Moabites and how they weren’t allowed to enter the assembly of God (Deuteronomy 23:3). He realised that because his grandmother was a Moabitess (Ruth), he was causing his own wife to sin since they were joined. He resolved to no longer sleep with his wife, allowing her to purify herself and stay pure. However, when he made this decision he didn’t know she was already pregnant. When she showed and then gave birth, Jesse was always dubious that David was really his – and his sons picked up on this. This is why David wasn’t gathered when Samuel called for Jesse’s sons: they didn’t treat him as a real son. This is only a tradition and probably inspired by Psalm 51:5. However, all full humans are sinful and we are all conceived in sin (Romans 5:12). There is NO evidence in the Word and NO evidence in history that David was in ANY way illegitimate.

David, the youngest, was off watching the flocks that Jesse owned. Samuel insisted that he come and they would not eat until he did. When David was sent for – and cleaned up a bit – in he came. A young man, probably ten to fifteen years old. God said, this is the guy. Samuel anointed him king over Israel, commissioning him into the role. He did it in front of his whole family. Then they went to the feast and sacrificed and fulfilled the other reason Samuel had come. Then Samuel went home and David went back to the sheep.

Meanwhile, Saul was experiencing the result of rebelling against God. When you live outside God’s protection and covenant, things happen that you might not like. Look at Job. Job was blameless in the sight of God, but living under an Old Covenant where he was in the power of the ruler of the world. That’s why Job longed for a mediator, a redeemer, a saviour he would talk to face to face. Job longed for what we have in the New Covenant. But Saul was in the Old Covenant. Once David was chosen and anointed, the Spirit of God left Saul. He had stayed until the new leader was chosen, then He went to the new leader (I am so grateful we have a better covenant and He NEVER leaves us – Hebrews 13:5).

Evil means harmful or injurious. This is punishment. That’s what happened in the Old Covenant. Punishment for transgression. A godly angel was sent to Saul and this was punishment for his wickedness. For SAUL it was an evil spirit. But it was a spirit of Justice and Judgment. When light shows up, evil hides because it hates the light. This could NOT have been comfortable for Saul, therefore it is referred to as evil. God NEVER sends evil spirits anywhere except packing!

Saul’s men believed that music soothed the soul, so they told Saul that’s what he needed. Saul was willing to try anything to get his conscience soothed, so he told them to get a musician. One of them said he knew of one. The son of Jesse the Bethlehemite was skillful in playing. The servant called him ‘a brave man, a warrior, prudent in speech, and handsome‘. This is funny to me. David was 15 at most. He had NEVER fought in a war. However, if you remember 1 Samuel 14:52, Saul took into his service ANYONE who was brave or mighty. The servant here is pumping up David so Saul would take him. He even tagged on that it was said God was with David. That sealed it. Since Saul was suffering from God leaving, he’d bring in someone who God was with.

David was sent for and arrived. He played and when he did, Saul had relief. So Saul sent to Jesse and requested that David be allowed to serve him when needed. When the Angel came to point out Saul’s failings, David would play, the Angel would relent, Saul would get peace, and it was a winning situation for all. For now.

Summary

Key Players: God, Samuel, David, Saul

Key Themes: Anointing, Conscience, Kingship

Key Verse(s): 1 Samuel 15:1-3, 9, 13-15, 20-21, 26; 16:1, 7, 13, 18, 23