Friday, March 19, 2004
1 Samuel 16 - Terror in the Heart
The story of the selection of the youngest of the sons of Jesse to be king in place of Saul charms, but the story has dark undertones and is far from simple. At the center of this chapter, lies God's assurance that he isn't fooled by outward appearance.
1 Samuel 16:7 "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature...; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
What God sees when he looks at David, we don't know, but people attribute wonderful qualities to him: ruddy complexion, beautiful eyes, handsome (v. 12 ) spirit of the Lord mightily on him, (v. 13), skilled musician, valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, "of good presence," "the Lord is with him" (v. 18)
This wholesomeness emerges out of a background of fear and conflict. The chapter opens with Samuel telling God he is afraid to follow God's instruction that he go to Bethlehem for fear that King Saul will hear of it and kill him. When he arrives in Bethlehem, the village elders to tremble in fear and ask Samuel if he comes “peaceably.” The picture is that of a police state.
When Samuel privately (secretly?) selects David from among his brothers and anoints him as the new king, the "spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David." This is immediately followed by a parallel verse:
1 Samuel 16:14 Now the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
Saul didn't know objectively what was happening in Bethlehem, but in his spirit, there was a change and it was bad. The TNK translation is even stronger, and says, "an evil spirit from the LORD began to terrify him." The terror that he has inflicted on the land now resides in his heart.
With great irony, it is this very terror in the heart of Saul that draws him to David, its unknown and unwitting cause. Saul's servants suggest that music might ease the pain of the evil spirit, and David is brought to court to play the lyre.
1 Samuel 16:21 And David came to Saul, and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight."
This is an amazing picture: At the heart of an oppressed kingdom, Saul sits, tormented, fearful, befuddled. Yet he is, in the end, a good man, and his heart goes out in love and gratitude to David. Still, we know, that the very evil spirit tormenting Saul, which drew the two together will eventuate in Saul's murderous attacks on David. (18:10; 19:9)
Is there a lesson here? Perhaps it is same lesson that Jesus taught:
Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
1 Samuel 16:7 "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature...; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
What God sees when he looks at David, we don't know, but people attribute wonderful qualities to him: ruddy complexion, beautiful eyes, handsome (v. 12 ) spirit of the Lord mightily on him, (v. 13), skilled musician, valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, "of good presence," "the Lord is with him" (v. 18)
This wholesomeness emerges out of a background of fear and conflict. The chapter opens with Samuel telling God he is afraid to follow God's instruction that he go to Bethlehem for fear that King Saul will hear of it and kill him. When he arrives in Bethlehem, the village elders to tremble in fear and ask Samuel if he comes “peaceably.” The picture is that of a police state.
When Samuel privately (secretly?) selects David from among his brothers and anoints him as the new king, the "spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David." This is immediately followed by a parallel verse:
1 Samuel 16:14 Now the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
Saul didn't know objectively what was happening in Bethlehem, but in his spirit, there was a change and it was bad. The TNK translation is even stronger, and says, "an evil spirit from the LORD began to terrify him." The terror that he has inflicted on the land now resides in his heart.
With great irony, it is this very terror in the heart of Saul that draws him to David, its unknown and unwitting cause. Saul's servants suggest that music might ease the pain of the evil spirit, and David is brought to court to play the lyre.
1 Samuel 16:21 And David came to Saul, and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight."
This is an amazing picture: At the heart of an oppressed kingdom, Saul sits, tormented, fearful, befuddled. Yet he is, in the end, a good man, and his heart goes out in love and gratitude to David. Still, we know, that the very evil spirit tormenting Saul, which drew the two together will eventuate in Saul's murderous attacks on David. (18:10; 19:9)
Is there a lesson here? Perhaps it is same lesson that Jesus taught:
Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
