I Samuel 16:14-23 - David's Ministry to Saul

I Samuel 16:14-23

So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him. (verse 23)

Message: David's Ministry to Saul

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: In the last lesson or the first part of Chapter 16, the next king is chosen or set apart for the purpose of God's conduit for Him to work. This person will be David, chosen by God, a man after his heart. Not one that is chosen because of outward appearance or stature, but because of something God sees - the heart of a man. 

In this passage of Chapter 16, there seems to be a struggle or journey of Samuel. This book has been about him and God working through Him. He is a sort of a mentor or teacher, not necessarily the focal point though. God uses Samuel to anoint Saul, but now David. In the last lesson he grieved over Saul (verse 1). 

Today's passage begins with some startling words, "an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him (Saul) (verse 14)." David is now anointed. Saul is not. God allows an evil spirit to enter into Saul, to stir up in him unruly emotions - envy, rage, despair. Similar words are in Romans 1:24 when Paul says, "God gave them over." Saul was selfish and not thinking first and foremost of the Lord in his life and ways and instead himself. So God allows evil to overtake him. The Spirit of the Lord was with him but now it has departed. 

In verse 16, with the playing of the harp "you will be well." Interesting how there is a medicinal way of music in helping us. I love this. I love music and it helps me all of the time, calming me, relaxing me and giving me joy. I am so thankful for music that is played to express love for God. It seems like it has always had this effect on us as I watch movies of times past. Throughout scripture David speaks of a new song being played. Interesting that God chose in David to play music in order to remove the evil spirit. Saul knows he need this (v.17) and wants David to be located (v.18). Saul loves David (v. 21) and it is the music that has the evil spirit depart from Saul (v. 23). 

Saul continues to be king. David is the king in waiting and for now serves in Saul's court. 

Summary: David has been chosen, but for now he will play his harp, making Saul well in his court, after being terrorized by an evil spirit that God allows. 

Promise: From Tabletalk - "God controls even those things that can harm us and we can be confident that He can work them for our final good."

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful for music. It is a big part of my life and I know as it has been said that music has a way communicating to us like nothing else. It soothes me and helps me very often and gives me a good feeling. With music by my side, I often feel like whatever work I am doing it can help me get through it. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Psalm 101:1 - Music and Theology

Psalm 101:1 

I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, to Thee, O Lord, I will sing praises. 

Message: Music and Theology

Time: Psalms, a collection of lyrical poems, with multiple authors. David wrote 73 Psalms, though for 50 or so the author is unknown. Psalms means songs of praise. The writings span 1,000 years. They encourage us to praise God, illuminate the greatness of God, affirm His faithfulness in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His word. 

What the Lord is Saying: In addition to being a great theologian, Martin Luther also wrote hymns. He realized that hymns were important for the development of our faith. His hymns were often written around different themes, like Advent, Christmas, Easter or on topics of the Ten Commandments. Wikipedia lists 41 hymns he wrote in German. His best known hymn is a Mighty Fortress is our God based after Psalm 46 and written in 1529. 

It is interesting that music and hymns can be used to communicate to us truths of God but can also teach us theology. I read through the Lyrics of a Mighty Fortress is our God and was shocked a little and interested to read how much it speaks of the Satan and the Prince of Darkness and devils filled. 

There have been arguments in the church about music and hymns or more contemporary songs. Hymns were contemporary songs in their days and perhaps we need to focus more on what the song is saying than the form. On my home yesterday from work, I heard this song by REM called Everybody Hurts. I've read a little about the song and its writing and it is hard to tell if it was written with much meaning as it simply chronicles the hurt we all experience in life and that we are not alone. Now God is never mentioned, but as I listened I was reminded of the meaning and that I am not alone. 

I have not spent much time going over hymns and studying them. I always remember my mom in church and hearing her sing and how she often knew so many of the hymns. She sang so much by memory. These were her songs that she sung to God. I grew up with the Baptist Hymnal. Here is a copy of one with songs from 1991. It also reminds me of how organs are often accompanying hymns. 

Many songs written are based upon the Psalms. For me, I love tunes from scripture and where I can see the link of why it was written. For praise songs, I do like the one's that speak of God's attributes, like Great is thy Faithfulness, but also like songs that are sung directly to God. There is a recent song I heard by Kristian Stanfill (worship pastor at Passion City Church) that fits this:

I want to love You with all of my heart 

I want to love You with all of my soul 

Jesus you’re my one ambition 

With every breath You give I’ll give You 

Another praise, another praise, another praise

I need help speaking to the Lord and praising Him and I appreciate these lyrics that help me direct my thoughts toward Him. 

Summary: Good worship music invite us to move deeper into God's word to learn more and more about Him. In all of its forms, hymns, contemporary songs, our hearts can be focused on him. 

Promise: The biblical psalms model the kind of complexity that good sacred music has to offer.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for music again and specifically the music that we have sung in the church. I appreciate the choruses that I have sung growing up and then in small groups like at Chi Eta that helped define my faith and my praise of You and then all the songs of the day now that offer praise to You but also can help define my dependence on You. Thank you for being present and speaking to Me in so many different ways through these writers. Help me to continue to give praise to You in these ways and to sing from my heart. Thank you for giving me such a great Mom who patterned this in my life and gave me such a great example of praising You and Singing to You. It is great to see this carried on in my brother. 

I Samuel 16:14-23 - The Power of Music

I Samuel 16:14-23

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him. 15 Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.” 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.” 20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son. 21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer. 22 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.

Message: The Power of Music

Time: The events that happen in 1 Samuel took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC). We see the birth of Samuel, his call from God and subsequent prophetic ministry, the rise and fall of King Saul, and the anointing and maturity of young David.

What the Lord is Saying:

Music is powerful in our lives and in worship. Music has been a big part of my life. I can remember getting hooked on buying 45s when I was a kid, probably around the age of 7 is when I started this (Mr. Jaws). And then buying my first album a year later at 8. And it simply continued. I rarely get focused on one song though and rather like artists and many songs that an artist performs. But music has been a constant in my life.

In church, I have seen music be a little controversial. It seems around the late 90s and early 2000s when praise and worship music began to be more of a centerpiece in the Christian music industry, churches also began to introduce these tunes in worship resulting in different styles of music in a service and some churches choosing to have a contemporary service and others a traditional worship service (this is captured so well in this movie - Jesus Music). I never was interested in attending something that was different because I liked the mix of the two - some traditional and some contemporary. Some churches believe there should only be acapella music and no instruments because instruments are not mentioned in the New Testament. I don't agree with this interpretation, but am fine with people that make this choice. 

Songs are played regularly at college sporting events as we celebrate with "our song." And even some couples think of "their song" when describing their relationship. Music is background noise most often at doctor's offices and everywhere we shop. 

Today's passage is an interesting one in that the evil spirit that torments Saul would flee whenever David took up his lyre and played for the king. 

So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.

Wow! Music was significant 3000 years ago as well. Listening to music was refreshing and calmed Saul but also had power and moved the evil spirit away. This is a great reminder to me and also instruction that music can simply refresh and relax us but it can also have spiritual power in listening to it. Music in our churches in all of its controversy does impact us. I heard Russ Taff say once in an interview, though I'm guessing he was not the first to say this, that "Music has a way of speaking to us like nothing else in our world." That quote and line which I heard listening to an interview in the early 90s has always stuck with me. It has a way of speaking to us, like nothing else. 

Summary: Music was created by God. And as his creation, he uses it to testify of Him and to minister to us. There is a great power of music. 

Promise: Scripture prescribes no particular kind of music, so the choices of music we use in worship and even for leisure must be guided by Christian wisdom. 

Prayer: O God, my God, thank you for music. Thank you for creating music and the power that it is in our lives. Like so many things in life it speaks to a cacophony of gifts and expressions that speak of your great love for us. Often, it takes us to another place as we listen that is full of joy and happiness and praise to You. I see it in church and hear it in a concert or even a quiet song or instrumental. Lord, I am struck in amazement by your great love for us. It has impacted my life and my devotion. Thank you for prompting me at the moment in my life, at age 15, to center myself on the music that is to praise You. I am not to ever regret tossing those records in the trash for that was trading altars - the one I created for the one You created. I know some people have determined that this Christian music is not of You. I stand in question often how two well meaning Christ followers can have two opposite interpretations of Your Word and yet each of them glorify You. It reminds me at times that maybe there isn't a right way for some of these things, but in those convictions the result still is you are glorified and what matters is the heart and motive of the person - of me. You get my praise for music even from those that may not acknowledge You as Savior and yet for me in their music I can still praise you. 

Psalm 150 - A Call to Praise the Lord

Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Message: A Call to Praise the Lord

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

One of the great things that has happened over the last 20 years in Christian circles and people of faith in Jesus is the emphasis and love for praise and worship music. In the 80s Hosanna Music were really the primary offerings of praise and worship music, but a few contemporary groups began to have praise and worship albums in the early 90's and these morphed into churches singing more contemporary songs from songwriters expressing themselves via praise. 20 years later it seems that most of the top selling Christian music on the various charts are primarily praise and worship offerings. 10 years ago most churches had a contemporary and traditional service but of late churches are more and more combining the two. My church had separate services, but in the last 7 years went to the both structure.

For me, it is a good reminder that my life needs to be about praise because often I have a tendency to be more selfish in my relationship with God and focused on how this is benefiting me. In the previous church we attended I noticed that the idea of worship was included in all the aspects of the church service, reminding us that worship is not only singing songs, but it is also how we live; so, the offering was an expression of worship as was the sermon, as was all the components of the service and our lives. The idea of grace living is that Jesus did it all and so in response to what he has done for us, we live a life of obedience to him because we desire to praise him and thank him for what he has done. We cannot help living this life of faith. And this life should manifest it throughout our lives. Thus, worship should be a component of our lives.

Everywhere
Praise God in His sanctuary; From these verses is the idea that we are to Praise God in His sanctuary, in the church, in the temple. I was reminded recently that the stable in which Jesus was born was a place of worship. It was a temple of sort where Jesus is embodied and was a place set aside for him. This is a reminder that sanctuaries are everywhere. They are in coffee shops where men and women gather to pray and keep one another accountable. They are in rooms of houses where families come together to pray. They are in rooms of churches. Thus, we can praise God throughout our worlds as we gather together.

Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Beyond this earth, in the heavens, in the mighty expanse we will praise the Lord. Praise is one of those acts that we will be doing for all eternity. In some ways I think of heaven as being mostly about praise. We are living but we are face to face with our God and just as I can't get too much time with Him and His Word, when given the opportunity to not have the encumbrance of work here, I imagine that life will be completely fulfilling and busy in worship and praise of God for eternity.

Thanksgiving for what He has done
Praise Him for His mighty deeds. This is where I struggle because I am so much about tomorrow and the future and going forward and often not about looking back at what has occurred. Our pastor is leaving. He announced he is moving on to another church back in his homeland - California. He has been at the church 7 years and the tendency for all of us is to say - what next. But one of the pastor's reminded us of the need to take a moment and think about all that God has accomplished in the last 7 years. And he has accomplished a lot through the service of this man and his family. We need to look back at times and be reminded of the sweet victories we have been able to experience.

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Not only has he done great deeds in our lives, but He is great. I try to think of the attribute of God: His faithfulness, His mighty hand, His order of this world, His providence, His kindness, His healing touch, His presence, His leading, His hearing our prayers, His acting -- these are all examples of How great He is. Once again, there is so much to praise Him about.

Praise beyond our own words
Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.  I remember the words of Russ Taff from an interview in the late 80s in which he said, "Music has a way of speaking to us like nothing else." As we are praising God, we are moved beyond just our voices, but there is also the desire to pick up instruments, whatever they are and play them before Him. I am truly amazed at the different types of music that are in the world. Often we gravitate towards a specific style, but it amazes me in the Christian music world that Rap, Hard Rock, Soft Rock, Alternative, Swing, Praise, Celtic, Pop, Anthems -- there are so many different styles and they all come together in praise and worship. The focus here is not simply the words. Instrumental music obviously can praise God. Again, we go beyond the singing and words and express praise with different kinds of instruments.

Everything
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! The crescendo of this Psalm is rather obvious, but still needs to be said. Let Everything that has breath praise the Lord. Thus, musical instruments have breath and humans have breath. Let it all praise the Lord. As we live and work and shop and worship and talk and fellowship; in all of our activities, we are to worship and praise the Lord.

Promise: Worshiping God in spirit and truth must be the goal of our lives.

Prayer: O Lord, I praise You and thank You for the reminder and proclamation of your Word, showing me that my entire life is a way to worship You. That is goes beyond church or Sunday's and permeates all of life. Help that to be so in my life. Thank you for all that you have done for me and for creation. I love music and praise you for it. Sometimes the artist I am listening to does not have an intent to be praising you, but in listening to it, I can praise You still. Thank you for living and breathing in all people. You are everyone's God, but not everyone calls you God. I praise You. Help me to know how to better praise you and take time specifically to remember all that you have done and thank you for what you are going to do.