The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 19:9-10,
"But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape."
"But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape."
Here we read of another attempt by King Saul to kill David. In 18:10-11 we read of similar circumstances. There an evil spirit from the Lord came "forcefully on Saul" just as in chapter 19 as he attempted to pin David to the wall with his spear.
The Lord, in sending this "evil spirit" or "harmful spirit" on more than one occasion to Saul, resulted in attempts by Saul to kill David. I'm not sure I have ever heard any sermons on the workings of the Lord to send evil spirits to prompt someone to attempt murder on multiple occasions, but that is what we read in these chapters.
To be sure, the Lord was not going to allow David to be murdered by Saul, as the Lord had by now selected him to succeed Saul on the throne. However, in the workings of the Lord, the Lord prompts Saul to attempt David's murder.
David was the Lord's man and Saul was the Lord's rejected. Yet the Lord had the one he rejected attempt to kill his chosen one. It is evident the Lord intended to keep tranquility from the household of Saul while David was present in order to keep David on the run. The specter of a home kept from peaceful existence was going to be a part of what the Lord used to pursue his agenda.
I'm not sure I have always thought in those terms. l have often felt that my embrace, my pursuit of the Lord would surely lead to a peaceful and prosperous home. This is because I have tended to think of my own comfort, my own happiness, my own best interests (together with my loved ones). However, the Lord has his own agenda that transcends my own. The Lord has his own things he wants to accomplish and those may not necessarily include my own personal comfort.
It just may be the Lord has bigger things he is doing. It just may be that he his pursuing the building of his own family for eternity, and it just may be that my comfort, my peace, my "prosperity" will have to be subordinated.
It certainly was in David's case, wasn't it?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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