Spirit’s Power from Saul to David

Read 1 Samuel 16
 
1 Samuel 16:13-15 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.15 Saul's attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.”
 
WE meet David and immediately see the contrast between David and Saul. The Holy Spirit came upon David in power. And the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul. As we learn of the Holy Spirit in God’s will in the new testament of salvation by faith, we are taught when the Spirit opens our mouths to faithfully confess Christ is Lord, he never leaves us. How is it the Spirit leaves Saul?
    As we read the Bible, we come to understand that the Holy Trinity systematically reveals himself to mankind. We are blessed to live in this time when the Son has come in the flesh and the Spirit has anointed the church at Pentecost. We live in a time of God’s plan when he anoints the elect to eternal life.
    As we saw with Samson and other judges, we see here with Saul. The Spirit anointed each for particular moments, not for eternal salvation as we understand it. God the Spirit activates God’s will through particular people at definite times.
    Now the Spirit anoints David. And see the anointing was from that day on. This points to our eternal anointing. Remember, David is from Bethlehem. He is Jesse’s son. Jesse is Ruth and Boaz’s grandson. The anointing has gone from Saul and the tribe of Benjamin to the tribe of Judah. Out of David’s line will come Jesus.This is the Spirit of God defining God’s will on earth. This is God’s plan from eternity past. While God chose Saul to please the people’s desires, he chose David to fulfill his will and his covenant promise to Abraham.
    Now, let’s learn how to respond to the disturbing sentence, an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. This means God allowed an evil spirit to torment Saul. God does not originate or cause evil, but as we’ve learned throughout the study of Scripture, God does allow evil to exist. Otherwise, we would have a perfect world. That won’t happen until all Evil is in the Great Abyss.
    What is the purpose of the evil spirit in Saul? Perhaps it is to define the difference between Saul and David, to even strengthen David through this adversity he will encounter. In many ways, Saul’s torment will torment David’s life. David will have to repeatedly decide if he can trust the Lord’s anointing.
 
Thank God for Jesus’ Eternal Anointing: Matthew 12:18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.” The prophecy of Isaiah 42:1 fulfilled.