Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, Sunday, March 28, 2021

Essential But Unappreciated

Today Pastor Michael is using a parallel of today’s pandemic and the ‘un-appreciated/under-appreciated’ folks that simply take care of things, without a lot of limelight.  David was a lot like that too and King Saul and their story is what Michael is preaching on today.  

(CSB Baker Illustrated Bible Study Notes) While David is receiving the Spirit of the Lord, it departs from Saul (16:14a). In fact, the language and juxtaposition of these statements in verses 13–14 suggest that the historian saw these events as simultaneous and related. Not only, though, does Saul lose the divine Spirit; the Lord also sends an evil spirit to torment him (16:14b). (We must remember that the Hebrews’ perspective on good and evil was that God created and controlled them both; see Is 45:7.) Saul’s jealousy and depression are made worse because of the influence of this evil spirit, and at times it will drive Saul to violence (cf. 1 Sm 18:10–11). According to 16:23, the evil spirit affects Saul sporadically.

In an attempt to help Saul find relief from the evil spirit, Saul’s attendants suggest that he secure a musician to play soothing music (16:15–16). Ironically, the man they recommend is none other than David. In addition to his ability as a shepherd, David knows how to play the harp, and he has a fine personality. He also enjoys divine favor (16:18). By bringing David to his court, Saul gives his successor valuable training, during which David might make important personal and political connections. Saul likes David very much and asks Jesse if David might remain in his service (16:21–22). While the court service introduces David to the inner workings of the monarchy, what catapults David into the public eye is his heroic victory over Goliath, an event that also betokens his later successes and eventual domination of the Philistines.

Today’s bible verses are found in 1 Samuel 16: 14-23.