11Samual 16:14-23
A Horrible End and A Humble Beginning
Last week, we studied about King Saul and met the to-be King, David. Concerning
Saul, we see…
1. Saul started humble.
2. He was a farmer’s son.
3. God selected Saul to be the king over Israel as the Israelites had asked.
1 Samuel 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in
thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
4. Saul became a king like all the other nations.
a. proud
b. greedy
c. carnal
d. wicked
e. rebellious to God
5. God removed the right of kingship from Saul.
God then sent Samuel to anoint another king for Israel.
1. This king was to be different.
2. This king would have a different anointing - both of oil and of the Holy
Spirit.
3. This king would have a different aptitude.
a. Saul was selected based on his appearance.
b. Not so much that David was puny or ugly.
c. He was not.
d. However, this king would be selected based on his walk with God not
his outward appearance.
4. This king would have a different ascension to the throne.
a. Saul’s had been swift.
b. This king would be slow.
c. By taking the slower route to the throne, God would preserve David’s
humility and build into his life a dependence upon God.
We are left with two questions:
1. What happens to King Saul? His will be a horrible end.
2. How will David go from shepherd to king? His will be a humble beginning.
This week, we will see what happened to Saul.
I. Remember the reason we study people in the Bible is to learn from their
lives.
A. Hopefully, we will not have to repeat their mistakes.
B. Saul will remain on the throne from several more years, but he is
on his way down while David is on his way up.
C. What kind of shape will God leave him in during that time?
II. God did three things to Saul.
A.\\#1Sam 16:14\\ God removed the Holy Spirit from Saul.
1. This frightens some New Testament Christians and I suppose with
good reason.
2. However, there is a difference in the way the Holy Spirit worked
in the Old and New Testaments.
a. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon a person for
a task and then departed.
b. This is seen clearly in the life of Samson.
Judges 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp
of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Judges 14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him
as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his
father or his mother what he had done.
Judges 14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to
Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of
garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he
went up to his father’s house.
Judges 15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him:
and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon
his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off
his hands.
c. However, the New Testament teaches the Holy Spirit abides
upon the Believer.
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and
ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of
all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye
shall abide in him.
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3. New Testament believers need not fear losing the Holy Spirit.
a. If we could lose the Holy Spirit, I fear we could and perhaps
would lose our very salvation.
b. However, though we do not lose the Holy Spirit, we can sin
away the sense of His presence, His power, and His protection.
(1) The Holy Ghost would still be inside of us.
(2) Yet, His work and ministry would be stifled by our sin.
(3) In such a condition, it would probably seem as though
the Holy Ghost had left us.
B. \\#1Sam 16:14\\ God sent an evil spirit to trouble Saul.
1. Saul’s troubles have only been half explained.
a. Not only had God removed His Spirit of wisdom, power, and
purpose, but He also sent him an evil troubling spirit.
b. Saul would keep his position, but to have a such a position
under these conditions would not be a blessing but a
punishment.
2. As you would expect, the EVIL SPIRIT means a WICKED or ILL SPIRIT.
a. This would be a demonic spirit.
b. The word for TROUBLE is TO TERRIFY, STARTLE, FALL UPON, BE
OVERTAKEN BY SUDDEN TERROR.
c. This demon would then move suddenly and powerfully to
terrorize Saul.
3. This means that God is Master not only of the angelic world but the
demonic world as well. All are subject to Him and all will do His
bidding.
a. We know that God uses angels to encourage and help.
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for
them who shall be heirs of salvation?
b. But God uses demons to hinder and hurt those who rebel against
against Him.
1Cor 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together,
and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
c. We need not fall into the delusion of thinking that Satan
is somehow equal with God.
(1) Satan and his demons can do nothing more than God allows.
(2) Even when God allows demons to possess or torment a soul,
it is with the intention that such evil would bring
them to God.
4. \\#1Sam 16:15\\ It is interesting that while no one seemed to
notice the Holy Spirit departing from Saul, people certainly
notice the demon coming upon him.
a. It is sad that the absence of God’s kind and benevolent Spirit
so often goes unnoticed.
b. Yet a spirit which brought such terror and pain could not be
overlooked or ignored.
C. God left Saul on the throne to reign.
1. That might sound like a good thing. Not so.
2. Being left with a position and no power is not a privilege but a
punishment.
3. It is uncertain how long Saul remained as king.
a. Some estimate that David was as young as 12 or 13 when he was
anointed king.
b. That could leave Saul as the king for another 17 to 18 years.
c. Saul will spend those years tormented by a demon, fearful for
his life and legacy, and cursed with no guidance or wisdom.
The end of King Saul and King David was largely determined before either of them
came to the throne. This was not just God’s foreknowledge at work. The end of
a life is largely determined by the beginning. Somehow Saul did not develop the
kind of character that would guide him through his adulthood. God knew this and
so placed him upon the throne, knowing he would fail. David, with God’s help,
did develop a sound character.
What kind of an end are you preparing for yourself?
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