This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of student teacher Chris Dilley’s exposition of Samuel 16-23 given on Sunday, October 27, 2008.

These chapters present a monumental section in the process of redemption history as Saul is rejected and David becomes the anointed king. Here we find the surprising selection of a shepherd boy to be the leader of all of Israel. The Lord did not choose the more prominent sons of Jesse, who like Saul only offered a veneer of leadership. Rather in God’s wisdom, He chose the small and seemingly insignificant son. Anointed by Samuel, the Spirit of God departs from Saul and he immediately becomes the prey of an evil spirit. In order to relieve the torment he faces, Saul ironically has David come and play music to calm his spirit. This spiritual warfare gains David uneasy favor in the eyes of Saul.

Chapter 17 brings us to a familiar passage providing the account of David versus Goliath. Traveling to Israelite armies frontline to bring food to his brothers, David finds a giant who taunts the Israelites and defiles the name of the Lord. David, who focused directly on the glory of God, becomes the only Israelite who is willing to go forth and fight the Philistine giant. Showing his royal incompetence, the great king of Israel cowers in his tent, rather than leading his people into battle. By contrast, David’s reckless abandon towards the purposes of the Lord demonstrate spiritual strength and skull-crushing power. This is evidenced by how David is willing to speak through this account, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God (v. 26),” “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head (v. 46),” and finally, “For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand (v. 47).” These words show who is the true leader of Israel—David God’s anointed king.

With chapters 18-23 we see how the transition from Saul to David is beginning to take place. Even though those in Saul’s own family see what is happening and begin to align themselves with David, Saul becomes enraged as he sees the kingdom slipping from his hand. Throughout these chapters, Saul pursues David and seeks to take his life and in the process many others loose their life at the hand of King Saul, including the temple priests at Nob. Throughout these episodes David escapes death and continues to rely upon the provision of the Lord.

The story of Saul and David is the story of two kingdoms: one of the flesh, one of the spirit. In Saul, the Word of God depicts an ignominious king controlled by the flesh, while in David, the Spirit displays the power of God in the life of his beloved ruler. As we read these royal accounts, may we grieve over our own failures of the flesh when we attempt to grasp for God’s kingdom; and may we be all the more encouraged to live in a manner like David, pursuing the glory of God in the power of the Spirit regardless of the worldly outcome, knowing the battle is already won by the Lord!

~ds