Saul's falling away as King of Israel and envy of David

1 Chronicles 9:35-39; 1 Samuel 13:1-5; 1 Samuel 13:19-23; 1 Samuel 13:6-18; 1 Samuel 14:1-52 (New King James Version)

This is a rose from the path where I work.  Isn't it beautiful?  I have more!  I went to Urgent Care yesterday.  There was a huge chunk of ear wax that was festering the infection.  Ewwwwwwwwwwww!  Anyway, it was flushed and the doctor gave me some drops to help the healing along.  Feel much better today, Praise God!  It helps to be able to get some good sleep without pain cycling through the side of your head.

The Family of King Saul

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

Saul takes it upon himself to present a sacrifice to God because he thinks Samuel isn't going to show up.  Samuel tell him that his kingdom will not reign and that the LORD will be looking for a man after His own heart to reign.

No Weapons for the Army

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

Saul’s Rash Oath

Saul’s Continuing Wars

1 Samuel 15-17:31 (New King James Version)

Saul Spares King Agag

Saul Rejected as King

Saul keeps saying to Samuel - the LORD "your" God.  What's up with that?  When we don't say that God is "my" God, it doesn't have any power in it.  There's a song - Oh God, you are my God, and I will ever praise You. 

Samuel kills Agag (some like to give him the title Agag the fag) and hacks him into little pieces.  He said, "may your mother become childless this day" - well, that pretty much says it.

Now God has totally rejected Saul because he has only done parts of what God wants him to do. 

We must be sold out to God.

Samuel mourns for the king.

David Anointed King

God asks Samuel how long is he going to mourn for King Saul........  Samuel takes a red heifer to Bethlehem for a sacrifice.  God tells him one of Jesse's sons will be anointed king of Israel.  They all pass before him and none are selected.  He asks if there are anymore sons and David is brought in from keeping the sheep.  He is anointed king - scholars say he was probably around 16 years of age.

A Distressing Spirit Troubles Saul

¹⁴ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.   Oh God, I pray that your Spirit never departs from me.  Life without You is so hopeless and empty.

David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17:32-19:17; Psalm 59; 1 Samuel 19:18-24 (New King James Version)

Saul Resents David

David does as God wants him to do, and Saul resents this because God's Spirit has departed him.  God blesses whatever David does.

David Marries Michal

Saul gives Michal to David to be his wife, that she would be a snare to him.  Wow, that's a great father-in-law wish!  That's ok, honey, just go get him killed.  You go girl!  What jealousy and envy will do to a relationship.

Saul Persecutes David

I started this yesterday and got to here. 

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.”^[a] A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him. Psalm 59

So David flees to see Samuel.  Samuel is with a group and they are prophesying.  Saul sends messengers to bring David back and they start prophesying, and another, and another.  Then Saul goes and he starts prophesying.  Must have been a powerful prayer group! 

I don't know what they were prophesying about, it doesn't say, but God gives us powerful inspirations, so it had to be good, hallelujah!