THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: WEDNESDAY, 3RD MAY, 2023
TOPIC: DIVINE UPLIFTING AND CONNECTION
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 16: 11-23
11. And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."
12. So he sent and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this [is] the one!"
13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
14. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15. And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.
16. "Let our master now command your servants, [who are] before you, to seek out a man [who is] a skillful player on the harp; and it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well."
17. So Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring [him] to me."
18. Then one of the servants answered and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [who is] skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD [is] with him."
19. Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me your son David, who [is] with the sheep."
20. And Jesse took a donkey [loaded with] bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent [them] by his son David to Saul.
21. So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.
22. Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight."
23. And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play [it] with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
MESSAGE:
David was anointed king over his elder brothers. God chooses whom He wills for His work. The Spirit of God came mightily on David and departed from Saul (v.14). Because of disobedience, Saul opened his life to torment by an evil spirit. Stories abound of people who became addicted and possessed by watching pornography, occult films, reading immoral novels, drunkenness, etc. The Spirit of God does not strive with man forever so do not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph.4: 30). Be careful about the way you live so that evil spirits will not gain entrance into you and introduce sinful characters and lifestyles to you (Gal. 5: 19-21).
David was also divinely connected to the palace for his musical skill. He was so anointed in this area that his musical prowess could calm King Saul when he was troubled by the evil spirit. Don't neglect your skill, rather, pray for God's anointing on it and develop it to become efficient. God can create a future vacancy and that skill might be the only curriculum vitae that will take you to the palace, like Joseph, Daniel, etc. Therefore, live a committed Christian life devoid of guile; develop your skills and the God of divine connections will take you from being a "shepherd" to an "employee" at the palace.
PRAYER:
Father, help me to always walk in obedience to Your commands, in Jesus name. Amen.
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