TOPIC; A HARP, OR A SPEAR?
Read: 1 Samuel 18:1-16
1 Samuel 18:1-16 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family.
And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.
As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand
And he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
MEMORISE: And he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. (1 Samuel 18:11)
EXPOSITION
Both harp and spear are instruments, though they do different works. While the former is a musical instrument, the latter is a weapon of war. David, a devoted and sweet Psalmist, loved playing on the harp right from his childhood. He was so prolific in this art that his service was required in the palace (c.f.Prov.22v29). He praised God and made others happy with his harp. We are all beneficiaries of some of his psalms of praise today.
However, as David was busy using his harp to praise God and sweeten people’s heart, including the King Saul who was inflicted with intermittent insanity, the derailing king was planning to use his spear to destroy David, a kid whom God used to save him and Isreal from the uncircum
Goliaths reproach! What was that?
Spear is to be used on the enemy at the battlefront. Saul ought to have used his spear against Goliath, not David! Thank God, David escaped his devilish plan twice. Saul should have joined David in singing and dancing to God who gave Israel victory over their enemies, but he started chasing shadows. That step worsened, thing for him as the bitterness in him incapacitated him to move on to pick the pieces of his life. He ended up shamebolically and died ingloriously.
Dear devout, never you join yourself with shadow-chasers! They are many everywhere, even in churches. They don’t welcome or appreciate progress, development, and unity. Instead of drumming support for good and worth while things, they, like Saul, cast their spears at the arrowheads of such initiatives. They rebel and conspire to ensur good dreams never materialise. Why? Because they are filled with violence and evil spirit. Their actions necessitate remembering today as International Day of Non-violence. But like Saul, such people don’t last!
Are you one? If yes, come off that now, because doom looms! You should be a lover of good things. Be an encourager to somebody who is doing his best for the Lord. It does not matter if you are mentioned in the chronicles of events of your church, family, or community for an exploit. What matters is that glory is given to God for everything.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Make me a lover of good and worthwhile things, O Lord.
2. Spirit of envy and covetousness, out of my life, in Jesus name.
3. Lord, punitively deal with Satan-deposited rebels retarding the progress of churches and the furtherance of the gospel around us, in Jesus name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY
Ecclesiastes 5:15 – 8:16, Galatians 5:11 – 6:6
AUTHOR
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH W/W