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AMBIENCE OF PEACE: WHEN THE CHOSEN ARE A HOPE TO THE TROUBLED

AMBIENCE OF PEACE: WHEN THE CHOSEN ARE A HOPE TO THE TROUBLED

(14)  Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. (15)  Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. (16)  Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better." (17)  So Saul said to his attendants, "Find someone who plays well and bring him to me." (18)  One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him." (19)  Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." (20)  So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. (21)  David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. (22)  Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him." (23)  Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. (1 Samuel 16:14 – 23 NIV)

In search for jobs, a young man travelled from a distant district to Zomba to stay with his uncle. The uncle had some mental challenge. Sometimes he could be in strange mood, talking to some unknown or himself under influence of strange spirits. While there, the young man joined a youth fellowship from where he could take home a guitar, belonging to the youth leaders. In the home, the uncle hated the guitar and his Christian music and calling it evil spirit that had come to attack him in his own house. Unfortunately, the young man was sent parking from that home much as the other members of the household did not like the decision.

God, in his final authority had decided to transfer his indwelling power from the rejected king.  Based on what happened to him afterwards seem to tell us that all the qualifications that Saul possessed had their real meaning within the presence or indwelling of Gods Sprit. After departing, we are told an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him affecting state of mind and probably disorienting him from making sound judgments. The suggestion from the king’s attendants on how to address the problem shows that Saul still had powers, but their suggestions for a remedy is far away from involving Samuel the national priest. It further shows that the problem had come to stay with him. The music would just make him feel better temporarily. Somehow Saul’s problem had a solution in David and in the process David would stay in the palace, humble himself under the authority of Saul. It was Gods arrangement to have the young David grow up in the palace and learn. While in service under Saul, David perfected his military skills as he qualified to become Saul’s armor bearer. With the Spirit of the Lord upon him, he became a important not only to play music but was liked and qualified to enter into the Kings service. It is amazing to see that Saul was not at peace, but as long as David was there full of the Spirit of God he found some relief.

There is a lot of pain and suffering in our society today. There are lots of regrets as people are haunted by past scandals and choices. Other people’s practices and minds have been colonized by evil spirits. Are we, Holy Spirit filled believers, a source of relief to our society? Would others want us to stay long with them or we easily become a burden and they do not want us any longer?

Good Morning

Reflections From SCOM