FAITH CAPSULE: In your God appointed position, have you lost the presence of God?
1 Samuel 16
The word of God is true to perform and perfect. The word of God cannot be broken and they give life to those who take to it as commanded by God. God declared, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) God is true to His word. David a man after God’s own heart testifies that God magnified His word above all His name. (Psalm 138:2) A failure to obey the word of God is a straight passage to self-destruction. Are you disobedient to any of His word of command? Proverbs 13:13 declares, “He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” To despise His word of command is the evidence of lack of fear of God. To despise the word of His command is an avenue to destruction.
King Saul was appointed by God as the first king over His people. During the course of his reign, disobedient on his part set him apart from God. After having disobeyed the word of God in the second year of his reign, he remained as King for forty years. King Saul was king for a long and reasonable time, but with no reasonable time with God. King Saul violated God when he despised the word of His command. After he despised God’s command,
“… 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.” (1 Samuel 16:14-15) Saul became evicted from the presence of God while he was still serving as God’s appointed one for God’s people. In your God appointed position, have you lost the presence of God? In Saul, it was evident that he was at the seat of power but power had left him. Does that sound like you? It is possible for any man to have lost it with God and not know. In the case of Saul, after he had lost from the presence of God, he became exposed to acute mental suffering, affliction, and distress became his portion.
When God’s presence is withdrawn there can never be anything to make up for Him. Attempt to use David, a skillful player; a mighty man of valor was not enough to make up the presence of God which departed Saul. David playing an instrument was only instrumental for temporary solution; God cannot be substituted in any situation or under no circumstances. Despite skillful play by David, King Saul’s distress spirit could not depart. King Saul despised God and destruction became his portion.
Prayer for today: Ask for deliverance from every spirit of destruction.