READING FOR MARCH 20, 2025: 1 SAMUEL 16, ROMANS 6, PSALM 22:1-11 1 SAMUEL 16 It can be painful to observe someone mourn for the loss of a loved one. From observation, it seems that different people mourn in different ways. Those of us coming along side of the grieving person should not have any expectations for a one-size-fits-all mourning period. Remember Job’s unhelpful friends. But in God’s total omniscience, he told Samuel it was time for him to move past his grief over Saul’s situation and forward to God’s next project for him. Perhaps all of us should be alert to the moment to resume life as we deal with grief.
So, God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the next king. Samuel, perhaps irrationally, offered the excuse that Saul would kill him. God graciously offered Samuel a safe way to frame the trip that was not dishonest. When the elders of Bethlehem saw Samuel arrive, their reaction reminded this writer of setting up a meeting between an employee and the Human Resource director: immediate terror. Samuel was able to calm everyone down by framing the visit positively. When Samuel entered Jesse’s house, he assumed the oldest son would be the next king. God immediately told Samuel that He, unlike humans, looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. (That gives some of us hope.) After reviewing seven sons of Jesse without God’s confirmation, Samuel found out there was one who was away watching the sheep. As we know, this was David, God’s chosen. He then received the anointing from Samuel. If we have placed our faith in Jesus, we are God’s chosen in some important way. Are we aware of the calling He has for us and living fully into it? If not, pray and seek counsel with a pastor or trusted Christian friend ASAP. Time is too short not to spend it for God’s glory.
It seems that as the Spirit of God left Saul, it rushed onto David, even though David would not be officially made king for several more years. Verse 14 states “an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him [Saul].” This is difficult to interpret. Perhaps it means, as with Job and Paul, God allowed Satan to torment Saul. It is interesting that Saul’s servants knew immediately what it was. This kind of sensitivity to spiritual activity among us seems like a lost skill, much like writing in cursive, although much more significant. In God’s amazing sovereignty, He was able to use this evil spirit and David’s musical giftedness to bring David to Saul’s palace and event- ual service as a trusted amour bearer. Keep taking piano lessons and see what God does.
ROMANS 6 Paul goes to great lengths to be sure he is not misunderstood. Just because grace increases more than sin, we should not sin more to increase grace. That would be an afront to Jesus, who died to save us from the power of sin.
READINGS FOR MARCH 20, 2025 CONTINUED: ROMANS 6, PSALM 22:1-11 Paul then uses the act of baptism as a physical representation of the spiritual transformation that happens upon putting our faith in Jesus. We are buried with the crucified Jesus in water baptism, and we emerge with the risen Jesus to newness of life. This dramatizes the death of the sinful self to become alive in Christ. Water baptism publicly announces our salvation but does not save us. For example, Paul, then Saul, was called a brother by Ananias before baptism. Later, Cornelius received the gift of the Spirit before baptism. Baptism followed soon afterwards both times, as it did on the Day of Pentecost. Baptism acknowledges Jesus before others: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven” (John 10:33). Baptism lifts up the Gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).
Paul warns those who have experienced this new life to no longer allow sin and its lusts reign in our bodies. This must have been a danger or else Paul would not have mentioned it. Even though we are transformed spiritually, Paul states we still continually need to present ourselves to God as slaves of righteousness. Paul says this ongoing process leads to sanctification or personal holiness. He reminds us that the end result of sin leads to death as opposed to the gift of salvation, which leads to eternal life. LET’S NOT SIN.
PSALM 22:1-11 Here David expresses what he truly felt, and likely what all of us have truly felt at times: forsaken by God. This is the same sentiment Job expressed throughout. And most importantly, these are the very words Jesus quoted on the cross. Of all these instances the only statement objectively true and not only a personal expression was Jesus’s. He alone experienced total separation from the Father as He bore all our sins. Yet, those today in war- torn countries or in the midst of famine or in crises of purpose might sense that God has let them down. In verses 3-5 David gained some perspective through history and good theology, but this seems quickly trumped by his current experience (vs.6-8). Then David reflects back on God’s prior faithfulness (vs. 9-10), which becomes the basis of a prayer request to God (vs. 11).
This real-time look into David mind is a fascinating model for us. Are we brave enough to share with God our real feelings and the really bad experiences we are having? Do we bring our historical and theological knowledge to bear in our self-talk, along with looking back at how God has walked with us throughout life? Do we bring everything to the table when going though problems? Or do we just stew in our sadness or feel guilty for how we are feeling? What a model for us! Stopping at verse 11 today is hard to do, but let’s stick with the plan.
