In Your Face

So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. [1 Samuel 16.13-14] 

It would seem the work of the "tormenting spirit" that filled Saul reminded him that he no longer had the spirit of the LORD. Nothing could invoke depression and fear more than that!

The irony of it all is that David became a key figure in Saul's life. The worst case scenario of the spirit of the LORD leaving Saul would be for that same spirit to be upon another person right in front of Saul. Never has there been such a case of "in your face!"

This is the perfect picture of what Jesus Christ did to the religious leaders of His day. His baptism with the Holy Spirit (and all that manifested through His life as a result) served as a painful reminder to the religious elite of His day that they were devoid of that spirit. Although they would never admit it, depression and fear drove them to hate Jesus, not for the good works He did, but for the reminder He served of their meaningless, powerless (Spirit-less) lives.

As Saul had begun to interpret the Law to his own liking, the religious leaders did likewise in Jesus' day. In other words, they gave higher priority to sacrifices and rituals than they did to obedience with no idea that Samuel's words to Saul were prophetic of their condition.

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” [1 Samuel 15.22-23]

The significance then of Jesus' baptism and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove is paramount.

The significance then of a believer being filled with the Spirit comes into focus. One must be certain that being filled with the Spirit is a glorious thing, but will invoke depression and fear in otherwise religious people. Hello persecution.

I never would have thought that Saul's story would so clearly portray Jesus in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading. How cool is that?

Father, may my eyes be open to see Jesus in all the Old Testament. May I understand that depression and fear signal the need for rest and peace that comes from the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. So be it.