CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR NOVEMBER 5, 2021 : TOPIC – THE WRONG ANTIDOTE
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Friday, November 5, 2021
THE WRONG ANTIDOTE
Read: 1 Samuel 16:14-23
1 Samuel 16:14-23 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
MEMORISE:
Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well (1 Samuel 16:16)
EXPOSITION
King Saul had flagrantly disobeyed the commandment of God when God sent him to destroy the Amalekites – everything. Through Samuel, God anointed David as a king-in-the-making. Consequently, God withdrew His Spirit from Saul and permitted an evil spirit to trouble him. Evil spirit from God? Yes. The evil spirit that God allowed to torment Saul from the devil, given the fact of Saul’s preference for disobedience, recalcitrance and vendetta, instead of remorsefulness, repentance, that would bring restoration. For relief, his servants suggested that a skilful player of the harp be sought to play for him whenever he was afflicted. David was eventually suggested for the job. (1 Sam. 16:16-18).
Nevertheless, though David was picked for the assignment, the decision itself was the wrong antidote for the problem. Music, no matter how skilfully composed and therapeutically played, cannot cure the ailment of sin. He was only getting temporary relief to enough to make him repent but he became hardened. The countless number and kinds of music in the world today should have solved the innumerable challenges the world is facing, but problems would continue until songs lead to REPENTANCE.
This is the problem of many sinners today. They want to get to heaven, but don’t want to repent and conform to God’s holy unchangeable standard. Rather, they prefer to make big donations in churches, fast and pray for days, and do all sought of ‘pious’ religious acts, supposedly to appease God. No thanks to the deceptive pastors, prophets, evangelists, etc. who wouldn’t tell them the truth because of what they get from them. Good works without repentance from sin is not acceptable to God.
Saul had a momentary relief each time David played the harp, but his madness remained, because he didn’t repent of his sin. That is what happens to all who desire to please God using means. Without genuine repentance, no permanent blessings from God.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, forgive me all my sins, as I repent today.
2. I receive grace not to go back to sin, in Jesus’ name.
3. Lord, grant your Church more fearless, fiery preachers of holiness who would condemn sin and point people to You for better living.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Jeremiah 25:20 – 27:20; Titus 1:12 – 3:1