In our last devotional we noted how David experienced some down time in the home of Samuel, at Naioth (1 Sam 19:18). David’s life had turned into a bizarre and topsy turvy carnival ride after his glorious victory over Goliath. The megalomaniac King Saul was trying to murder him and David was on the run. David landed at a godly man’s home, where he was afforded safety and hospitality.
We also noted that David had been anointed to be king (1 Sam 16:13). At that time David had had a spiritual experience: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.” David was energized by the Holy Spirit, and he was different. The Lord invaded his life, just as we invite God to be Lord of our life. Becoming a vessel for the indwelling Spirit of the Lord was not an experience generated by David. The Holy Spirit does not intend to visit, then leave for other duties – you are his focus.
You are 100% his. He takes over. That’s a good thing. It might be uncomfortable when he prompts you to do things contrary to your old self, but your heart is his home, and he is there to do a major renovation. The new heart/home is going to be transformed like they do on TV shows- old houses getting turned into dazzling mansions. The Lord is going to flip your heart. It is not instantaneous, it is a process. Room by room, even those closets where you got dark things hidden, you will be made new.
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:5).
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom. 8:11).
Listen, if the Holy Spirit had power to raise Jesus from the dead, he can handle your life. You will cry ‘Uncle’ before he gives up. Go with the flow.
But where does your will come in? Am I just going to be a robot? Is the Holy Spirit like a 4 Star General, and I have to obey every mind-blowing command? Well, kinda. You and the Holy Spirit partner together: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Rom. 12:1). ‘Spiritual’ means- this is totally reasonable and rational.
Guess what? You present yourself. You offer yourself. You volunteer. Just like when you were called into a formation in the military, you presented yourself. You volunteered for whatever the mission was going to be. No one filled in the blanks ahead of time. You came to formation to get your orders. If you did it in the military you can do it, spiritually. You are not the captain of your own soul. Like David, you are the Lord’s – he’s your 5 Star!
Here’s the really good part. The mission the Lord has for you is way above your pay grade. You don’t qualify for it. But he is going to prepare, and train you to step into a billet you cannot manage by yourself. Now here’s the really, really good part: “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” (Rom. 8:26). David was not a superhero. The Spirit turned him into someone far more effective than his own natural ability, as he will with you! “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20).
The Spirit will manage things that you have no clue about! “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Rom. 8:26). He’s way ahead of the game, and planning, preparing, and praying for you, for the next things in your life! Just get used to it. You are not in charge, but you get to reap all the benefits! You and the Holy Spirit get to partner together. He is the tightest bro you will ever have! He’ll never leave you, not for a millisecond!
Back to David in Naioth.
Samuel gave him hospitality. David had a safe place to land. Though there are no walls, or weapons, or soldiers – it is safe. The Holy Spirit was managing things. Samuel has a place where the Word of God is being proclaimed. It was a gathering place for a ministry conference: “…when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came…” (1 Sam. 19:20). Prophesying means to proclaim under the influence of a divine spirit.
Remember, at this time in Biblical history, there were not many books of the Bible. Maybe the first six books [Genesis to Joshua], and probably the book of Job, maybe Ruth, but likely not more, at least not the 66 we have today. This was a formative time, and spiritual revelation was coming in esoteric ways.
This ministry outreach by Samuel was something that had been going on for some time. They not only had ministry in the Word, they also had worship with music: “you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying.” (1 Sam. 10:5). So preaching of the Word and music and praise – sounds like our modern-day Church.
One man was standing, leading them: “prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them… “(19:20 ESV). What happened? “The Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.” (19:20). Gathering of godly people with the ministry of the Word of God, changing lives. That is where the Lord put David for further training to be King of Israel. Read the book of Psalms, the songbook of the Bible. It was written primarily by David. It is about authentic worship and praise and value of the Word. You have worship, fellowship, leadership, and discipleship all going on in Naioth- just like Church today!
David sounds a lot like the happy man: “Blessed [happy] is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Ps. 1:1, 2). A King will be focused on the Law. This time at Naioth was deeper training for his new job as King. The Lord will put you in the same training. He’s the 5 Star that has big plans for you.
