Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20020324.htm

1 AND 2 SAMUEL: GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OVERSIGHT
Part XX: Minimizing MENTAL Troubles By Following GOD'S Spiritually Equipped Leaders
(1 Samuel 16:14-23)
  1. Introduction
    1. When God arranges for a party to lead His people, He equips him with the Holy Spirit's gifting for effective ministry in that leadership role, cf. 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 8.
    2. However, some wonder if a Spirit-led ministry is effective for one's mental health, or if he needs secular counseling besides a Spirit-led ministry for such welfare. 1 Samuel 16:14-23 answers this question:
  2. Minimizing MENTAL Troubles By Following GOD'S Spiritually Equipped Leaders.
    1. When Saul disobeyed God, as was possible in the era of the Law and unlike the Church era, He took His Holy Spirit from Saul and allowed a demon to plague him, Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to 1 Sam. 16:14.
    2. This contrasted to the Holy Spirit's coming mightily on David when Samuel anointed him king, 16:13.
    3. In this way, GOD arranged for DAVID to begin doing His will by ruling Israel starting with SAUL:
      1. The demon God allowed to come upon Saul plagued him with some form of unrest, 1 Samuel 16:14b.
      2. As was the apparently common solution, Saul's courtiers suggested he acquire a skillful musician to play on a quieting, comforting instrument like the harp to settle Saul's restless spirit, 1 Sam. 16:15-16.
      3. Saul agreed with the suggestion, commanding his courtiers to provide such a musician, 1 Sam. 16:17.
      4. At this point, one courtier who knew of David, gave a glowing recommendation of him for the job:
        1. A courtier mentioned David, the son of Jesse of Bethlehem, was such a musician, 1 Sam. 16:18a.
        2. In fact, he noted David was a brave man and a warrior, very possibly having been told of David's brave achievements of slaying a bear and a lion who came for his sheep, 1 Samuel 16:18b; 17:34-36 NIV. [The fact that Saul requested David who was with the sheep in 1 Samuel 16:19 reveals he had undoubtedly been told of David's exploits as a shepherd, which exploits are reported in 1 Samuel 17:34-36 as his killing a lion and a bear as a lowly shepherd!]
        3. Beyond being a brave warrior, the courtier told how David had an appealing capacity to speak, was a fine looking man and that the Lord was with Him in his life, 1 Samuel 16:18c NIV.
      5. This glowing resume convinced Saul to acquire David, so he sent for him, 1 Samuel 16:19.
      6. David arrived respectfully bearing bread, a skin of wine and a young goat for a feast for Saul, and this gift together with David's bearing and conduct greatly impressed Saul, 1 Samuel 16:20-21a. In fact, Saul made David his armor-bearer he liked and trusted him so much, 1 Samuel 16:21b.
      7. Saul formerly requested Jesse allow David to stay in his court, so David entered Saul's service, 16:22.
      8. In this way, whenever the demonic spirit plagued Saul, David would play in the power of the Holy Spirit to overpower that demon's influence on Saul, 1 Samuel 16:23.
      9. Accordingly, David's ministry by the Holy Spirit through music much as believers TODAY are to minister to one another in Christian music (cf. Ephesians 5:18-19), was used of God to lead SAUL, and thus prepare for the day when David would reign over all of the kingdom of Israel!
Lesson: As GOD wanted DAVID to REPLACE SAUL as Israel's rightful king, GOD arranged for a SWITCH in the Holy Spirit's enabling from Saul to David, and for Saul to be plagued mentally by a demonic spirit so that SAUL would be forced to be HELPED by DAVID'S spiritual LEADERSHIP!

Application: (1) Mental trouble is REVERSIBLE by the believer's exposure to the HOLY SPIRIT'S ministry TO him through Holy Spirit-gifted leaders so assigned and so equipped by the Lord to minister, cf. 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 8 and 1 Timothy 4:14-15, 16. (2) Hence, it is in the believer's best MENTAL WELFARE interests for him to YIELD to the LORD'S leading to accept and follow the ministries of God-appointed, Spirit-empowered and led leaders, 1 Cor. 12:31a. This INCLUDES regularly attending to the ministries performed by such leaders. (3) Also, those who LEAD must be careful to FOCUS on the use of the GIFT the HOLY SPIRIT has supplied them in the Spirit's power rather than ministering in other ways and means. Non-God-gifted efforts can only eventually fail as is tragically illustrated in the life of Saul himself!