Holy Spirit

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. 1 Samuel 16:13-14

In Bethlehem, at Samuel’s request, Jesse brings his sons in to let Samuel look them over. The oldest son, Eliab is the physically superior son, which causes Samuel to think to himself, surely he is the Lord’s anointed. But, God tells Samuel He does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. For us today, we may look like a model Christian, but remember God’s word, He is looking at our heart. Make sure your heart is right with God, everything else will follow.

Jesse parades seven sons before Samuel, but none is the one God has chosen. David the youngest son is brought in from the fields, and it is he that God has chosen, and so Samuel pours the oil over him to anoint him. He is not king yet, but it is a matter of God’s time before His chosen one is made king. Today’s scripture tells us that from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. And at the same time, the Spirit of the Lord departed Saul. Here is a clear distinction of the work of the Holy Spirit in Old Testament times compared to New Testament time. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit filling was a temporary filling. The Holy Spirit could be taken away as it was from Saul. David understood this as he penned Psalm 51, “take not your Holy Spirit from me.” Since Christ’s death on the cross, the Holy Spirit comes to inhabit the believer. The Apostle Paul describes the Holy Spirit as our seal when we believed in Jesus. We can trust Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. It is comforting to know that no matter the situation, He is there with you.