1 Samuel 16:1
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
For the rest of this week we will considering the next part of this story which we didn’t get to look at on Sunday, the tale of David playing the lyre to calm Saul’s troubled spirit, but for today I wanted to go back to the opening verse of this chapter. Samuel was mourning because of the loss of Saul and all the effort and trouble he went to in getting him in place. God tells him to stop and fill his horn with oil as he has a new king to anoint. This reminds me of Paul’s comments in Philippians 4:12-13:
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
The secret to contentment is to rest not on our achievements or possessions or reputation, but in the knowledge that God is with us.
Spirit, fill us so that we may know your presence with us at all times and in all circumstances and find peace and contentment through you.
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