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Show -- --- PLAYING WITH HIS HAND I Samuel 16: 16, 23; 18: 10; 19: 9 One of the things we used to do to take up or mark time and have something to do was to twiddle our fingers while we day-dreamed. When I was a boy the adults in my community used to advise us, "Find something to do with your hands." The writer of Ecclesiastes 9: 10 insists, "Whatsoever thy handf indeth to do, do it with they might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whether thou goest. " This text is not about having nothing to do but about doing something significant in time of need. King Saul was determined to destroy David. He did not want him to take his place as king 1 - - -- - - - - -- - - - - - and he was embarrassed by the song the women were singing: "Saul has killed his thousands; David has killed his ten thousands." This text is about a land with two kings at same time. Saul was anointed and later while he was still alive, David was anointed. When the original king got in trouble, was fired, and the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, he was troubled by an evil spirit. Saul requested a man who was cunning at playing of the harp. So the found David the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who was cunning in playing and mighty valiant and a man of war and prudent in matters, and comely in person and the Lord was with Him. While David had found favour in the sight of Saul, when the evil spirit was 2 upon Saul, David took his harp and played with his hand: So that Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departe d from Him." (1 Samuel 16: 23) I tell you good music is medicine for the soul and it brings healing to the sick. Maybe he played Psalm 46: 1-2, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore willnot we fear ... " Time and time again the writer of 1 Samuel reminds us that David was a cunning musician who played the harp well with his hand. David was masterful with his hands. With his hands, he killed a lion and a bear. With his hands, he promised Goliath that God would delivered into his hands. With his hands, he picked up five smooth stones. With 3 his hands, he took a stone from the bag and slew Goliath. With his hands, David took Goliath's own sword and cut off his head. With his hands, he took the head of Goliath and "Abner... brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand." (l Samuel 17: 57) Maybe he played Psalm 57, "Deliver me from mine, enemies, 0 my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men. " David was so good with his hands that the women began to sing and dance about his achievements. Saul got mad and had a javelin in his hands. Saul threw the javelin at David to kill him but David avoided out of his presence twice. David just "played with his hand as at 4 other times. " The third time, ,Saul tried to kill David, David just played with his hand and slipped away out of his presence and the javelin got stuck in the wall. He played sweet music. "Deliver me, 0 Lord, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man which imagine mischiefs in their heart: continually are they gathered together for war. " (Psalm 140: 1-2) 5 |
