Chosen & Usable

All Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation

Life Application Bible, Profile on Saul: “Saul was God’s chosen leader, but this did not mean he was capable of being king on his own.” Just like Saul we are God’s chosen, but that does not we are “capable” of doing God’s work, living life on our own.

11:6: “Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became angry.” Saul’s anger in this instance was driven by how his fellow citizens of Israel were being treated. God was still with Saul.

16:14-15: “Now the spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.”

18:9-10: “So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman.”

19:9: But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again

In chapter 16, David was sought for his skill as a musician to help soothe Saul when the tormenting Spirit fell upon Saul. David would play and Saul would feel better. His love for David was strong. Until,…

Jealousy hit Saul in chapter 18. In both instances in chapter 18 & 19 when the tormenting Spirit hit, David played his harp. Saul’s reaction was different. He had is spear in hand and hurled it at David. The music was no longer soothing.

In these instances, Saul’s anger was driven by his jealousy of David.

What was this tormenting Spirit? The Life Application Bible note suggests: "Perhaps Saul was simply depressed. Or perhaps the Holy Spirit had left Saul, and God allowed an evil spirit (a demon) to torment him as judgment for his disobedience. Either way, Saul was driven to insanity."

Saul’s downward spiral came when he was in control of his actions, attitudes and thoughts. Chosen or not, God wants to be in control. He wants our obedience.

It has been said that I have these issues of control. I can even admit that I have taken control back from God several times in my life. Like Saul, I can even say that a “tormenting spirit” has come upon me allowing depression and fear to control my thoughts and actions – leading to thoughts that would not have normally been in my head.

The bright side of all of this and the lesson we can take from this is: God wants to use our weaknesses as much – if not more so – than our strengths. I love this thought from the Life Application Bible: “…our strengths and abilities make us useful, it is our weaknesses that make us usable.”

Be chosen, be usable.