Early Lessons from the Palace

1 Samuel 16:14-23

The Spirit of God departed from Saul leaving him to his sin.
Because of the emptiness of his life an evil spirit came in.
The torment of his soul was intense causing all joy to cease.
Only when David played his harp could he experience peace.

God was the author of the event that brought David to the King.
He learned much from all he saw as he would play and sing.
David could see the anguish of Saul deep in his tormented soul.
He wisely continued to yield to God giving Him full control.

What can we learn from this short account? Is there a lesson here?
Without God’s Spirit as troubles mount, we lose all hope and cheer.
When we tell God to take a hike; that we want full control,
Our arrogance leads to emptiness, a void within our soul.

We were created to be filled and led by God’s Holy Spirit.
The trouble with this message is so many will not hear it.
Our fallen nature rises strong insisting on its way.
Soon we’re held captive by fallen flesh much to our dismay.

Perhaps you are a child of God but living far from His ways.
You have no joy or peace within knowing how far you strayed.
Remember how the faithful shepherd left the ninety-nine
To journey into the wilderness the poor lost lamb to find.

Jesus is that shepherd now. You are precious to Him.
When he died upon the cross, He paid the price of your sin.
If you continue to wander away all peace and joy will leave.
The Shepherd is calling to those astray with love too great to believe.

Only a fool resists such grace refusing to walk with Him.
Only a fool continues to live captive to self and sin.
In the Bible the Psalmist wrote, “The fool says there is no God.”
To profess Christ but live in the world is confusingly odd.

You would be wise to check your condition, to make your salvation sure.
You should have as your ambition to grow in the Lord mature.
You will find the longings of sin will gradually slip away.
The Spirit will give you peace within as you walk with Him every day.

© Copyright 2010 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved