GRACE AS PRESENTED IN DAVID (1)
GRACE AS PRESENTED IN DAVID (1)
SMcC One of the great distinctive features of the present dispensation is that it is the dispensation of grace. It stands out unique in that way, and David particularly, in the Old Testament, stands out in type in administration, and is illustrative of this great feature of grace. As we have more than once noted, it was an extraordinary thing in David’s history that, having sinned as he did, he should have been forgiven. That is an outstanding thing in the Old Testament, because rightly speaking, his sin deserved death; but as we would take account of it with the help of the Spirit, we can see that God is throwing into relief, in David, this great feature of grace, because he peculiarly sets it out in the Old Testament. And too, we find not only the matter of having his sin forgiven; but also in regard to his actions and movements we find him breaking through certain bounds, as the Lord Himself said, “Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry ... How he entered into the house of God and ate the shewbread ... “, alluding to a certain occasion. These features in the type would help us to understand the greatness of grace as presented in David.
The brethren will also recall how, in the great administrative gospel of Matthew, the assembly gospel, the line of David is emphasised at the beginning, the Lord Jesus Christ coming in as Son of David; that taking precedence over the Abraham line of faith. David stressing the line of grace, grace as we may call it in a regal way. Because when we come to Romans, grace reigns. And in Luke, which deals with the priestly side and the working out of the economy of local assemblies, the line of David is again stressed, as it says in relation to our Lord’s incarnation, “And the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father;” Luke 1: 32. And then in 2 Timothy 2, the charter for the last days, Paul says, “Remember Jesus Christ raised from among the dead, of the seed of David, according to my glad tidings.” Also, in the book of the Revelation, David is constantly referred to. He represents the best side of things, and the best side of things as linked with this glorious dispensation of grace. There is nothing to surpass it in either what has gone before or what may come after, the assembly coming into the dispensation as the great vessel of grace.
EB Do I understand that in regard to David, he is first of all seen as the recipient of grace and then as the exponent of it in a royal way?
SMcC Both sides are seen in David. At times he is a type of Christ, as in the chapter before us; at other times he is a type of the believer. He sets forth both sides - the administration of grace, and grace received and appreciated.
CAI Is it significant that in the last words of the Revelation the Lord says, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify these things to you in the assemblies. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star.”
SMcC So that in all the localities there would be a movement of spiritual emotions in the presentation of Himself as the root and offspring of David, representing the best as David does, and the side linked with the administration of grace. God must have peculiar pleasure in this great thought of grace. It says, “ ... that he might display in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2: 7. There must be something so infinitely pleasurable to God about grace that He is going to display it in His kindness towards us.
WJB Saul was both fleshly and legal; he had enjoined the people not to partake of honey. Jonathan had transgressed that injunction and he said, “My father has troubled the land.” 1 Samuel 14: 29.
SMcC Yes, he represents a side of things which is parallel with David’s side of things in the beginning of David’s ministry; David has to suffer in relation to it. Whilst he is anointed here in this chapter, he does not assume the throne immediately. He has to learn the element of suffering as persecuted by Saul.
AJC In Acts 13 we read, “ ... he raised up to them David for king.” It says He did this, “having removed Saul.” Is it necessary for the one to be removed before the other can be established?
SMcC I think so. What is established here is that God has rejected Saul, but we find that Saul continues for a good while; and the exercises that would follow in the following chapters and the rest of the book, would involve our having a right judgment of Saul, dissociating ourselves from all that is linked with the system of things built up in relation to him.
MB Does this period help to bring out the practical features of grace in David? On Wednesday evening, you helped us in regard to what is to be viewed abstractly; David never departed in his thoughts from the fact that Saul had been anointed king. He held to that thought and he acted consistently with it.
SMcC Showing the greatness of David, that he would not assert his own rights or what really was true of him in the anointing. He would abide God’s time in the matter, while having a right judgment as to what Saul represents.
EBMcC He comes before us in a feeling way - he was feeding the sheep. And he is attractive, ruddy, and of a beautiful countenance.
SMcC That would be a feature of grace; grace is on the line of supply, not the line of demand. The legal man, Saul, is on the line of demand but grace is on the line of supply. We often get a clue as to persons in their introduction. What marks Saul in his introduction is that he is looking for something which he cannot find; but David is feeding the sheep and carrying on an administration for Jesse.
FGS As to the matter of feelings, are they suggested in the sacrifice that Samuel is to take?
SMcC I think so. We do not want to be marked by the wrong kind of feelings, but by right feelings. We shall see that as we proceed in the subject of David. The question to Samuel was, “How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” It is a question of what God has done, “I have rejected him from reigning over Israel.” Think of a spiritual man like Samuel detained in this way!
EB The Saul features are related to the flesh.
SMcC We have to learn how to judge these features. Samuel felt so much about Saul, that God had to come in with a word to him, “Fill thy horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons.”
CWM God had another man in His mind. I was wondering if we see that in the address to Philadelphia in Revelation 3. God definitely had David in mind - “These things saith the holy, the true; he that has the key of David, he who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open.”
SMcC I think Philadelphia represents the best and the choicest features of the assembly, and therefore you can see how suitably the reference to David fits in in that particular phase of church history.
CSK Would you say that in this prophecy to Samuel, there is the dividing between the light of God and religious flesh, so that true leadership can come in.
SMcC I think that is the teaching in regard to it. It is a very sad matter that a man like Samuel, a man of such prophetic ability, should be detained over this matter of Saul. God says, “How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him.” It is not what the people had rejected but what God had rejected.
FGS It is what we can count on?
SMcC How is this to be met? It cannot be met by a negative side of things, but it can be met by the introduction of David. The clear line of demarcation between the false, religious darkness in Saul, and the features of freshness and life in David is clearly seen.
EHB You speak of the regal thought. Is grace typified as reigning in David - where sin abounded, grace in David abounded over all that was found in Saul.
SMcC I think David’s history and regime sets out that thought; we shall see that more as we proceed, the regal thought in David, the way it comes into practical expression in himself. But then we see, as you remarked, God coming in Himself to provide David after the breakdown in Saul.
GH Would you say that Samuel is finally adjusted regarding Saul in the presence of David, when David is anointed? He is adjusted in the presence of the one who typified Christ.
SMcC I think Samuel got help as he went along; the full result of it would be seen when David is brought in.
CFI “I have provided me a king among his sons.” Is that not a rich suggestion of grace, God coming in with the supply typified in David?
SMcC That would bear out what has been said that over against all that had come in in Saul, grace is abounding, although it is not the dispensation of grace in the Old Testament, but the type is there. “I have provided me a king among his sons.” It is what God is doing in relation to Himself.
CFI And then it says, “Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah.” Is that a suggestion as to how things are to be wrought out in the saints?
SMcC I think the heifer suggests that if David is to be brought in it must be in relation to a subjective state among the brethren.
AI The system of Saul is set aside in order that something may supersede it.
SMcC I think what is to be noted in the first part of the chapter is the filling of the horn of oil, and the taking of the heifer, both representing two different features of the truth. The filling of the horn of oil would allude to spirituality in the prophetic ministry, which is to give a lead in this great matter, a lead in regard to the bringing in of David. Then the heifer is the side which bears on the saints themselves. The horn of oil stands linked with Samuel.
MB The apostle says to Titus, “For the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared, teaching us that, having denied impiety ... we should live soberly ... .” Would that involve deliverance from the man of flesh?
SMcC Exactly. The thought of grace is referred to in the epistles and in the gospels. Our minds need to be enriched in relation to it.
ELR God does not take account of Samuel’s fear. He does not seem to answer that.
SMcC Samuel is a lesson for all of us here. He was mourning for Saul, though God had rejected him. In the previous chapter Samuel had said, “He hath also rejected thee from being king.” But his feelings are operating against the light that has come into the position. A solemn thing that we should be acting against the light that governs the position.
FRG Is that the reason why they trembled at the coming of Samuel? He had not got clear in his own soul before God.
SMcC You can see how far this influence extended in chapter 14; it says that “the men of Israel were distressed that day” because of Saul’s word. Think of the distress he occasioned in Israel! Jonathan was marked by faith. The matter extended, and here we have the elders of the city trembling as Samuel came to Bethlehem. But Samuel was coming to bring David in.
WHW Would you say that if the prophetic ministry is to go forward, there must be a corresponding state amongst the saints?
SMcC I think the Lord would suggest that He has in mind this great thought of adjustment among the brethren, so that there is a purified state as the heifer suggests, which would help the prophetic service and ministry.
EBMcC Samuel said to Saul, “Jehovah has rent the kingdom of Israel from thee today, and has given it to thy neighbour, who is better than thou.” Are we not to take up this scripture, seeking to understand what God is doing at the moment?
SMcC I think so, and in relation to what you are saying, how are we to meet the negative conditions of Saul and his regime, if it is not in the spiritual power of the ministry and a purified state among the brethren?
GJG It says, “fill thy horn with oil;” it was Samuel’s personal understanding of the matter. But when it is amongst the brethren it is the horn of oil; Samuel would bring all the brethren into it livingly.
SMcC Jehovah says, “How long ...?” That is, matters have to be gone forward with. It is not a question of being detained with Saul. God has provided a king among Jesse’s sons.
CSK What about his error in relation to Eliab? Do you think it would be that while Samuel accepted that Saul was rejected because of objectionable features, he had not really come to see the need of a different kind of administration?
SMcC The introduction of David involves the full displacement of the man after the flesh.
CFI Samuel recognised personal defects in Saul but did not see that God had rejected that kind of man.
SMcC It is a question of what God has done - “Seeing I have rejected him.” It is not a question of personal likes, but what God is exposing. He would get to the root of a matter.
AMcKH Samuel’s vision seems to be defective in this matter.
SMcC The more one looks at this portion, the more one sees the help there is for us in it, in that Samuel was a remarkable personality. How is it that he could have been deflected? How is it that we are deflected at times? You say, we cannot understand it; but the point is that we should not be detained by what may have turned us aside. We should get adjusted by the word from God, and as adjusted be with God in what He is going on with.
MB “I have rejected him.”
SMcC It is God in the matter; it is not our personal matter or personal prejudices, but God is in this matter.
Rem God would have us all take this matter to heart.
SMcC I think that is the point, that everyone of us have to get help in regard to this matter of rejecting the man of sin and shame - the legal man, the man who brings in nothing but shame and distress amongst the people of God. What is contained in the glad tidings would help us to get clear of that man.
FGS God is referred to as “the hope of Israel.”
SMcC Yes, and in Luke the Lord comes in on that line.
HWB Is it significant that the last feature of Saul’s administration, which might appear to have been on the principle of grace, was his not facing up to an issue which was evil? I refer to his sparing Agag. It had the appearance of being on the principle of grace but it was not.
SMcC It is important that we should see that grace does not mean licence in regard to evil. The more we apprehend grace, the more we shall reject evil, because “the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared, teaching us that having denied impiety and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and justly, and piously in the present course of things.”
JGM Why is the thought of sacrifice brought in here?
SMcC I think it is the basis on which David is to be brought forward. It is something that the brethren are going to be brought into in this locality in regard to the introduction of David.
GWB Christ brings before us the operation of God’s power; legality will never do that.
SMcC Legality produces trembling and distress, but David brings in conditions of restfulness and joy amongst the people of God.
EBMcC Do you think “Arise, anoint him; for this is he,” is the same as the Lord being anointed at His baptism - “This is my beloved Son in whom I have found my delight?”
SMcC I think so. God has drawn attention to Christ just as He has drawn attention to David here; and it is important that we should see the two sides of the position in Samuel’s horn of oil and the heifer. They are two features as to which divine Persons are especially helping us in the present conflict.
ABM Is the taking of the heifer optional?
SMcC God says, “Take a heifer with thee.” Samuel is commanded to do it.
CFI Samuel would always remember that feature in his ministry.
SMcC Exactly, and we can see how Abigail is really the product of Samuel’s ministry. I think she comes in from the standpoint of the heifer.
Rem There is a substantial result to his ministry.
SMcC His words had not fallen to the ground.
MB “If Saul hear it, he will kill me,” Samuel said.
SMcC It is important that we should see the need of a right state among the brethren. We may say, the leaders need adjusting; maybe they do, but the state of the saints needs adjusting too, if David is to be brought in.
FGS Is it a right concern to say, “We will not sit at table till he come hither?”
SMcC We want to see the great thought of what David is committed to in the anointing. The Lord Jesus was the anointed vessel in Luke’s gospel, but He has gone on high, and the local assembly comes under our view as the anointed vessel, the vessel that God is committed to. This is illustrated to us here in the type.
RGC Is state suggested in the thought of the heifer, emphasised In the word that “Jehovah looketh upon the heart?”
SMcC Exactly, and especially are we to be in line with what God is doing - He is rejecting this great legal system of things suggested in Saul.
WHW Would you say that the thought of the heifer would develop greatly with Samuel as he went along? He would see his own salvation in it, and then he would see the way in which the trembling of the people would be met too.
SMcC I think so; the feature of the heifer would not only develop with him in this chapter, but right through we see how it works out in relation to David; “But all Israel loved David.” We get the daughters coming out to meet him. It all suggests the effectiveness of Samuel’s ministry being in the heifer.
EHB Is the sacrifice of the heifer similar to the thought - “obedient unto death?” I was wondering whether Samuel would be required to obey the word of the Lord, and all it involved.
SMcC He was commanded to take a heifer. He says, “if Saul hear it, he will kill me.” Samuel begins to think about himself. The fear of man is a terrible thing; it is part of the legal system. We are afraid to say something, but the truth is the truth, and if God is in the matter, He will be with us, so that faith needs to operate in these matters, as it did with Jonathan previously.
TR “I will tell thee what thou shalt do.” We have to learn to consider for God in a matter.
SMcC And when it comes to David’s being brought in, we are greatly cast upon God. When Samuel was bringing Saul in, God apprised him of certain things; but He does not do that when David is being brought in. He does not tell Samuel until the moment that David appears; that is, when we come to the side of grace as we are thinking of it in relation to David, we are tested as to how God will come into the matter. Immediately David appears, Jehovah says, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
AMcKH We often think we are right and yet we have to leave much with God. “Jehovah looketh upon the heart.”
SMcC Man cannot look upon the heart. It is Jehovah’s province.
CFI The Lord spoke of what He was in His heart “I am meek and lowly in heart.”
SMcC And the Psalms would unfold what was in the affections of Christ in His manhood; the Spirit of Christ in the Psalms would delineate the great matter of the heart. We shall come to that later in the readings; the feeding of the sheep would link with the matter of the heart.
PB Eliab proves later by his anger and criticism of David that he could not be the Lord’s anointed. God looking upon the heart, can tell how man will behave himself. We know how Eliab acted in the next chapter. And Samuel said when he saw him, “Surely Jehovah’s anointed is before him.” But Jehovah said to Samuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him.”
SMcC Exactly; and this heart matter is very important because we are so prone to look upon display, so prone to look upon the parade of human strength and knowledge; whereas, when we come to David, it is what is linked with the heart, what comes under the eye of God.
FRG The Lord said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me.”
SMcC That is, that this kind of administration leads to rest of soul; an important thing, rest of soul. And we find the answer to that in David’s ministry.
AMcKH So the administration of grace would take account of what is said - “For with the heart is believed to righteousness; and with the mouth confession made to salvation.” Romans 10: 10.
SMcC Exactly, and the heart linked with that. The mouth is important.
AMcKH In verse 8 it says, “the word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart.”
SMcC It is a question of what is said in Romans 10 - “The righteousness of faith speaks thus.” In verse 5 it says, “For Moses lays down in writing ... .” But when it comes to the righteousness of faith, it says it “speaks thus.”
RHLG Referring again to the heart, is that linked with the thought of the affections, our appreciation of God?
SMcC It is connected with what is inward. David brings us to the inward side of things, though the outward side is referred to also. But man is so prone to look on what is outward in the way of show and appearance, something that is involved and pretentious. The flesh seems to gravitate towards it.
RGC Some were pretentious in Galatia.
SMcC Paul said they were nothing to him.
MB Paul was careful that there was nothing in his outward demeanour that could encourage them to attach themselves to man after the flesh.
SMcC We should be concerned that our hearts are right, because the flesh is so subtle that even in confession of sin or wrong-doing the flesh might build up some line of aggrandisement. The mouth comes into operation in the expression of what is in the heart.
FRG When the Lord said, “I am meek and lowly in heart,” it is a challenge to all of us.
SMcC It is very interesting that the following chapter immediately brings in David and his administration. The legal element was challenging the disciples as to what they were doing, and the Lord, takes up their matter and defends them as to what they were doing.
RGN God looks on the heart, and it says also in verse 12 that “he was ruddy, and besides of a lovely countenance and beautiful appearance.” It is not the height of his stature. We are to note that in verse 7 it says, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature.” It does not say, “Look not on the countenance.” Eliab was the man who chided David when he was going to bring in deliverance to the people of God.
WHW This matter of grace will develop with us. Would it correspond with what we have in John 1, “grace upon grace?”
SMcC We must get our eyes on Christ. Each one of us has to come to a thorough judgment of the man of sin and shame. In regard to Eliab and Abinadab it says, “Jehovah has not chosen these.”
GRD When David does come into his right place, there is a reference to them; they are spoken of as his brethren.
SMcC It is an interesting touch in the chapter that he is referred to as anointed in the midst of his brethren, as if there is an environment now where all these other features are eliminated. Another view is given us here, his brethren; not now the features of the man of sin and shame but a suitable environment in which David can be anointed.
SC There is a suggestion here that they were all prepared to go on without David.
SMcC I think that is very touching, that the brethren were all prepared to go on without David, but Samuel says, “We will not sit at table till he come hither.” The man after the flesh must be rejected and the man of spirituality brought in.
REH A man of another kind altogether.
SMcC We are very good perhaps, at seeing the flesh in other people, but the thing is that we are to come to a judgment of it in ourselves. One feels for oneself the painful lessons involved in reaching the end of that man. You say, I understand it from F.E.R.’s ministry or J.B.S., but nevertheless, I must come to it in my own soul.
CFI In regard to Samuel, he saw it quite clearly in Agag, but not so clearly with others.
SMcC If a man like Samuel was deflected like that, it might explain a good deal why some of us are deflected at times, when we think we are doing what is right; but God has to bring us back to the anointed Man, the Man after His own heart.
RAH In view of conditions which have prevailed amongst us, it is time we took stock? We have evidently been supporting the wrong man.
SMcC The ministry would bring in David in all his attractiveness as a common uniting point amongst the saints. Who will unite the brethren? David will; not Saul, not Eliab, God says the same thing of Eliab as He says of Saul - “I have rejected him.”
EB “The Spirit is life.” Romans 8: 10. Is that the introduction to David? Having in mind what was referred to earlier, we need to take stock of the results which have accrued from following the wrong man.
SMcC David brings in the line of vitality. He is of a beautiful appearance. Reference is made to what he was externally, working out of course, from what he was internally.
CAI The whole of the meeting can be carried away if David is not there.
SMcC The lesson is for everyone of us to see what is possible with our hearts if we do not thoroughly judge Saul, the man after the flesh.
MB It is a deep lesson. Abraham said, “O that Ishmael might live before Thee!”
SMcC Exactly. So that the horn of oil is a very important constituent in this matter. In Galatians the Spirit of God is emphasised time and again; and we must make room for the Spirit first in ourselves, because that is what the filling of the horn of oil would mean - the prophetic ministry carried forward in the power of the Spirit; and then in the anointing. It is the way Christ is honoured.
MB One of Saul’s young men is mentioned - he was intelligent about this matter.
SMcC It is remarkable that one of the young men should have a right judgment; he knows where God is, he knows God’s man. How far he apprehends it is another matter, but he knows that there is something about this man which is different from anybody else.
EBMcC Why does it say that David was skilled in playing?
SMcC Music is a valuable feature; it is one of the great things which we shall ultimately see comes into David’s regime; it does not come in under Moses. Singing does, but not music. David brings in the great thought of music and instruments; so that we must have David.
FGS “Anoint him; for this is he.”
SMcC Exactly, and so it says in regard to the singing and the music in Colossians, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.” I think there is a correspondence somewhat in Colossians to this matter of the excellencies of Christ being enlarged before our view.
CEJ David is spoken of in the Acts - “I foresaw the Lord continually before me.” David had that Man before him.
SMcC Quite so. As you say, this matter of being skilled in playing is the first feature mentioned, because we want to bring out the best that is among the brethren, not the worst in the flesh. And then it says that he was a valiant man; the playing does not militate against his military prowess in conflict. The truth has to be stood for and maintained.
CEJ Is it maintained through righteousness?
SMcC That is it, the valiant man and the man of war would represent the maintenance of the truth through conflict. And then it says, “skilled in speech, and of good presence, and Jehovah is with him.”
TR “A skilful player on a harp.” A harp is a very delicate instrument.
SMcC The harp here seems to have an influence even on Saul, a remarkable thing.
MB “He shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.” Would the principle be that we should help the brethren if they do not see a thing?
SMcC Exactly. It is not a question of giving up the truth; the truth must be maintained and we are to help each other in relation to it, holding the ground but seeking to bring out the work of God.
RGC Would the skilfulness mentioned in verse 18 be the result of Jehovah’s being with him?
SMcC I think that is the great point to see. Here is a young man, one of Saul’s servants apparently, and he says, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse.” Apparently his eyes were opened to see where God was and what He was doing. You might say he would make the most of Saul, but he is looking to where God is and linking on with that.
AMcKH Would you say a little as to “skilled in speech, and of good presence?”
SMcC Skilled in speech represents the ministry.
While David is not formally alluded to as a prophet, yet he sets out in a remarkable way the matter of prophetic ministry, and in 2 Samuel 23 it says, “The Spirit of Jehovah spoke by me,” that is, he was a man whose speech made room for the Spirit of God.
GWB “Never man spake like this man.”
SMcC We are reminded of how like Jesus David was.
RLP Would these features be seen beautifully in Paul as taking character from Christ?
SMcC I think so, very much so. And in Acts, where Stephen is going over the Jewish position, it says that his countenance was like the face of an angel. He was skilled in speech and of good presence. He says, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”
ABM Does it involve the new man coming in?
SMcC It does, so that we are to be like Jesus in all our ways.
CEJ It seems as though Jehovah named David; they did not know who he was.
SMcC I think the Spirit of God is calling attention to his name here immediately following his anointing. The name David brings in the thought of lovability. Do the saints love me? How the saints love Christ! Do they love me? I may by force and arbitrary power bring about certain things, but do the saints love me? That is what is involved in being like Christ, that the affections of the saints are drawn out.
CAI Would you suggest that those who serve among the brethren should seek to be lovable?
SMcC That is the great point. Think of how Paul was loved. We see it in Acts 20. It is an important matter that we should draw out the affections of the saints.
MB All the more so when the saints are carnal.
SMcC In Corinth they spoke very disparagingly of Paul even though he had begotten them through his ministry.