Page 468 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_05_MacArthur_Bible_May.qxd 8/8/03 15:41 Page 449

MAY 8
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to 50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph,
51
you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” a council member, a good and just man. He
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there had not consented to their decision and deed.
was darkness over all the earth until the ninth He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who
hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the himself was also waiting for the kingdom of
45
52
veil of the temple was torn in two. And when God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the
46
53
Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped
“Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn
Having said this, He breathed His last. out of the rock, where no one had ever lain
54
So when the centurion saw what had hap-
47 before. That day was the Preparation, and the
pened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this Sabbath drew near.
was a righteous Man!” 55 And the women who had come with Him
And the whole crowd who came together to from Galilee followed after, and they observed
48
that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they
56
breasts and returned. But all His acquaintanc- returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils.
49
es, and the women who followed Him from Gal- And they rested on the Sabbath according to
ilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. the commandment.
DAY 7: Contrast the spiritual anointings of David and Saul.
David was first anointed by Samuel “in the midst of his brothers” (1 Sam. 16:13). David’s first
anointing was before his family/house. His second anointing would be before the assembly of his
tribe,Judah; and his third anointing would be before the nation Israel.At this time,“the Spirit of the
LORD came upon David.”This familiar Old Testament expression relates to empowerment for some
God-given task (see 10:6,11; 11:6; 19:20,23; 2 Sam. 23:2; 2 Chr. 20:14; Is. 11:2; 61:1; Ezek. 11:5; 37:1).
David’s anointing was an external symbol of an inward work of God.The operation of the Holy Spirit
in this case was not for regeneration, but for empowerment to perform his (David’s) role in God’s
program for Israel. After David sinned with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11; 12), he prayed,“Do not take Your
Holy Spirit from me”(Ps. 51:11).
When David’s ascent to the throne began, Saul’s slow and painful descent began also.“The
Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul” (1 Sam. 16:14). Without God’s empowering Holy Spirit, Saul
was effectively no longer king over Israel (15:28), although his physical removal from the throne,
and his death, happened many years later.“And a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.”
God, in His sovereignty, allowed an evil spirit to torment Saul (see Judg. 9:23; 1 Kin. 22:19–23; Job
1:6–12) for His purpose of establishing the throne of David.This spirit, a messenger from Satan, is
to be distinguished from a troubled emotional state brought on by indwelling sin or the harmful
consequences of the sinful acts of others (e.g., spirit of jealousy, Num. 5:14). This demon spirit
attacked Saul from without, for there is no evidence that the demon indwelt Saul. Saul, whose
inward constitution was already prone to questionable judgment and the fear of men, began to
experience God’s judgment in the form of severe bouts of depression, anger, and delusion, initiated
and aggravated by the evil spirit assigned to him.There are several New Testament occasions where
God turned people over to demons or Satan for judgment (see Acts 5:1–3;1 Cor. 5:1–7;1 Tim.1:18–20).

5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him,
May 8 and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the
men of war, and he was accepted in the sight
of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s
1 Samuel 18:1–19:24
Now when he had finished speaking to
18 Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the 18:1 Jonathan loved him. Jonathan loved
soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his David with a loyalty and devotion indicative of
2
own soul. Saul took him that day, and would covenantal love (18:3). Hiram of Tyre had
not let him go home to his father’s house any- much the same covenantal love for David (see
more. Then Jonathan and David made a 2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Kin. 5:1; 9:11). David’s later reign
3
covenant, because he loved him as his own from Jerusalem is marked by loyalty to his
4
soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was covenant with Jonathan (2 Sam. 9:1).
on him and gave it to David, with his armor,
even to his sword and his bow and his belt.
449