Sanity Almost Gone

When Saul saw that Samuel came no more to instruct him, he knew that the Lord had rejected him for his wicked course, and his character seemed ever after to be marked with extremes. His servants … at times dared not approach him, for he seemed like an insane man, violent and abusive. He often seemed filled with remorse. He was melancholy, and often afraid where there was no danger…. He was always full of anxiety, and when in his gloomy moods he wished not to be disturbed, and at times would suffer none to approach him…. He would repeat prophetically sayings against himself with distracted energy, even in the presence of his lords and of the people.

Those who witnessed these strange exhibitions in Saul recommended to him music, as calculated to have a soothing influence upon his mind when thus distracted. In the providence of God, David was brought to his notice as a skillful musician….

David’s skillful playing upon the harp soothed the troubled spirit of Saul. As he listened to the enchanting strains of music, it had an influence to dispel the gloom which settled upon him, and to bring his excited mind into a more rational, happy state.
Saul was shorn of his strength, because he failed to make obedience to God’s commandments the rule of his life. It is a fearful thing for a man to set his will against the will of God, as revealed in His specified requirements. All the honor that a man could receive on the throne of a kingdom, would be a poor compensation for the loss of the favor of God through an act of disloyalty to heaven. Disobedience to the commandments of God can only bring disaster and dishonor at last. God has given to every man his work, just as truly as He appointed to Saul the government of Israel; and the practical and important lesson to us is to accomplish our appointed work in such a manner that we may meet our life records with joy, and not with grief.
Conflict and Courage p. 159
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for L that she can get into a proper treatment program. T
—–Please pray for God’s guidance for my family. E
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Dear Friends,

As we look at the photos of crime, disease, death, war, and destruction on the news we can see how fleeting life is. Indeed, life is not safe and secure anymore anywhere. Truly we have reached the condition of the world before the flood or in Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus warns us, “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:26-30

These things bring home the truth spoken by the apostle Peter. “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.” 1 Peter 1:24 How fragile is life. It can be gone in a moment. How important it is be sure of our standing with our Great Creator, “in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10

“Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 We have assurance but of this moment. We know not what the future holds. Yet, how often we live as if we have an eternity of “the good life” before us. How often we seek the things of this world with scarcely a thought heavenward. Jesus told a parable concerning the futility of this tendency of ours, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

Let us daily “give diligence to make calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10 Let us seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, for we have the promise that all these things shall be added unto us. Let us daily open our heart’s door to our Loving Saviour, Who left the glories of Heaven and the adoration of all the unfallen beings of the universe, to live a life filled with all of the hardships, troubles, and trials that the evil one could heap upon Him, and finally to die upon the cruel cross, that we might dwell with Him throughout all eternity partaking of the joys of that fair land where “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor 2:9

Rose