An interesting story in the book of 1 Samuel is the story of Saul being tormented by the evil spirit.
When Saul was being tormented what did his servants counsel him to do?1 Samuel 16:14-23
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
15 And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well."
17 So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me."
18 One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him."
19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep."
20 And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul.
21 And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.
22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight."
23 And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. ESV
1 Samuel 16:15-16
15 And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well."
Listen to soothing music. (While the soothing music issue is a very interesting issue, it is for a later discussion.) But what did they not advise Saul to do?
- Pray
- Seek God
- Read the Scriptures
Was Saul ultimately helped by listening to David’s music?
No.
He was only helped temporarily. There was no lasting effect. Listening to soothing and even God centered music did not calm the torment in Saul’s soul. We can see that as we read further into the book of 1 Samuel. Saul was tormented such that he tried to kill David on several occasions and Saul suffered under paranoia and delusional attacks thinking David was trying to kill him.
The music only was a temporary balm, or band-aid, to his troubled soul. The true relief that Saul could have found in turning to God and his Word was not offered to him by his counselors.
It is a lot easier if we just stick band-aids on another’s soul than when we actually deal with the real issue, separation from God. How can we not direct another to the true source of healing from the torments they face?
I’m sure the servants that counseled Saul were concerned for themselves and they sought immediate relieve for Saul if only to make their own life easier. It would have been much harder to point out to Saul that his disobedience had turned God away from him.
Is it easier for us to seek the immediate relief when counseling another than to deal with the real issues and direct another back to the Lord?1 Samuel 28:16-18
16 And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?
17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.
18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. ESV
You bet it is.
But temporary fixes do not work.
Despite the fact that Saul was soothed by David’s music, he was also more and more tormented as time went on. Throwing spears in the castle are not signs of a soothed soul. I’m sure that the servants suffered even more during Saul’s mental breakdown.
Oh that we would always encourage another to seek the Lord.
Isaiah 55:6-7
6 "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ESV
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6 comments:
In my own life, I have found it best to make sure any advice I offer is Bible based.
I am often worried about giving pat religious answers to complex problems but I have found that Biblical counsel really isn't as simplisitic as those who deplore it make it seem.
For example, if an abused wife asks me if she should leave her husband, the answer isn't simplisitc at all. There are some who would say that to leave a mate for any reason other than adultery is sin. She should just take it. That isn't Biblical in the sense that the command to raise our children in the discipline and nurture of Lord can hardly be lived out while exposing the children to abuse.
It is possible to separate from abuse without dissolving a marriage by way of divorce. one can pray diligently for God to move while keeping the children safe from harm. Therefore, a wife can separate from abuse and still remain married.
I have found that folk don't like that type of counsel however, because they are not interested in godly counsel, but rather relief from bounds and freedom to live their life as they see fit. To that end, most wives want to be told that it's legitimate to divorce so they can remarry rather than separate and honor God even if means they live without a mate.
That was just an example but I think you see my point. Usually, I try to refrain from offering advice at all unless it's specifically asked for. It seems the safest route.
I see what you're saying Terry and I agree. Sometimes it's not so simple.
What I've found is that some people don't want advice so much as they want validation for something they want to do anyway. If they are believers, then I simply point out in Scripture what they should do. If they're not believers, than I take a different approach. I know that at the core of everything we need Jesus (but they don't know that). So my goal is to get them thinking about the bigger picture, which is Jesus, and I do this by asking questions designed to get them to think about things. Since most believers don't want to hear about Jesus or be "preached at", I've found the questions to be quite effective.
Ex: I used to work with a guy who has practiced many different types of religions (all pagan) and at the time he was a witch. He was telling me that all religions are good etc. and they all did the same things. So I asked him if he knew anyone who's life has been transformed, I mean REALLY changed as a result of a particular "religion" and he thought for a moment and said 'yes.' I asked which religion and he said Protestant. (which we all know is not under the pagan umbrella but the Christian one) After this, he got quiet and thought long and hard about this.
I wanted him to tell me evidence that he has witnessed himself of the power of Jesus and he did. Now if he has answered differently, I would have handled this differently but I wanted to get him thinking about the True power amidst all of these false religions.
This is just an example but no matter what, I cannot let a conversation go by without somehow getting them to think about Jesus.
Excellent!
I have found only recently after seeking after many "counselors" that the only true council is in the Word of God and this cannot be imparted by anyone..or wished on anyone or received by osmosis.
It must be read. For faith come from hearing and hearing from the word of God.
ALL, that is right ALL of my torment came from disobedience. I may have been ignorant and untaught...but I still suffered the consequnces of my disobedience.
And yes, no one wants to hear it...all the other advice is tempory or even makes things worse.
Great post!
Many Blessings :)
Ace
Terry,
You are correct that all advice should be Biblically based. In your example, I have noticed that the focus seems to always be concerning the divorce issue, yet everything else that the Bible instructs us in that applies is ignored. Such as obeying civil authorities (abuse is illegal), church discipline, others holding someone accountable, etc. can all apply. However, you are right that divorce seems to be the only focus and either it is no, you can't ever or yes, you can anytime, depending on whom you ask, with very limited Biblical basis given beyond a single verse taken out of context.
Actually, I have found that in some ways we are actually counseling others whether we intend to or not. See if I don't say anything that sometimes speaks just as loudly as if I do. If say someone uses the Lord's name in vain in my presence, yet I ignore it, I have said by my actions that it does not matter to me and that actually I'm not concerned for the other person nor for the Lord’s name.
Berean Wife
Carol,
You said:
What I've found is that some people don't want advice so much as they want validation for something they want to do anyway.
So true! Some will even go around and around looking for someone to give them the answer they desire and they aren't content until they get it.
Sometimes I have found just getting others to think is hard to do. No one seems to think anymore. It seems to be a dying art, every possible moment is filled with music, TV or some sounds in order to not really think.
You can't go wrong if you are getting others to focus on Jesus. It is even good for us because we have to be looking to Jesus to point the way.
Berean Wife
Ace,
Hey, you've been gone a little while. Missed you.
You are right. God's Word is the balm for our soul, and only it will sooth our torment. As Terry said those pat little "Christian" answers and platitudes do nothing. The Bible is a treasure to dig into, to taste, to relish, and to ponder. Unless a counselor, or friend, directs you to the source of living water all else will be in vain. The more we get into the Word, the better it is.
Thankfully, the Lord has called you to His Word to relieve your suffering. We all suffer the consequences of our disobedience as beloved children of the Father. For whom He loves, He will chastise. Oh, if we could just stay on the straight and narrow path, but though we wander, He will call His own to Himself.
Berean Wife
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