Lust means: a desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden. There are people who lust for sex while others lust for power, fame, and fortune. They all have a similar problem- they are respond primarily to their fleshly desires at the expense of others. They will use manipulative means to get what they want at all costs. The Apostle Paul knew exactly what lust was when he was Saul for he took no prisoners when he was rising up in the ranks among the Jews. As we know, Jesus had a corrective interview with him. The good news is that Paul repented and penned two thirds of the New Testament by THE HOLY SPIRIT. In Galatians chapter 5 he wrote:
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Those who lust consume and devour at others’ expense. They look for ways to extract resources from others without regard of the consequences. They attempt to exalt themselves above others, wanting to be served at all cost. King Saul represents this mindset. Saul had everything going for him as we see in 1 Samuel chapter 9:
1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
Saul looked the part of a king- tall and handsome. FATHER told Samuel to anoint Saul King because of the cries of the people so FATHER gave them what they wanted. He was selected king but was unable to handle the anointing given to him for he was not patient and took matters into his own hand. This resulted in Samuel’s response when Saul failed to wait for his arrival before presenting burnt offerings in chapter 13:
13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
This story provides us a contrast between a person who uses the anointing for his own benefit versus one who Loves FATHER fully and completely. David’s anointing was proven by the lion, the bear, and Goliath. This shepherd boy simply wanted to do FATHER’S Will and understood FATHER’S Heart. He was willing to serve whereas Saul wanted to be served.
Saul’s impatience cost him the crown. If he had only waited another 24 hours and allowed the proper order to be fulfilled. How sad, but things get worse. In chapter 16, Saul develops a new problem, a distressing spirit comes upon him and he can’t sleep:
14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.
The only solution to this distressing spirit is to bring David into his midst to play the harp:
16 Let our master now command your servants,who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”
David’s anointing kept the “distressing” spirit at bay and Saul was able to function for a time. But in the end, Saul would be replaced by Love’s anointing. Lust may prevail for a time but it has no future. You have a choice to walk in the Spirit of Love or walk in lust as Saul did. Paul urges us in Galatians chapter 5
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
In the Old Testament we find two men with different spirits: one of lust and the other of Love. In the New Testament we see one man who walked in those same two spirits: lust (Saul) and Love (Paul). Thankfully men can die to the flesh and become a new creation for Paul proved this reality. What better person for FATHER to use to convey the Truth of Love versus lust.