Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
--1 Samuel 19:20 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on May 17, 2013 of Psalm 93; Mark 15:1-20; 1 Samuel 19-20:34.
As commander of a thousand men (please see verse 18:13), David was showing himself to be a very capable military leader, a mighty warrior, and a man of great valor. He and his men returned victorious every time they went out to battle the Philistines. The people held him in high esteem, and the women began to sing songs about him, giving him credit for being a fiercer fighter than even the King. The more successful David proved himself, and the more his popularity grew, the more resentful Saul became. The King's jealousy finally drove him to the point of having David killed. With his wife Michal's help, David managed to escape.
David fled to Ramah, to seek Samuel's help and advice. Samuel took David to Naioth, a community within Ramah where a school of the prophets was located, perhaps to ask the counsel of the Holy Spirit or to be surrounded by and protected by men of God. When word came to Saul that David could be found in Naioth, he sent men to take David captive and bring him back to the King, most likely to be executed. When Saul's messengers arrived, they saw David in the company of the prophets, with Samuel at their center, and all prophesying. And then an amazing thing happened. The Spirit of God washed over Saul's armed guard and they began prophesying too. To prophesy is to speak for God, to let Him use an other's voice to share His message with His children, to indicate His divine will for all mankind on earth and later in heaven. The only thing special or different about a prophet is the presence of God's Holy Spirit within them speaking through them. This tableau repeated itself two more times with the same result. Three sets of armed guards sent out to do Saul's will, and all turned by the Holy Spirit to do God's will, to speak His word. Saul himself traveled to Naioth to take David prisoner, and he also was overcome by God's Spirit and began speaking His message. Unfortunately, the Spirit didn't stay with Saul and the raging jealousy soon returned, forcing David to flee for his life once more.
In this short tale we see a beautiful and succinct example of how God can take an act meant for evil and make good come from it. Saul's men, and even Saul himself, meant to carry David off to his death. Instead, God poured His Holy Spirit over them and used them to speak His word, to deliver His message to any who were within earshot, leading the people to wonder if Saul was now one of the prophets (please see verse 24). A second lesson we can take from this is that any of us may be filled by the Holy Spirit at any time in order that God might speak through us. His message may come through the words leaving our mouth, or by how we live our life. Be a good and willing prophet. Amen.
Heavenly Father, may Your Holy Spirit wash over us and fill us to overflowing, that we might better serve You and be Your prophets. May the words of our mouths and the way we live our lives be for Your sake and pleasing to You. In Jesus' dearest name we pray. Amen.
David fled to Ramah, to seek Samuel's help and advice. Samuel took David to Naioth, a community within Ramah where a school of the prophets was located, perhaps to ask the counsel of the Holy Spirit or to be surrounded by and protected by men of God. When word came to Saul that David could be found in Naioth, he sent men to take David captive and bring him back to the King, most likely to be executed. When Saul's messengers arrived, they saw David in the company of the prophets, with Samuel at their center, and all prophesying. And then an amazing thing happened. The Spirit of God washed over Saul's armed guard and they began prophesying too. To prophesy is to speak for God, to let Him use an other's voice to share His message with His children, to indicate His divine will for all mankind on earth and later in heaven. The only thing special or different about a prophet is the presence of God's Holy Spirit within them speaking through them. This tableau repeated itself two more times with the same result. Three sets of armed guards sent out to do Saul's will, and all turned by the Holy Spirit to do God's will, to speak His word. Saul himself traveled to Naioth to take David prisoner, and he also was overcome by God's Spirit and began speaking His message. Unfortunately, the Spirit didn't stay with Saul and the raging jealousy soon returned, forcing David to flee for his life once more.
In this short tale we see a beautiful and succinct example of how God can take an act meant for evil and make good come from it. Saul's men, and even Saul himself, meant to carry David off to his death. Instead, God poured His Holy Spirit over them and used them to speak His word, to deliver His message to any who were within earshot, leading the people to wonder if Saul was now one of the prophets (please see verse 24). A second lesson we can take from this is that any of us may be filled by the Holy Spirit at any time in order that God might speak through us. His message may come through the words leaving our mouth, or by how we live our life. Be a good and willing prophet. Amen.
Heavenly Father, may Your Holy Spirit wash over us and fill us to overflowing, that we might better serve You and be Your prophets. May the words of our mouths and the way we live our lives be for Your sake and pleasing to You. In Jesus' dearest name we pray. Amen.
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