In yesterday's text we found David being protected by human intervention when his wife Michal helped him escape over the wall while King Saul's men were lying in wait for him to arrest him and take him to his death at the hands of Saul. Today we find David being protected in a divine way when the Holy Spirit overcomes three contingents of soldiers sent to arrest him. Finally, Saul comes to do the job himself and finds he is as unable to perform the task as his soldiers were.
When David flees the hometown of Saul he goes straight to Ramah to see the prophet Samuel. He can think of no one else who can be as much help to him as the man who anointed him to be the next king of Israel. He doesn't know what he should do next and he doesn't understand why, if he's supposed to be king, there's a bounty on his head. His first instinct to go to the prophet is borne not only of a need to find a safe place but also of a need to have his faith encouraged. "When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him." (1 Samuel 19:18a)
It's often when we are trying to do our very best to stay within the Lord's will that we meet the most opposition. That is not to be taken as a sign that we are on the wrong track; it's usually a sign that we are on the right track. As the Apostle Paul counseled his much younger friend in the faith, Timothy, who was encountering difficulties pastoring a church: "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12) Satan doesn't want a godly man like David on the throne of Israel. The devil knows the Lord has chosen David as the next king and he is not happy with the Lord's choice. If Satan cannot succeed in getting David killed, he hopes to discourage and frighten David so much that he'll leave the country and reject the calling the Lord has placed on his life. Satan would far rather have a wicked man like Saul on the throne than a man like David who loves the Lord.
When David flees to Samuel at Ramah I think he may have asked the prophet, "Why are all these terrible things happening to me? Are you sure you heard the Lord correctly? Does He really intend for me to be king someday? So many things are going wrong for me that I'm beginning to wonder whether we've made a mistake in thinking I can ever ascend to the throne of Israel. If that is the Lord's will for me, why are so many bad things happening to me? Is that a sign I'm on the wrong track?"
I believe the wise and aged Samuel assured young David that the persecution coming against him is a sign he's on the right track. Samuel lived many centuries before the Apostle Paul but he too was aware that anyone who wants to live for the Lord will face persecution from the devil himself and from those who are allowing the devil and their own carnal flesh to control their thoughts and actions. I am sure Samuel encouraged David that there isn't anyone or anything powerful enough to take him out of the Lord's protective hands. When the Lord makes a decision, such as choosing David to be the king of Israel, it's as good as done even though the fulfillment of the promise may still be many years in the future.
Samuel and David go to Naioth in Ramah where it is believed there was a school of prophecy. This would have been considered a sacred site and may have also been a heavily fortified site. "Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. Word came to Saul: 'David is in Naioth at Ramah', so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul's men, and they also prophesied. Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied." (1 Samuel 19:18b-21) The word translated as "prophesied" can also include other divinely inspired utterances such as public prayers to the Lord and exclamations of His goodness and power and mighty deeds on behalf of man. We don't know what Samuel and these other prophets were saying. We don't know what Saul's soldiers were saying. But whatever it was, it was contrary to anything Saul wanted to to be said or done. Saul wasn't interested in praises or prophesies; he was interested in David being arrested, brought back in chains, and executed. These things are not being accomplished. He should have taken it to heart that none of his men are able to lay a hand on David, that they are being supernaturally prevented by the Lord from doing him harm. But he's unwilling to recognize his sin and repent of it.
Saul decides that if he wants the job done right he'll have to do it himself. "Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, 'Where are Samuel and David?' 'Over in Naioth at Ramah,' they said." (1 Samuel 19:22) Water sources are gathering places. Saul stops at the "great cistern" because he will be able to talk with the people gathered there to confirm that the rumor he's heard about David's location is true.
Upon learning that David and Samuel are indeed at Naioth, Saul proceeds there with murder in his heart. He has no intention of going home without accomplishing his wicked mission. But he too is rendered unable to say or do anything against David. "So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naoith. He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. That is why people say, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'" (1 Samuel 19:23-24) Some scholars dispute the translation of these verses, saying that Saul did not take off all his garments but only his kingly robes or his battle tunic and armor. They feel the word rendered "naked" is incorrect and that it actually means he lay there in his long linen undergarment all day and all night. Whatever he's wearing (or isn't wearing) he's humbled and brought low during this period of time. No king would appear in public in his undergarment any more than he'd appear in public naked. The removal of the fine outer attire of a king may symbolize the Lord's vow to remove him from the throne of Israel.
Saul would love to pronounce threats and curses upon David. It could even be that he'd like to curse the name of the Lord and speak other words of blasphemy. But while in Naioth he can't say a word that isn't put into his mouth by the Holy Spirit. He can't even lift himself up off the ground. He can't put his royal regalia back on and go home. He's completely helpless. He's entirely at the mercy of the Lord and at the mercy of the men who surround him. Yet this outward humiliation doesn't humble him in spirit. He doesn't allow any of this to minister to his heart. He doesn't accept that he can't even take the next breath unless the Lord allows it, much less take David into custody and put him to death. When Saul is finally able to compose himself enough to stand up and move on, he will be as prideful as ever. He will be as suspicious and paranoid as ever. He will hate David as much as ever.
Difficult experiences are going to happen in this life. Some of them are of our own making. Some of them are allowed by the Lord for the purpose of our spiritual training. But the worst thing we can do with any experience is to come out of it no better than we were when we went into it. Saul is no better off at the end of Chapter 19 than he was at the beginning of it. But David is encouraged in the Lord who protected him from violence. David is emerging from this difficult experience with stronger faith and with a closer relationship with the Lord. Concerning how we react to difficult experiences, we can be a Saul or we can be a David. It's clear to see which is the better choice.
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