1 Samuel 19 - Character Training

Previously in 1 Samuel, we saw Saul’s love and admiration for David turn to envy when they returned from fighting the Philistines, and the women came out with songs and dances saying, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” From that time forward, Saul eyed David with suspicion, thinking that David would try to take the kingdom. David would one day receive the kingdom, but it would not be due to his taking it from Saul by force. Saul’s envy grew so great that he tried to kill David, either by throwing a spear at him, or simply sending him into battle with the hope that the Philistines would kill him. Despite this, David continued to behave himself wisely, and he grew in favor with all the people.

Saul spoke to his son Jonathan and the rest of his servants that they should kill David, but Jonathan told David of it. He told him to hide in a field while he spoke to his father, and then he would let him know what his father said. So, Jonathan spoke well of David to his father, and told him that he shouldn’t sin against David because David had not sinned against him. He had done nothing wrong, but instead had done good to Saul. Saul had seen the great deliverance that God had wrought for their nation through David, so why would he want to sin against innocent blood by killing him? Saul listened to the reason of his son, and swore “As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed.” Jonathan told David these words, and David returned to serve in Saul’s presence as he had before.

However, there was another battle, and David went out and struck them with a mighty blow so that they fled from him. After this, the distressing spirit was upon Saul in his house, and David was brought in to play for him as he did previously. Remember, this distressing spirit had permission to harass Saul because of Saul’s unrepentant sin. The word for “distressing” can carry with it the idea of causing pain, unhappiness, and misery, and it is likely the evil spirit was taking advantage of Saul’s fears and insecurities that were already there. Saul was already envious of David and suspicious that he would take the kingdom, so this evil spirit compounded the problem. This is what the devil likes to do: he likes to exaggerate our problems to make them seem bigger than they really are. Again, Saul tried to pin David to the wall with a spear, but David slipped away and escaped. As we can see, Saul’s oath to Jonathan that he would not kill David meant nothing.

David went home to his wife, Michal, but Saul sent men to watch the house that they would kill him in the morning. However, Michal let him down through a window, and he escaped. Next, she put an image in his bed, goats’ hair for his head, and covered him with clothes. The image she used was a household idol, and again, this is probably what Saul meant when he thought she would be a snare to David. When the messengers came to take David, Michal told them he was sick. When they told Saul this, he replied that they should bring David up to him in the bed so that he could kill him. Saul was really off his rocker here. When the messengers came in, they found the image in the bed, and they went and told Saul. Saul asked his daughter, “Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?” She replied that David had threatened her with her life if she did not let him go. Michal was put on the spot, but her lie probably only served to further fuel Saul’s hatred for David.

David escaped to Ramah where Samuel was, and he told him all that Saul had done. I am sure that Samuel was grieved, but he also was probably not surprised. David stayed with Samuel in Naioth of Ramah. When Saul found out that David was with Saul in Naioth, he sent messengers to take David. When the messengers came to Naioth, they saw the prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, and the Spirit came upon the messengers so that they prophesied as well. Saul sent two more groups of messengers, and the same thing happened to them. Finally, Saul went to Ramah himself, and as he came to Naioth, the Spirit of God came upon him as well. He began to prophesy as he came to Samuel and David, and when he arrived, he continued to prophesy, stripping off his royal robes and lying in his under garments all that day and night. This may seem kind of strange to us, but it was a way of showing humility that appears to have been prompted by the Holy Spirit. The people said again, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” This is an important lesson to us that operating in a spiritual gift does not necessarily mean a person is right with the Lord. There are hard-hearted individuals, who when confronted with a move of the Holy Spirit, will respond, but unfortunately that is where it stops. Guzek writes, “A person can be affected by the power of God (resulting in amazing experiences), but not surrendered to the power of God, which results in a changed life.” God is more concerned with our changed life than our experiences. This was the case for Saul. He would go right back to his old ways after leaving Samuel. There was a show of repentance, but it will be shallow at best, if not outright false.

In our minds we may have a tendency to think we would serve God more fervently when times are good, but, in fact, the opposite is true. If we choose not to serve God when times are tough, we will not serve Him when times are good either. It is in those times of blessing and prosperity that we drift away from the Lord, become more self-sufficient, and get involved in sinful behavior. It is in the times of trial that our spiritual roots sink deeper in order to soak up the water of the word of God. It is in those times that our faith is strengthened as we, out of necessity, cry out to the Lord and learn to trust Him more. It is in those times that our sinful tendencies and character flaws are revealed so that we can repent and move past them. Moses told the children of Israel, “And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” A. W. Tozer wrote, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” Spurgeon also wrote, “Such mature men as some elderly preachers are, could scarcely have been produced if they had not been emptied from vessel to vessel, and made to see their own emptiness and the vanity of all things round about them.” I am convinced this is why the Lord was allowing David to suffer the things that he did. God had huge plans for David, but in order for David to walk in those blessings, he had to be prepared through suffering. This is why David had the faith that he did, and why he continued to serve the Lord when the times were good. In the next chapter, we will see David’s final departure from Saul, which will begin a life on the run for him for the next several years.

In what ways are we like Saul or David? Is our relationship with the Lord only as deep as serving Him when we experience a move of God or are around a godly leader, or are we like David who was willing to suffer wrong and turn the other cheek? Do we dig deeper into the word of God when times are tough, or do we bail out on obeying Him? My prayer is that we press into Jesus Christ, dig deep into His word, and allow Him to minister to us in those times.

Many of the Psalms were written during this period of David’s life, and I will attempt to share them in connection with the passages in 1 Samuel to which they apply. We will consistently see David turn to the Lord for help during these times.

 

Psalm 59

 

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men. For look, they lie in wait for my life; the mighty gather against me, not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord. They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold! You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to punish all the nations; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. At evening they return, they growl like a dog, and go all around the city. Indeed, they belch with their mouth; swords are in their lips; for they say, “Who hears?” But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense.

My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies. Do not slay them, lest my people forget; scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for the cursing and lying which they speak. Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah And at evening they return, they growl like a dog, and go all around the city. They wander up and down for food, and howl if they are not satisfied. But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; or God is my defense, my God of mercy.