“But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night. Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.” So she helped him climb out through a window, and he fled and escaped. Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat’s hair at its head. When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and couldn’t get out of bed. But Saul sent the troops back to get David. He ordered, “Bring him to me in his bed so I can kill him!” But when they came to carry David out, they discovered that it was only an idol in the bed with a cushion of goat’s hair at its head. “Why have you betrayed me like this and let my enemy escape?” Saul demanded of Michal. “I had to,” Michal replied. “He threatened to kill me if I didn’t help him.” So David escaped and went to Ramah to see Samuel, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naioth. When the report reached Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, he sent troops to capture him. But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men, and they also began to prophesy. When Saul heard what had happened, he sent other troops, but they, too, prophesied! The same thing happened a third time. Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah and arrived at the great well in Secu. “Where are Samuel and David?” he demanded. “They are at Naioth in Ramah,” someone told him. But on the way to Naioth in Ramah the Spirit of God came even upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy all the way to Naioth! He tore off his clothes and lay naked on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel. The people who were watching exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet?””
1 Samuel 19:9-24 NLT
Saul’s kingship had always been filled with jealousy and anxiety. He was a vastly insecure man whose reign was only legitimate as a concession to a rebellious people. Beyond this, he himself was rebellious toward God. So much so that he alienated Samuel and God and brought impending judgment. It was not a surprise that David would’ve been a logical target for him. Yet, there is something more at play here as well. It is clear that spiritual forces were moving against David. Yet we see that David has one desire. He wishes to serve God’s anointed king. Though he has been repeatedly bullied and threatened and assaulted, he continues to seek to serve the king and God. Even his exile to Samuel was not his first choice. It was orchestrated by his wife. In all this, David remained safe despite the King’s worst intentions, because he simply wished to do right by God’s anointed. Perhaps we think David naive, as Saul was a different type of giant for David to fight. But in his battle with Goliath, David defeated him, not by prowess, but by zeal for God, and faith in God’s ability to protect him. Never do we see him question these two things. When we navigate ill will toward us, we ought to look to him as an example.
Saul’s Reign: Saul’s kingship was marked by insecurity, rebellion against God, and jealousy towards David.
David’s Character: David demonstrated unwavering faith in God, a desire to serve God’s anointed king, and resilience in the face of adversity.
David’s Example: David’s actions and attitude provide a model for navigating challenges and ill will with faith and a commitment to doing what is right.
JOSH McGARY.COM 