David Flees Saul
1 Sam 19:1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
Saul was out to get his new son-in-law; envy and fear of losing power was greater than his family ties. David was a gracious man, not out to get Saul, but the wicked spirit within the king, sought to destroy the young man who had God's spirit.
1 Sam 18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
Saul spake to his son and his servants, that they should kill David. Jonathon loved David, and they had the same love for the LORD. The servants also admired David, but they would obey the king.
1 Sam 19:2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
David and Jonathon had made a covenant to always be friends. It is rare to have a friend that will remain true. For sure, if both have God's spirit, there is a greater chance for faithfulness. Saul had all the fruits of the flesh, they destroy friendships. A young person must be careful to not believe the words of love from an unsaved person. They are looking for their own desires and know not the deeper commitment that comes from abiding in Christ.
1 Sam 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
1 Sam 19:3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
We are to submit to our parents and authorities, but not when they ask us to break God's Laws. David had done nothing to deserve death. Gods law said "thou shalt not kill."
Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Peter and the apostles disobeyed authority when it opposed God's will.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Jonathon looked out for his friend's best interests. He was vital to David's safety. It is great to have friends who will stick by you, when the enemy rises against you; and who do not side with the enemy. Jesus is this kind of friend.
1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Sam 19:4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
1 Sam 19:5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
I true friend will be consistent. Many times, people become crowd pleasers or go along with popular opinion. It takes character to stand with another who is of good report, or oppose another if disobeying God's commands.
1 Sam 19:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
Jonathon changed Saul's mind and Saul gave his word, that he would not slay David. Jonathon was David's advocate. But can you believe a man who God had removed his presence from? Jesus is our advocate.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1 Sam 19:7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
They were reconciled; Jonathon had a ministry of reconciliation.
2 Cor 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
1 Sam 19:8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
Sam 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
David was able to go into warfare and he was able to sing praises, his strength was in the LORD.
Neh 8:10 .. for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
David had the fruit of the Spirit, strong in battle, yet meek of heart.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
1 Sam 19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
So soon Saul has broken his vow. Let's personalize this. How do we keep from repeating old ways of sin? Old habits may be hard to break. We must not be in a place of temptation. David had won a battle, he was before Saul when a bad spirit came upon Saul. What was in Saul's hand? A javelin, he should have kept his hands away from that which was used in the past to sin. He should not have been alone with David.
David fled, and escaped that night, a fugitive, never to return to the palace again for 20 years, until he was king.
1 Sam 19:11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
Saul sent messengers of death to David's house, they were out to kill him in the morning. His wife warns him, use your own way, but escape tonight or you will be dead tomorrow. She knew her father's heart, but her heart now was with her husband.
1 Sam 19:12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
David had done no wrong, he trusted in the LORD and he could expect the LORD to watch out for him. He was after God's own heart.
At this time David writes a Psalm in song. Psalm 59:
Psa 59:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
Psa 59:2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psa 59:3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
Psa 59:4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
Psa 59:5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
David appealed to God, because of Saul coming against him by sending two men to slay him. David called these who sought to kill him, heathens and wicked transgressors.
Psa 59:6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Psa 59:7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
Psa 59:8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
Psa 59:9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
They were loud and arrogant, as dogs. David asks the LORD to deal with them.
Phil 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision (cutting off).
Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Psa 59:10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
Psa 59:11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
Slay them not, but bring them down, O Lord my shield. God keeps us from being killed by evil people.
Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Psa 59:12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
Psa 59:13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
He becomes stronger in his words, consume them in your wrath.
Deu 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Psa 79:6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
Psa 79:7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
Psa 59:14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Psa 59:15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
Psa 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psa 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Psa 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psa 59:17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Psa 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Psa 7:10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
Psa 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psa 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
We are to have the ministry to help others escape satan's plans. We should also learn to escape satan's snares using what God supplies us.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
We trust always in God. He is our strength. He sometimes uses his people to help us, but, we must walk in faith in the Spirit. He is our protector, He will deliver us from the enemies plans. The enemy may be real, or of the thoughts. Our God delivers us, for we are in His Son and under His protection. We have a covenant relationship through faith as David, who dwelt in His Spirit.
David and Samuel
1 Sam 19:13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
The word "image," is from terephim, a household idol used to worship. Well, what was Michal doing with a household god image? This reminds me of Rachel, Jacob's wife, who stole her father's idol images.
Gen 31:19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.
Life size images, like you see in one church, were not usual. Normally they were only a few inches tall. But, these were forbidden in God's commandments.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Michal stuffed the bed with the statue and a goat's-hair pillow at it's head and covered it with a cloth, to make it look like David was sleeping.
1 Sam 19:14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
1 Sam 19:15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
Saul had such hatred for David, his daughter's husband that he sent the men back to bring David, bed and all to him so that he himself might kill him. He did not think about his earlier oath.
1 Sam 19:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
1 Sam 19:16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
1 Sam 19:17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
Michal was not the friend that her brother Jonathan was to David. She lied to her father to make herself look innocent and that made David look bad. She told Saul that David threatened to kill her, so that's why she let him go. This would only give Saul more reason to pursue David. Michal was an idol worshipper and a liar, Saul must have known she had character flaws when he gave her to David as a snare to him. Who wants a liar as a wife?
1 Sam 18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
1 Sam 19:18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
1 Sam 7:17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
The young David went to Samuel, the man of God who had anointed him. The young need the godly counsel of a proven servant of the LORD. Samuel had witnessed God's judgment on Saul and had withdrawn from him, never to serve him again. David now the target of the ungodly spirit within Saul probably was looking for comfort and perhaps answers to questions. The two went to the prophet's dormitory in Ramah. Here, apparently men of like minds gathered to speak God's word and to hear from the counsel and teaching of the wise prophet, Samuel. They would be taught to hear God's voice and to respond as Samuel heard and responded as a boy.
David never blamed God, he had strong faith in the LORD. Yet, sometimes I am sure he wondered if he had done something wrong? Why was he being accused and attacked by the king, what had he done? It was spiritual warfare, a person of God will always be the target of the devil. Take heed, what will you do, join with the devil to find peace? Hell has no peace, but only eternal torment. God had still favored David with protection from Saul's own children. Jonathan warned David and Michal warned him and helped him escape. Their seemed to be flaws in his wife's character, as she lied to her father and she had an idol statue. Small lies grow into separation from God and man.
1 Sam 19:19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
1 Sam 19:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
Prov 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Samuel and his students were having a Holy Ghost worship meeting. The LORD's presence was there. The messengers were sent to get Samuel, instead they got the Holy Ghost and began speaking inspired words and praises. There is power in worship and God was protecting his servant.
1 Sam 19:21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
All were stopped by the presence of God's spirit. They were caught up in worship and praise to the LORD. They were under the power of God's spirit.
1 Sam 19:22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
1 Sam 19:23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
1 Cor 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Saul too was overcome by God's presence and began speaking words from the spirit. In this it shows that God is powerful, that he can move in anyone he chooses, even in evil men for his purpose. I remember a young man who was on an Internet chat, the presence of God was so strong in the room that he began to prophesy, quoting scriptures and praising God. He professed to receive Jesus, but in following up there was no change. The prophet Balaam was a prophet of God with an evil heart, a prophet for hire. God used him, but he himself was corrupt. Many people today call themselves prophets, they had better be close to the Lord and know his word. The Lord can use a donkey to speak for him like Balaam's donkey, but that doesn't make him spiritual.
1 Sam 19:24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
Isa 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isa 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
Saul who would not humble himself willingly before the Lord, was forced by the spirit of God to remove his kings garments. He truly had been stripped of them spiritually sometime before.
1 Sam 15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
He laid naked, probably in his undergarments, all that day and all that night. He was under Gods control, but he would not change his heart. Is Saul among the prophets? That must have been hard to believe. Has he got religion? David was kept safe through praise and worship. Nothing so disarms the devil as does praise and worship. In the presence of the LORD, all flesh must bow. It is what we do after this encounter that matters. Would Saul remember this spiritual time and commit his life to the Lord's will, or will this just be a momentary quirk, in his dark pursuit of innocent David? Experiences are not enough, a new heart must follow.
1 Sam 10:11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
This first prophesy confirmed Saul's calling of God. The last prophecy confirmed his rejection by God.
Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Prov 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Prov 26:27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Saul had chosen to go his own way and the LORD would protect His anointed servant, David.
Envy still ringed in the ears of Saul as he remembered the women's voices...
1 Sam 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
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