September 9, 2021
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Reading along with us in 1 Samuel? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 19 (NIV)
Saul Tries to Kill David
1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David 2 and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3 I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”.........Continue Reading
God certainly is protecting David in this chapter. Saul’s own children are doing the most to help David escape death at the hand of their father.
It is hard to see that the evil spirit that comes over Saul is sent from God but I understand He is just allowing the place where Saul’s heart already is anyway be used for His plan. But the tormented spirit of Saul going from this place of murder one minute and to prophesying the next is so troubling.
1 Samuel 19
So much rage, jealousy and hatred spill over for Saul to want to kill David and solicit the help of others to do it. It is such a sad state of affairs, especially asking for his son’s help. How important it is that Jonathan and David had become so close that Jonathan felt more allegiance to him than he did to Saul. The fact that Jonathan is able to convince Saul to declare to not kill David and then for him to revert back to it, just shows the darkness that is in Saul and God is willing to deepen the darkness by sending an evil spirt. But God is certainly going to protect David in the midst of it and uses various means to do so. How amazing it is that all these people sent to kill David end up prophesying instead. Even Saul himself starts prophesying when he gets close to were David is. What a provision from God for Saul to have the Spirit move in him as He had before to help Saul see the distinction of being under the influence of the evil spirit versus the Holy Spirit. The chapter ends with us wondering will it change him.
The chapter is a testimony to the nature of evil, the protection of God over His man and what God will even do to change the course of the one who is bent on destruction.
God protects David, His anointed king, through men (Jonathan), women (Michal) and through His Holy Spirit.