1 Samuel 19:19 Commentary and Bible Study

David has fled to Naioth to be with Samuel and the prophets. Is it a safe refuge? Saul is still determined to kill him no matter whether Samuel is protecting him or not, and he sends men to take him. David has put his trust in the Lord, and the promise that he will be made king must be kept; he is sure of that. David might have gone further from Saul and hidden himself more thoroughly, but in fact he could not have gone to a safer place. He went to the one who had originally announced his kingship. His faith is rewarded for God is going to deliver David by supernatural means. You look at these extraordinary events and you are amazed. ‘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.’ They arrived at Naioth; they saw Samuel's circle of prophets learning from him, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, and the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul with their murderous intentions, ‘and they also prophesied.’ Prophesied, not in the sense of foretelling or forthtelling, but in the sense of worshipping, which is one of the ways in which this word is used in First and Second Samuel. They were overtaken by an urge to worship. They were not good men; they were not spiritual men. This is something from God to deflect them from their purpose, so they couldn't proceed with the assassination even though they had arrived at the place and found David. God can turn our enemies into worshippers, so that they cease to do us harm. This was no permanent change, any more than it was for Saul, for once the influence of the Spirit was removed, they would return to their murderous selves. We pray that those who are our enemies may have a more permanent change. Bishop Hall says, ‘Many a one hath come into God's house to carp, or scoff, or sleep, or gaze, that hath returned a convert.’ You can account for this, partially, on a rational basis. They were Israelites. They were, even if perhaps not as sincerely as they should have been – all instructed in the ways of worship. They were all brought up to love God and believe in him. And in some measure, surely they all did, even these toughened officials or soldiers who were sent. When they hear song and a company of people, and the word being explained and this gathering of people who are all for God; rationally speaking, it is not surprising if their hearts would melt and they would say, we haven't had the opportunity to sing the psalms and to join in in this way for a long time, and they did. Why it rather reminds you of when they sent to take the Lord, and the troops, the military, the officers of the temple, come back empty-handed. Why haven't you brought him? they were asked. Never a man spake like this man, they replied. They are just carried away once they hear him; they hear the Lord preaching, and they can't take him. But of course it is not just to be explained rationally. The Spirit of God is at work also, and it is inevitable that the hearts of these men are moved, and they put down their weapons, and join in worship. They go back lamely to Saul and they admit they couldn't do it. Having been thwarted once, Saul tries again and sends more messengers. Perhaps he puts this down to a naturalistic explanation, and he thinks that it is unlikely that the same thing will happen twice, but does, and a third time. Finally he goes himself, sure that the hatred which he is only too well aware of in his heart will make him less susceptible to being diverted from his goal. ‘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.’ That was an act of God, and Saul began to praise God, even before he reached them, and he came to Naioth. ‘And he stripped off his clothes.’ What a strange thing to do! His royal garments! He couldn't somehow wear them in the presence of Samuel. Samuel had said God would take away his kingdom, and it seems that Saul became so affected by this whole scene that he said, ‘I am not fit to be king. I am going to remove these royal robes,’ and he discards them. Then his implements of murder too: his sword and so on. ‘I cannot do what I came to do.’ He is contrite again. That seems to be the right way to understand it. And all day and all night he lies without those royal symbols, and those weapons of murder, because he is overcome. It won't last, but even Saul has a conscience. Even though he is a determined rebel now against God, even he can be moved. It proves that he is without excuse on the Day of Judgement. Even the unregenerate can reveal the work of conscience at times.No wonder the people said, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’ The proverb they had used of Saul after his prophesying, following Saul’s anointing by Samuel, is used again. The implicit answer is, ‘No, he only looks like it.’ It is a proverb which draws attention to the failure of extraordinary external changes to prove genuine internal changes. Extraordinary things happen. The Spirit of God who alone can produce such things, came upon Saul for reasons known to God, but it did not mean that Saul belonged in such exalted company. It was only an outward change, and what really matters is an inward change.