How (and why) a king was left writhing nude on the ground – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 4

King Saul is losing his mind because of the young upstart David.  As we learned in the previous post here, Saul unsuccessfully attempts to kill David. In this post, we are studying 1st Samuel chapter 19. As the chapter begins, Saul now asks his son Jonathan to kill David.  Saul likely knows how close Jonathan and David are, so this is a devious dark request, putting Jonathan in an awful position, having to choose between his father the king or his best friend.  In a previous chapter Jonathan has clearly demonstrated his faithfulness to God.  So Jonathan does not do what Saul asks.  Instead Jonathan warns David to go into hiding, and then Jonathan attempts to talk his father out of this ridiculous evil plan. 

Amazingly in verse 6, Jonathan convinces Saul to relent, and disaster is averted.  But not for long.  David has more military victories, and Saul has more spiritual oppression, jealousy and anger.  Again Saul tries to spear David while David is playing the harp. 

For David, Saul has just crossed the line.  David knows Saul is totally unhinged, and he plans to escape from Saul’s clutches.  At the same time, Saul suspects David will try to escape, so Saul sends his spies to watch David. 

That night, David’s wife Michal helps David escape, even making his bed look as though David is sleeping in it.  Saul sends men to arrest David, and Michal lies, saying David is ill.  This buys David time.  The men tell Saul that David is ill, and Saul isn’t having it.  He sends them back where they discover that Michal has fooled them. Saul then confronts his daughter, and Michal lies to Saul, making it sound like David threatened to kill her unless she would help him.  Sounds like she is her father’s daughter.  It’s not the last we’ll hear from her.

Meanwhile, in verse 18, we read that David was on the run.  He flees to the prophet Samuel.  Together the two of them travel to the town of Naioth, but remember Saul has a network of spies.  They report on David’s whereabouts, and Saul sends soldiers to arrest him. 

When Saul’s men get to Naioth, they see prophets prophesying, and Samuel leading them.  This prophesying is ecstatic speech and movement.  Very similar to charismatic worship, like being slain in the spirit and speaking in tongues.  We read that God’s Spirit comes upon Saul’s men, and they join in the prophesying!  What a sight to see! 

When Saul finds out, he sends more men, and the same thing happens to them.  He then sends a third contingent, and they also prophesy.  This has me thinking that our military has it all wrong. Instead of the airborne, or artillery or infantry, the Army needs to hire prophets and preachers who can slay the enemy in the Spirit or cause them to go into convulsions.  (I’m joking!)  

Finally Saul goes himself to deal with this.  Trust me, you need to read what happens when Saul shows up.  Look at verse 23-24,

“So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’”

That is one great Bible passage.  It’s not often that God causes public nudity, but when he does, it’s quite a show.  Can you imagine that?  The king of the nation, nude, moving around wildly, writhing on the ground, all day and night?  King Saul can be very glad there was no social media at that time.  I hope he was prophesying on some comfy grass. 

Thus God has protected David.  We stop the story there, with King Saul’s jealousy and discontent leaving him writhing nude on the ground. 

Photo by Žygimantas Dukauskas on Unsplash