1 Samuel 19 - The Evil and The Holy Spirit

1 Samuel 19 - The Evil and The Holy Spirit 

v1-7: Jonathan, the peace maker

It was not enough that Saul hated David, but he even commanded his servants and son that they should also kill David when they see him. The hate of one man had spread to a few men, but later on it would become a war. 

Jonathan went to David secretly and told him Saul's plan, and that David should hide. Jonathan told David he will speak to Saul and influence him to abandon the plan. 

The next day, Jonathan pleaded with Saul not to kill David. For David hasn't done anything wrong and had been a great help to Saul from slaying Goliath and success in battles. In fact, Saul was happy when David won and there was no reason to kill him now. 

Saul finally agreed not to kill David, and he swore in the Lord's name. However, we know Saul will never keep his promise even in the Lord's name. Jonathan told David the good news, and brought him back to Saul. 

Jonathan acted as a peace maker between the two. Jesus Himself was a peace maker between the Holy God and Sinful Man:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Should we also not be a peace maker between believers? "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)

 

v8 - 10: The Evil Spirit On Saul

Once again, another war came with the Philistines and David completely defeated them. For some reason, David's success was always the trigger for Saul to loose control of his jealousy and anger. While David was playing harp in the palace, an evil spirit came to Saul, and once again he attempted to kill him with a spear; however, David managed to escape and went to hide in his house.

The Bible wrote: "Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand." (v9) Does this mean that God has a team of evil spirits serving Him and doing whatever He wants? 

We know this is not the case, for James said: "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one." (James 1:13)

Evil spirits are from Satan or his demons. The best illustration was after Job lost all his wealth and family, he said: "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21). Job knows that whatever happened to him, it is because God allowed it and God is in control. However, Satan is the bringer of evil and suffering. 

In Saul's case, God's spirit had already left him. His heart was empty and vulnerable. The first time the evil spirit came (chapter 16) was to bring David into the palace to play the lyre. But now, Saul hated David even without Satan's help. His own evil and the evil spirit led him to attempt the murders.

"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (James 1:14-15)

The words of James 3:16 are also true of Saul: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”

We praise God that His Spirit in our hearts will never leave us, and we are not afraid of being invaded by evil spirits. "You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

v10-17: David Escaped Saul

Saul sent some of his men to spy on David's house. Michal told David that he must leave in the night else he will be killed by morning. She helped him escape via a window. The next morning when Saul's bodyguards came to the house, Michal told them that David was sick in bed. Michal had actually put an idol below the blankets. It may be that Michal was also an idol worshipper, but at least she use it in a practical way this time.

I suppose that since Michal was the King's daughter, the men did not dare to grab the fake David. They went back to Saul without knowing it was an idol. Saul told his people to “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” (v15). I'm not sure if that meant to bring David together with his bed to Saul, in order to put the seriousness into the order. 

When they discovered it was an idol, Saul was upset at Michal and questioned her why she let his "enemy" go, allowing him to escape. Michal lied to Saul, saying that she was threatened by David. Apparently, Michal is as good a liar as her father!

David chronicled this event in Psalms 59:1-2 -  "(A Miktama of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.) Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men."  

Let's go to the Lord when we are in trouble, and not depend on our own skills and talents to overcome it.

v18 - 24: The Holy Spirit on Saul

David fled to Samuel at Ramah and told him what Saul had done to him. They then went to live at a nearby place called Naioth. Very soon, Saul was informed where David was. He sent a team to arrest him. But when the team reached there, they saw prophets prophesying with Samuel leading. The Spirit of God entered the men and they too started to prophesy. 

Prophesying does not necessarily mean predicting the future. It includes worshipping. praying,  and praising. When we have God's spirit inspire us, we will worship and praise Him.

When they didn't come back, Saul sent two more groups there, one after another. When they reach there, they also started to prophesy and did not return. Finally, Saul decided to go himself. But the Spirit of God also entered him, and He made him remove his clothes and he prophesied in front of Samuel. 

When Saul see who God is, he had to humble himself by removing his armor and royal clothes. This is the Holy and Almighty God that he should have obeyed. 

Due to this incident, some people thought that Saul was one of the prophets. The first time Saul prophesied was after Samuel anointed him as king. Now, the Spirit entered him to protect David. 

Conclusion

In this chapter we see the difference between an evil spirit and the Spirit of God. One makes a person proud and violent, while the other brings humility and peace. "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom 8:6)

While it is clear that God can force someone to worship Him like a robot, it is not His desire to do so. He had paid the price with His son's death, and it is a man's decision to take the step of faith to believe and to worship Him.  

As believers, God's Spirit is already in us and will never leave us. Let's therefore allow the Spirit to control our hearts and minds.  

"... be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,   (Eph 5:18-19)

After note (from CEFC):

What can we do when we are in pressure? 

1. Talking to trusted spiritual community - in this case, David spoke to Jonathan and Samuel in a transparent and honest way.

2. Praying through your journey - eg: Psalms 59. Crying out to God. God hears, God empathizes and God answers. 

3. Tracing God's story in our life - eg, David wrote Psalms to trace his cries and praise to God through his life. 

Selah - It is probably either a liturgical-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, with the meaning of "stop and listen." Selah may indicate a break in the song whose purpose is similar to that of amen (Hebrew: "so be it") in that it stresses the truth and importance of the preceding passage. But in the New Living Translation of Psalm 68:19 Selah is translated as “Interlude.”