In the Company of the Prophets

1 Samuel 19:6 NRSV

Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.”

Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”

Last week, we looked at Jonathan’s advice to David and saw that he was advised, Saul wants to kill you. He said to David, “therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself.” So we looked at the principle for those of us whom God has anointed, we should guard ourselves. Do not allow anyone proximity. Be careful whom you let into your inner circle. Be careful what you listen to, be it on TV or social media. Regarding what you hear, you are not only guarding against what is or is not true, but what is or is not right. These days, one of the constant struggles is that right and wrong for many who are in many of circles is a question of agreement and in many cases, what color the agreer is. Be on you guard regarding what you believe. It’s on tv, or my favorite actor believes it, so it must be………. Be on your guard regarding who influences you. The way to do that is to be careful what you submit yourselves too. I have a lot of “friends” who are really off. They believe anything BET of VH1 tells them and if any one who wears a suit says something different it must be Fox News.

Stay in the secret place and we talk about that last week. The secret place is that place where you can talk to God and he talk back to you. Hide yourself there.

So Jonathan tries to reason with his father and makes the case for not killing David. He has not sinned against you. He has not wronged you. He has risked his life to fight against your enemies and has prevailed and you are yourself a witness. To this Saul agrees and promises him David will not be put to death.

So Jonathan reunited David and the King and he is allowed back in the King’s court. War breaks out again and David leads his men and prevails again against the Philistines.

¶ Again there was war, and David went out to fight the Philistines. He launched a heavy attack on them, so that they fled before him.

1 Samuel 19:8–10 NRSV

Again there was war, and David went out to fight the Philistines. He launched a heavy attack on them, so that they fled before him. Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing music. Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night.

Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing music.

Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night.

This behavior is in stark contrast to verse 6. Have you ever notice that the same people who make you a promise in verse 6 will try to kill you again by verse 10? He made a promise that Mexico would pay for the wall……… sorry. He would not kill him but, Saul cannot behave different than his spirit. Did you notice that each of these attacks are preceded by Saul having an evil spirit come upon him. People will not act different than the spirit that is on them. You think that their promise is enough but have you considered what spirit is on that individual you are trusting with your life. Saul has an evil spirit. Question,

Why would you think an evil spirit will not lie?

Were you waiting for the announcement of a lying spirit?

¶ Saul sent messengers to David’s house to keep watch over him, planning to kill him in the morning. David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”

1 Samuel 19:11 NRSV

Saul sent messengers to David’s house to keep watch over him, planning to kill him in the morning. David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”

Saul and his evil spirit behaved in an evil manner. He sent people to kill David. His wife intervened and helped him. Wow, it is possible for your wife to see something you don’t. It does not make her your boss, she just saw something he did not. Because he took his wife’s advice he was able to escape.

1 Samuel 19:15 NRSV

Then Saul sent the messengers to see David for themselves. He said, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”

Then Saul sent the messengers to see David for themselves. He said, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”

Saul was so upset that even though he promised not to kill him, he ordered the men to bring David in his sick bed so I can kill him.

Watch leaders who will not keep their promise!!!!!

1 Samuel 19:18 NRSV

Now David fled and escaped; he came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and settled at Naioth.

¶ Now David fled and escaped; he came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and settled at Naioth.

So, here is something interesting, when David fled, he ran to the prophet. He was a commander of over a 1,000 men. I am sure he had some trusted men under his command. I am sure that he had an entire network of people he could trust. David ran to the prophet.

Who do you run too when you’re in trouble?

Who you run too determines the advice you are going to get. Can you get wise advise from a fool? Right advice from someone who only trust wrong? Here is a question, does the person you run too, love you enough to tell you the truth? Where will the person you run to take you? You weren’t thinking of going to the club but you ran to Pookie. Have you ever run to the Prophet?

Why run to the prophet?

The Prophet is going to first of all Protect you! There is protection when you run to the prophet. Really, that’s what we really want. Protection from the evil spirit that plagues our efforts.

The Prophet will also tell you what God is saying and not what is popular!!!

Also the Prophet will take you around other Prophets and the people of God. Something amazing happens when you get around the Prophets.

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.

1 Samuel 19:20–24 NRSV

Then Saul sent messengers to take David. When they saw the company of the prophets in a frenzy, with Samuel standing in charge of them, the spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also fell into a prophetic frenzy. When Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they also fell into a frenzy. Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also fell into a frenzy. Then he himself went to Ramah. He came to the great well that is in Secu; he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “They are at Naioth in Ramah.” He went there, toward Naioth in Ramah; and the spirit of God came upon him. As he was going, he fell into a prophetic frenzy, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. He too stripped off his clothes, and he too fell into a frenzy before Samuel. He lay naked all that day and all that night. Therefore it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

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.

You need to keep yourself in and stay in the company of the Prophets.

Then he himself went to Ramah. He came to the great well that is in Secu; he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “They are at Naioth in Ramah.”

He went there, toward Naioth in Ramah; and the spirit of God came upon him. As he was going, he fell into a prophetic frenzy, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

He too stripped off his clothes, and he too fell into a frenzy before Samuel. He lay naked all that day and all that night. Therefore it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”