1 Samuel 19:18-24
Verse 18 When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
Having left his wife, Michal, to run for his life, David ran north to the town of Ramah to talk with the prophet, Samuel, who had anointed David as king years before. David needed advice and who better to get it from than the man who was known to hear from God.
This meeting shows David was coming to a point where he needed wisdom. He had thought things were going better with the king after Jonathan had talked to Saul but that spear being so close helped David see that it was not only not good, it probably would never be good again. Samuel knew God had removed His Spirit from Saul and it must have pained him to see David in this moment of anguish. David needed time with God and His people.
The text says that David and Samuel went to Naioth which was likely some kind of housing situation for prophets which was located in Ramah, Samuel’s hometown. Naioth had other prophets and so when the men showed up they would have recognized the Spirit of the Lord heavy in the building. The fact all these prophets were prophesying doesn’t mean this was where people went to hear what God was going to do in the future, they were proclaiming who God is and what He was doing in their lives and around them in the here and now.
As soon as Saul hears David has been seen at Naioth he sends messengers to capture him, but as soon as the men arrived and witnessed the scene and Samuel leading it, they had the Spirit of the Lord come onto them and they also started prophesying. Somehow word got back to Saul about his men being part of the prophecy session and so he sent more men to do his bidding, only to have the same thing the second time. Again he hears about it, sends men and then finds out they have joined into the prophesying, so Saul decides to go himself and God chooses to come upon him as well.
The fact that all these men started prophesying shows what can happen when God’s Spirit is poured upon His people. This is how it can be when we find ourselves among other believers too. When we start sharing with other Christians what God has been up to in our lives we will hear what He is doing in them too.
Making It Personal
Do you talk with your friends about the various things God is doing in your life? Do your friends share His work in their lives? What do you need to share about today?
Making It Personal Kids
What kinds of things does Jesus do in people’s lives? What has He done in your life? Have you told other people what He has done?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for all the things You do in our lives. Thank You for this example of how important it is to join together, proclaiming who You are and what You do. Help us to see Your works and proclaim them loud and far. In Jesus’ name, amen.