Thursday, July 28, 2011

The Rescue Mission

Reflections on 1 Sam. 19:18-24

Where would a homeless, broke, hungry, cold, and depressed man go for help? David had just escaped Saul’s attempt to kill him and fled his own home because Saul’s men were waiting to ambush him. He had no food, money, or extra clothes. He could trust no one. There were no rescue missions in that day, but he did find refuge with Samuel and a group of prophets in Ramah about 5 miles away from Saul’s home in Gibeah. The events that transpired while David was there were a public demonstration that God would protect David from Saul, and that God had stripped the kingdom from Saul.

SAUL STYMIED. God’s protection of David was demonstrated when He sent His Spirit to frustrate Saul’s intention to arrest David in Ramah. Three times God put His Spirit on Saul’s men, and each time they failed to arrest David because they prophesied with the prophets. Finally, when Saul himself went to find David, God put His Spirit on him also. Instead of harming David, he prophesied until he was exhausted. Just as God put His Spirit in Balaam so that he could not curse Jacob, so He put His Spirit in Saul and his men so that they could not harm David. In one of David’s darkest hours, God assured David that Saul would never harm him.

SAUL STRIPPED. Saul’s public behavior in Ramah also demonstrated that God had stripped the kingdom from Saul. While prophesying in Samuel’s presence, Saul stripped off his royal apparel in a symbolic portrayal of the last words he had heard Samuel say: “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you” (1 Sam. 15:28). Though Saul continued to resist God’s will, God assured David that Saul would not remain king for long.

David received much more than food and clothing while with Samuel and the prophets. He also received God’s assurances that God would protect him from Saul and deliver the kingdom to him. God knew David needed this encouragement as he entered a frustrating period of his life that nevertheless prepared him to lead Israel.

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