I know, I'm getting bogged down in 1 Samuel, completely distracted from God's killings. But there's so much crazy shit in this book that I just can't pass it up. Sorry about that.
So back to the story.
Then David went out and slaughters some more Philistines.
David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter. 1 Samuel 19:8
Meanwhile, God sent another evil spirit to torment Saul as he sat in his house with his spear, while David played with his hand.
And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 1 Samuel 19:9
You can probably guess what happened next. Saul threw his spear at David, trying to pin him to the wall. (When God's evil spirit comes upon Saul he either throws a spear at David or prophesies.)
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall. 1 Samuel 19:10
But Saul missed again and David fled to his house. Saul told his servants to go to David's house and kill him, but Michal lowered him out the window in a basket, while putting an idol with a goat skin pillow in bed to fool Saul's servants.
When the messengers arrived, they found David, Samuel, and everyone else prophesying. Then the Spirit of God came upon the messengers, too, and they began to prophesy.
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
When Saul heard about this, he sent more messengers, and when they arrived, they all began prophesying, too!
And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. 1 Samuel 19:21a
So Saul sent more messengers. Guess what happened to them.
And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 1 Samuel 19:21b
Finally Saul gets tired of this shit and goes himself. Here's how that turned out.
And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied. 1 Samuel 19:23
Yeah, that's right. The Spirit of God came upon Saul and he prophesied too.
In fact, he not only prophesied, but he took off his clothes and laid around naked all night long in front of God and everybody.
And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. 1 Samuel 19:24a
And that is why you often hear people say, "Is Saul among the prophets?"
Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? 1 Samuel 19:24b
So I just had to tell you this story. God wanted you to know. That's why he put it in the Bible.
But I still can't figure it out. Is Saul among the prophets?
7 comments:
Don't worry about getting 'bogged down' Steve, your blog is a joy whatever you're covering and you're helping to disseminate the word of yahweh after all!
Re: your second question, the other day...
I was watching a football (soccer), match in my local pub, when Liverpool got knocked out of the cup by a lower league team.
The question on everyone's lips was, "is Benitez (their coach) getting sacked in the morning?"
About half the replies were, "does a bear shit in the woods?" and the other half were heard to say, "Is the pope catholic?"
No one said, "is Saul also amongst the prophets!?"
I realise this is not truly a scientific survey, but it seems - at least where I am - that the bible is wrong ! People DON'T still use the expression 'is Saul also amongst the prophets?' to this day!
Are there any other inaccuracies in this book, d'ya think ?
Is Saul among the prophets?
Well, most certainly. Not. Yes. Definitly. See?
Quick correction, Steve; "Then David wnet out and slaughters some more Philistines"? Looks like you transposed some of the letters, there...
Also, for some reason, I'm imagining David squeezing soap in his hands to make music when you say he "played with his hand"; rather a silly image, I'd warrant.
Thanks, matt. I don't know how I miss stuff like that.
As for David playing with his hand, well, that's what the KJV always says. I don't know what it means, but I like the way it sounds.
As do I, Steve; as do I. ;-)
Saul didn't actually lay naked. If you look up the translation, you'll find that the word means that he removed his upper garments (as was done in those days). Possibly as a sign that he was not King. But what's interesting is what's going on. Saul had the Spirit of God on him twice (at least twice). But he was still a bad guy. It didn't mean he was saved.
But I still can't figure it out. Is Saul among the prophets?
J James has a point, allow me to add another providing I can be clear enough.
Here goes:
Even though a person can be blessed by God, even to the point of being filled with His Spirit and prophesying (I relate that to speaking in tongues for a New Testament reference) and all that. The person remains under his own overall control, with exceptions as related above.
Long before this occurred Saul decided to disobey God's commands as given him by the prophet Samuel. But God's gifts to him were not renounced, they remained present, and God used them then so that Saul would not harm David.
What about today, the Pentecostals and such. They are no different than other people really. They may, or may not have a "speaking in tongues" gift. They may or may not be following God's teachings and Jesus' commands. Indeed some of them may turn to doing great evil. The earlier blessings from God were not a preventative for their exercising their own free will. If they turn from evil, seek God (that's repenting) humble themselves and pray (2 Chronicles 7) it may be that God will forgive them. If they do not then their end is just as certain but they won't like it.
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