Bible Verse Synopsis 6-3-25

1st Samuel 19

Saul continues down his road of evil and begins to conspire to kill David. The flesh again comes to destroy the spirit. Saul even involved his son, Jonathan. Because of the friendship that Jonathan had with David, Jonathan alerted David to the plan and told him to hide. Jonathan would observe and tell David all that happened. "And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will commune with my father of you; and what I see, that I will tell you." - Verse 3. Jonathan makes a pitch for David during his time in the field with Saul. Saying "Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been to you-ward very good." - Verse 4. The spirit does no wrong, yet the flesh continues its pursuit. This is the battle that will rage until Jesus comes again. What are you doing to combat the battle of flesh and spirit in your life? Do you have a Jonathan that fights for you or are you your own Jonathan?

After much convincing, Saul gives in to Jonathan and swears "As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed" - Verse 6. Jonathan called David out of hiding and shared with him all these things. Life returned to normal. Until Saul falls victim to the evil spirit again. David slew a many Philistines and caused them to flee when a war began, again. Continued warring for Saul was part of his curse and the life he chose when he chose to not follow God. The flesh can never be satisfied. So it craves more, more flesh, more power, more distractions. This is why we must indulge the spirit and fight back against the flesh. Where can you increase the spirit in your life?

David retuned from the battle and was playing the harp. Saul sat listening with javelin in hand. Saul wanted to smite David to the wall with the javelin. David slipped away out of Saul's presence before he could. In his anger, Saul smote the javelin to the wall. "And David fled, and escaped that night." - Verse 10. Saul continues to chase David and has messengers go to watch him and kill him. Michal, David's wife, bids him escape and to run or he will be slain. Michal told the messengers that David was ill and in bed. They returned to Saul with the news. He sent them back to summon David. The messengers found the ploy and reported to Saul who approached Michal about it. "Why have you deceived me so, and sent away my enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill you?" - Verse 17. Michal is covering for herself here. She told him to leave, she was not forced into this choice, she chose to protect her husband. How often do we defend ourselves with an untruth? Would the truth not serve us better? Faith should tell us that the truth is always the answer.

David fled and escaped to Samuel in Ramah at the school of prophets. Saul sent messengers to bring David back. The Spirit of God came over the messengers and they prophesized with David and Samuel. This happens twice more to Saul's messengers. Saul was forced to go himself if he wanted to bring David back. So, Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came upon Saul and he prophesied. Saul took off his garments of the flesh, his armor and kingly robes, "and lay down naked all that day and all that night." Not naked in the true sense of the word but naked of the flesh. No armor or things that demonstrated his place of power on earth. Saul was barren of the flesh. Now the spirit is free to work in him if he would receive it. Do you think he will? Do you lay yourself down naked of the flesh and allow the spirit to come over you, as it does Saul? What would this look like for you? I would encourage you to try and engage in this practice. It will not be easy to do, but nothing worth doing is.