When the glories of David the giant-killer began to eclipse those of King Saul, Saul was filled with murderous rage. The king made several attempts on David’s life. The first attempt was thwarted by his son, Jonathan, who warned David, then talked Saul out of it, 1 Samuel 19:6. The second was thwarted by David himself, who dodged a javelin Saul threw at him while he played the harp for the king, 1 Samuel 19:10. A third attempt was thwarted by Saul’s daughter, David’s wife, Michal, who lowered David from a window, 1 Samuel 19:12. Following Saul’s repeated attempts to kill him, David fled to Ramah to be with Samuel. Then Saul sent men to seize David.
“When Saul’s agents saw the prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s agents, and they too began prophesying. When this was reported to Saul, he sent other agents and they also began prophesying. Saul tried again and sent a third group of agents and even they began prophesying. Then Saul himself went to Ramah … The Spirit of God also came on Saul, and as he walked along, he began prophesying … Saul then removed his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He collapsed and lay naked all that day and all that night. That is why they say, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’” 1 Samuel 19:20-24.
Once Saul arrived in Ramah—joining the numerous agents he had sent to capture David—David was able to escape safely.
But is that not the strangest way to escape from a murderer? God overwhelms the would-be killer with Spirit-filled ecstatic expression and the victim is free to slip away unharmed?
A note in my study Bible provides insight:
“This seems to be a group of people in Spirit-filled ecstasy. It was very powerful and contagious to anyone who found them. We do not know if they were speaking messages from God or merely joining in ecstatic expression … Although Saul was receptive to the Spirit of God and was caught up in prophesying, his heart and mind were far from loving God and thinking God’s thoughts.”[1]
Picture in modern terms what is happening here: a powerful man, the godfather at the head of an organized crime syndicate, if you will, has sent a dozen men to kill David. They walked into a charismatic service somewhere and were overcome. Six of them began speaking in tongues while the other six were slain in the Spirit. The godfather sends twelve more men. They too are overwhelmed by the Spirit of God and unable to pay any attention to David. So the mob boss sends twelve more men, and they too are either speaking in tongues or slain in the Spirit. Finally, he says, “If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself,” and he marches through the double doors and the moment he does, he begins speaking in tongues and prophesying—and he remains in a Spirit-filled state for several days.
If you saw this, what would you think? What do most people think when they see miracles? Many Christians immediately assume the best about a person who speaks in tongues. And why not?
After all, God used the gift of tongues throughout the book of Acts specifically to bolster the credibility of one group of Christians in the eyes of another, see, e.g., Acts 10:44-48. “Sign gifts” were a sign that God was with a person. Sign gifts were a sign of credibility.
But this story about King Saul proves there are EXCEPTIONS. Bad people with bad motives—motives as bad as murder—may also possess miraculous gifts.
Have you seen someone do amazing things only to discover they had evil in their heart? I have. It is important to remember that no matter how God may appear to be working in or through another person’s life, that person may remain selfish, bitter, unbelieving, or even murderous, like Saul.
I was once quite impressed with the spiritual life of a friend with amazing gifts. My wife, who has the gift of discernment, was not impressed. She said he gave her “the heebee-jeebies.” The Holy Spirit made her uncomfortable around this man and she was proven right … when he went to prison.
Do you know a man or woman with amazing gifts that might not be as trustworthy as they appear? This is a particular risk with people on television. There is nothing wrong with a TV ministry per se, but it is difficult to discern the heart of a person that you cannot talk to in person. We must be vigilant with those who show us only the carefully controlled moments of a television performance.
Never forget that during one of the most murderous times in Saul’s life, he fell down and prophesied for days. And afterward, he picked up where he left off, again plotting to kill David.
When it comes to evaluating the credibility of the Christians around you, “be shrewd as serpents, but innocent as doves” Matthew 10:16.
ΑΩ
“Ecstatic expression” is not part of my life nor the life of the church I attend. However, I know too many people who engage in these experiences to believe they are never genuine. Nor do I hold with the view that ecstatic gifts ceased when the New Testament was canonized (I do not believe 1 Corinthians 13 supports such a view). I believe the gifts of tongues and others named in scripture are real. But God has not given me ecstatic gifts, and I believe the Holy Spirit leads believers and their families to churches that best fit their gifts. I know He has led me to my church.
[1] Chronological Life Application Study Bible, King James Version. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois. 2013, note on 1 Samuel 19:20-24.
Household Words: 