1 Samuel Chapter 19

David Flees from Saul
Psalm relevant to this chapter: Psalm 59

A. Jonathan defends David before his father Saul

1. (1 Samuel 19:1a) Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

Saul’s jealousy and paranoia had grown to a murderous obsession. His hatred of David, once private, now became a public decree. By commanding Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, Saul crossed the line from private malice to open rebellion against God’s anointed.

a. Jonathan his son: Saul’s order placed Jonathan in a profound moral and spiritual crisis. Jonathan’s heart was knit to David’s in covenant love, as recorded in 1 Samuel 18:1–4, where Jonathan stripped himself of his robe and gave it to David, symbolizing his recognition of God’s choice of David as the next king. Jonathan’s loyalty was not based on mere affection but on spiritual discernment—he recognized the Lord’s hand upon David. Saul’s command was not merely a political order; it was a direct attempt to subvert the divine plan of succession. Jonathan’s response would test his obedience to God over family loyalty.

b. And to all his servants: Saul’s servants were also thrust into a moral dilemma. These men had seen David’s valor, humility, and favor with the Lord. 1 Samuel 18:5 states, “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.” To turn against such a man was to rebel against righteousness itself. This reveals the dangerous corruption that occurs when a leader’s jealousy becomes law—those under authority are tempted to compromise their conscience for fear of reprisal.

c. That they should kill David: David was now in a perilous situation where trust was nearly impossible. Though he likely trusted Jonathan, he knew there were others who would seize any opportunity to rise in rank by carrying out Saul’s will. This situation reflects the principle found in Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” David’s safety would depend not on men, but on the providence of God. Psalm 59, written during this time, expresses David’s reliance on divine protection, declaring, “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me” (Psalm 59:1).

2. (1 Samuel 19:1b–3) But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted greatly in David. So Jonathan told David, saying, “My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe, I will tell you.”

a. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted greatly in David: Despite hearing his father’s venom and likely pressure from the court, Jonathan’s love for David remained steadfast. Proverbs 17:17 declares, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Jonathan exemplified this kind of friendship. His affection for David was rooted in righteousness, not ambition or politics. True friendship stands when loyalty to God is tested against human authority. Jonathan had spiritual clarity—he knew that siding with David meant siding with God’s purpose for Israel.

b. So Jonathan told David: Jonathan’s actions demonstrated courage and discernment. Obedience to earthly authority never excuses disobedience to divine law. The command of Saul contradicted Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill.” Jonathan understood that submission to authority has limits. Scripture teaches submission to rightful authority—children to parents (Ephesians 6:1), citizens to government (Romans 13:1), wives to husbands (Ephesians 5:22), and servants to masters (1 Peter 2:18). Yet, when authority demands disobedience to God, the believer must take the same stance as the apostles: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). Jonathan’s loyalty to God took precedence, even if it placed him in direct opposition to his father, the king.

This principle reveals the hierarchy of obedience: God first, then man. When rulers or authorities contradict Scripture, the believer’s path is clear, even when it involves risk or suffering. The apostles themselves, after being beaten for their testimony, “departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” (Acts 5:40–41). Jonathan shared that same spirit—ready to suffer rather than to sin.

c. My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide: Jonathan’s response went beyond simple refusal to obey evil; he acted to protect David. His intercession and strategy reveal wisdom guided by love. He did not take a passive stance but risked his own position to ensure David’s safety. Neutrality in the face of evil is itself a moral failure. James 4:17 warns, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Jonathan could have claimed neutrality, saying he would not help or hinder either side, but he instead chose righteousness in action. His proactive defense of David foreshadows Christlike intercession—standing between wrath and the innocent.

Jonathan’s example here is that of moral courage. He stood up to his father, the king, knowing it might cost him his inheritance, his rank, or even his life. Yet his loyalty to truth outweighed fear of consequence. This demonstrates the kind of moral fiber God honors in His servants—those who stand firm even when loyalty to truth means loss of status or comfort.

3. (1 Samuel 19:4–5)
“Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, ‘Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you. For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?’”

a. Now Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father:
Jonathan displayed tremendous courage and integrity by defending David in the presence of his father, the king. He not only warned David in private but also publicly confronted Saul’s sin in his court. Jonathan did not allow loyalty to family or fear of royal wrath to silence truth. He honored God above all, doing what was right even at personal risk. Proverbs 27:6 declares, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” True friendship requires not only loyalty but also truthfulness. Jonathan spoke well of David because he knew the accusations against him were false, and that David’s heart was right before God.

Jonathan’s words were measured yet firm. He respectfully addressed his father as “king,” appealing to his conscience and sense of justice. He confronted Saul’s intent by naming it what it was—sin. This was not flattery, but righteous rebuke. It takes great courage to speak truth to power, especially when that power is both one’s father and king. Like Nathan later confronting David’s sin, Jonathan risked his life by defending innocence in the presence of authority.

i. As Matthew Poole noted, “Jonathan spake good of David, which he could not do without hazard to himself. Herein therefore he performed the duty of a true friend, and of a valiant man.” Jonathan exemplified both friendship and courage. True friends defend the innocent, even when it costs them.

b. Let not the king sin against his servant:
Jonathan not only defended David’s character but also declared that Saul’s hatred and violence were sin. This took spiritual clarity and boldness. Saul’s perception was clouded by envy and paranoia, and in his mind, David was a traitor deserving death. Yet Jonathan exposed the moral truth: David had done no wrong. Jonathan confronted Saul’s self-deception, showing that Saul’s justification for murder was unrighteous.

Jonathan’s statement—“he has not sinned against you”—directly contradicted Saul’s delusions. It reminds us that sin always distorts perception. What one perceives as “defense” may, in truth, be rebellion against God. Jonathan’s rebuke was gentle but firm, demonstrating what Galatians 6:1 commands: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Jonathan sought to restore his father to reason and repentance, rather than to shame him.

c. For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel:
Jonathan reminded Saul of the truth he had forgotten. When David faced Goliath, he risked his own life for the sake of Israel. He had no hidden motive of ambition; he was moved by faith in the living God. 1 Samuel 17:45–47 records David’s words to the Philistine: “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”

David’s victory was not for self-glory but for God’s honor and Israel’s deliverance. Jonathan reminded Saul of his earlier joy when he saw the victory—“you saw it and rejoiced.” Yet now, envy had so consumed Saul that he reinterpreted those same events as threats to his throne. Sin always warps memory and perspective. What was once celebrated as divine victory became, in Saul’s mind, a political conspiracy. Jonathan’s purpose was to bring Saul back to truth and reality—to remember that it was the LORD who brought about the deliverance, not David’s ambition.

i. Saul’s jealousy led him to see righteousness as rebellion. He convinced himself that David sought to usurp him, but Jonathan’s words stripped away this illusion. Jealousy blinds a man to truth and makes him an enemy of those God has blessed. As James 3:16 warns, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

d. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause:
Jonathan pressed his father to face the truth: David was innocent. Saul’s intended act was murder, not justice. The phrase “innocent blood” is a deeply moral and theological term throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 19:10 warns, “That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.” To shed innocent blood was to bring divine judgment. Jonathan was calling Saul to repentance and reminding him that his actions would not only harm David but also bring guilt upon the entire nation.

In Saul’s mind, there was a cause; but in God’s eyes, there was none. Jonathan’s words recall Psalm 94:21, “They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.” By confronting his father with this truth, Jonathan was standing in the gap between righteousness and corruption. His courage in speaking truth to Saul was an act of grace, restraining evil through godly appeal.

4. (1 Samuel 19:6–7)
“And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan, and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.”

a. So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan:
Remarkably, Saul listened to reason—at least temporarily. The Holy Spirit’s conviction touched his conscience through Jonathan’s appeal. This brief moment of sanity demonstrates that Saul was not yet entirely hardened. Even in rebellion, the voice of truth can pierce the conscience. Proverbs 15:1 reminds us, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Jonathan’s gentle, respectful, yet firm tone accomplished what argument could not.

This episode shows that intercession and reason, spoken in humility, can momentarily restrain evil. Saul’s response, however, would prove short-lived, for his repentance was superficial—his emotions stirred, but his heart unchanged.

b. Saul swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed”:
Saul’s oath sounded pious, invoking the name of the LORD. Yet history shows that Saul’s promises were fickle. He invoked God’s name without genuine submission to God’s will. Nevertheless, this moment reveals that God’s hand was still restraining Saul’s rage. The Lord used Jonathan’s faithfulness to grant David a brief reprieve.

This principle reflects Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Even a mad and jealous king cannot act outside of God’s sovereign control. The Lord used Jonathan’s faith and courage as an instrument to preserve David’s life until the appointed time.

c. So Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past:
Jonathan’s mediation restored David temporarily to Saul’s court. Peace appeared to return, but it was fragile. The pattern of Saul’s jealousy, repentance, and relapse would soon repeat. Still, this moment of reconciliation stands as a testament to the power of righteous intercession.

Jonathan’s loyalty brought about a temporary restoration, just as Christ’s intercession secures reconciliation between God and man. David, unaware of how short-lived this peace would be, continued to serve faithfully, proving that his loyalty to Saul was genuine even after multiple betrayals.

5. (1 Samuel 19:8–10)
“And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 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. 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: and David fled, and escaped that night.”

a. And there was war again:
This phrase carries both literal and spiritual significance. Literally, Israel once more engaged in battle with the Philistines, their constant enemies. Yet on a deeper level, it illustrates the unending spiritual conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. The brief peace between Saul and David, seen in 1 Samuel 19:7, was only a temporary truce. Just as physical wars recur, so do spiritual battles. Satan never concedes defeat, and our old nature never stops resisting the Spirit’s work. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other.”

Every believer must recognize this reality: there will always be “war again.” Times of peace are temporary resting points between battles. As David’s life demonstrates, victory over one enemy often provokes new attacks. Our walk with God requires vigilance, for the spiritual war continues until glory. As Peter warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

b. David went out and fought with the Philistines, and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him:
David’s faithfulness to his calling never wavered. Despite Saul’s hostility, David continued to serve Israel with courage and obedience. He could have refused to fight for a king who hated him, but instead he fulfilled his duty with excellence. This is a mark of godly character—to serve faithfully even under unjust leadership. Colossians 3:23 instructs, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

David’s victory, however, became the spark that reignited Saul’s jealousy. His triumphs against the Philistines, which should have brought unity and joy to Israel, only deepened Saul’s envy. David’s success was the mirror in which Saul saw his own failure. This principle often repeats in life: when God blesses one man, it exposes the insecurity of another. Saul could have rejoiced in David’s victories as blessings from God, but instead he saw them as threats. The warning is clear—if we allow jealousy to take root, even God’s blessings in others will feel like curses to us.

c. Now the distressing spirit from the LORD came upon Saul:
Once again, Saul was tormented by a demonic influence permitted by God as judgment for his rebellion. The phrase “from the LORD” does not mean that God authored evil, but that He allowed this spirit to afflict Saul for his disobedience, as a consequence of rejecting divine guidance. 1 Samuel 16:14 records, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” When the Holy Spirit departs, the soul becomes vulnerable to torment.

Saul’s pattern of behavior illustrates the truth of James 1:14–15, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Saul’s jealousy and rage were the open doors through which this torment entered. The “distressing spirit” found fertile ground in a heart already consumed with envy.

d. Saul sat in his house with his spear in his hand:
This is a symbolic and revealing image. The king who once held a harp now clutches a weapon. David used his hand to play music unto the Lord, while Saul used his hand to grip a spear. One hand brought worship, the other prepared violence. The contrast is striking—David’s music was meant to soothe Saul’s spirit, but Saul preferred the tools of war to the instruments of praise.

Saul’s spear had become his identity—an instrument of control, fear, and aggression. It appeared multiple times in his story, each time representing his rebellion and insecurity. When a man clings to anger or vengeance as Saul did, his “spear” becomes both his comfort and his curse. Proverbs 22:24 warns, “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.”

Saul’s setting also shows idleness’s danger. He “sat in his house,” doing nothing productive, his mind open to dark influence. As David would later write, “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” (Psalm 55:19) When we cease to walk in obedience, temptation finds us sitting idle, holding the weapons of sin in our hands.

e. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear:
Saul’s relapse into violence shows how weak temporary repentance can be when unaccompanied by true spiritual change. Earlier, he had sworn, “As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain” (1 Samuel 19:6). But oaths mean nothing without transformation of the heart. The same spirit of rage returned, and Saul broke his vow. Sin, when not confessed and forsaken, always resurfaces stronger than before.

This attack was not spontaneous; it was the culmination of unchecked bitterness. Saul’s thoughts had been festering long before his hand acted. Jesus said in Matthew 5:21–22, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill… but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” Saul’s heart had murdered David long before his spear was thrown.

Saul was spiritually unprepared for temptation. His mind was darkened, his heart hardened, and the opportunity to sin was close at hand. The spear was beside him, the evil spirit within him, and David before him. Few men stand in such circumstances without falling.

f. But he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall:
David’s escape was providential. God preserved His anointed servant, for no weapon formed against him could prosper. Isaiah 54:17 declares, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.”

The image of the spear lodged in the wall is deeply symbolic. The thing Saul most trusted—the weapon of his rage—was left behind, while the man he needed most—David, the one who brought him peace—was gone. Saul’s actions left him empty, alone, and defeated. He had wounded only himself. The contrast is clear: the tool of hatred remained, but the presence of grace departed.

g. So David fled and escaped that night:
This moment marks a turning point in David’s life. From this night onward, he would no longer dwell in Saul’s palace but live as a fugitive for nearly two decades. The comforts of court were exchanged for the caves of the wilderness. Yet it was there, in solitude and hardship, that David would grow into the man God destined him to be.

Psalm 59 was written during this period, capturing David’s emotions as he fled: “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me… because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.” (Psalm 59:1, 9) David’s faith deepened in exile. The palace had offered him position, but the wilderness taught him dependence. God often uses trials to shape His servants for future crowns.

1 Samuel 19:11–17 (New King James Version)

Then Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, and to kill him in the morning, but Michal David’s wife told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” So Michal let him down through a window, and he went and fled and escaped.
And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, and put a cover of goats’ hair for his head, and covered it with clothes.
So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” Therefore Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”
And when the messengers had come in, behold, the image in the bed, with the cover of goats’ hair for his head.
Then Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?” And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go, why should I kill you?’”
So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled and escaped.
And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a cover of goats’ hair for his head, and covered it with clothes, and so she deceived her father’s messengers, and said, “He is sick.” Thus David escaped that night, and fled to Ramah.

Michal’s intervention shows how marriage loyalty and cunning providence combined to preserve God’s anointed. Saul had already given a solemn oath that David should not be slain, yet his heart reverted and he sent agents to watch David’s house, showing once again that vows from a rebellious heart are brittle. Michal faced a divided allegiance, she was both Saul’s daughter and David’s wife, and her choice to warn and to assist David by lowering him through a window fulfilled the marriage principle of leaving and cleaving, expressed in Genesis 2:24, where a man leaves his parents and cleaves to his wife, they become one flesh, this principle implies a reciprocal covenantal loyalty that placed husband and wife over former family loyalties, therefore Michal’s act was not merely political, it was conjugal fidelity in extremis.

Her deception was twofold, first she warned David and provided the escape route, then she manufactured a convincing ruse to stall the king’s messengers, she placed a household figure in the bed with a goats’ hair covering for a head, and when the messengers came she feigned David’s sickness, telling them he was ill so they would depart. The presence of the teraphim, the household image, exposes a personal weakness in Michal’s spiritual life, it suggests she retained domestic religious practices that were inconsistent with wholehearted devotion to Yahweh, a defect that helps explain her later lack of joy and coldness when David brought the ark into Jerusalem, nevertheless in this moment the imperfect instrument of her household was used by God to accomplish his purpose, the Lord frequently employs fallible people and mixed motives to advance his covenantal plan.

Saul’s reaction is revealing and tragic, he calls David his enemy, words that mark the moral inversion of a king who cannot see his true friend and servant, Saul had benefited from David’s victories and service yet jealousy turned gratitude into accusation, the king’s attempt to deliver the death blow himself shows the depth of his rage, he would rather personally slay the man who had saved Israel than acknowledge God’s sovereign choice, Michal’s explanation to her father that David begged her to let him go, why should I kill you, is a thin defense yet it sufficed to delay immediate pursuit and to allow David to reach Ramah where Samuel was, from Ramah David’s flight would widen into the long years of exile that shaped his character and prepared him for kingship.

This episode underlines several practical and theological truths, first righteous obedience to God may require covert action when open action would produce greater evil, second covenant relationships within marriage create obligations that properly supersede familial political loyalty, third human devices, even those tainted by syncretism, may be used providentially by God without endorsing the devices themselves, fourth envy corrupts judgment so that a benefactor becomes perceived as enemy, and finally God preserves his chosen one by means both ordinary and unexpected, David’s escape that night produced Psalm 59, a worshipful response that frames persecution as the occasion for dependence on divine deliverance.

C. David, pursued by Saul, flees to Naioth

1. (1 Samuel 19:18)
“So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.”

a. Went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him:
David fled to the only man he knew could help him understand the chaos around him—Samuel, the prophet who had first anointed him king by God’s command. This act reveals David’s humility and faith, for rather than turning to men of war or seeking refuge in a fortified city, he turned to the man of God. In his distress, David sought counsel and comfort in spiritual fellowship. Proverbs 11:14 reminds us, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”

David poured out his heart to Samuel, likely sharing his confusion and pain over Saul’s relentless pursuit. One can imagine his lament: “You anointed me king, yet I am hunted like a criminal. Why does the Lord delay His promise? Why does He allow this suffering?” This moment illustrates that even the anointed of God must endure seasons of testing before being exalted. God used these hardships to shape David’s dependence and humility, preparing him for the throne.

b. Stayed in Naioth:
The name Naioth derives from the Hebrew root meaning “dwellings” or “habitations.” It referred either to Samuel’s residence or to a compound in Ramah where Samuel led a school of prophets. This was a spiritual community devoted to worship, prayer, and learning under the leadership of God’s prophet. Whenever Naioth is mentioned, it is associated with Ramah—the prophet’s home and place of ministry.

Here David found temporary safety within a spiritual refuge. It is significant that God’s protection for David came not through armies or fortresses but through the sanctuary of prophetic fellowship. In the midst of danger, David’s security was found in God’s presence, not man’s power. Psalm 27:5 expresses this truth: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”

2. (1 Samuel 19:19–21)
“And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 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. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.”

a. Saul sent messengers to take David:
Saul’s relentless pursuit of David exposes the madness of a man given over to envy and rebellion. Though he had already failed in his earlier attempts, he continued undeterred. His persistence in evil shows the depth of his spiritual blindness. While perseverance in righteousness is a virtue, perseverance in sin is ruinous. We can almost admire Saul’s determination, but it is a tragic picture of a man driven by hatred rather than obedience. Proverbs 4:16 describes such men: “For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.”

b. When they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them:
The messengers sent to capture David arrived during a meeting of prophetic worship. Samuel, the prophet of God, was presiding over the assembly, leading these men in devotion, prayer, and proclamation. The word prophesying here does not exclusively mean foretelling the future; rather, it refers to speaking, singing, or declaring under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These prophets were likely exalting the Lord in spontaneous praise and inspired utterance, much as described in 1 Chronicles 25:1–3, where David later appointed musicians who “prophesied with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals.”

The sight of this sacred scene was unlike anything Saul’s messengers expected. They came to arrest a fugitive but instead encountered the overpowering presence of God. The Spirit’s influence was so tangible that even those sent for violence were swept into worship.

c. The Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied:
Here God intervened supernaturally to protect His servant. Without seeking Him, these men were overcome by the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy. This was an act of divine restraint—God temporarily transformed Saul’s instruments of persecution into instruments of praise. They were “disarmed” not by force, but by the overwhelming power of God’s presence.

This phenomenon reveals both God’s sovereignty and mercy. He could have destroyed Saul’s men, but instead, He subdued them spiritually, showing that His Spirit is greater than the malice of man. It also served as a warning: God was declaring, “Do not touch My anointed.” Through this act, the Lord demonstrated that His will would stand regardless of Saul’s plots.

i. This moment was a gracious warning, not only to the messengers but to Saul himself. The Spirit’s outpouring declared that the same God who empowered David was actively defending him. These men were forced to recognize that their mission opposed the divine will. Instead of arresting David, they were arrested by the Spirit.

ii. This also teaches that the Holy Spirit can act upon individuals for a purpose without permanently indwelling them. These messengers were not converted or sanctified, but they were momentarily seized by divine power. It was an outward manifestation meant to demonstrate God’s authority and protection over His chosen one.

d. He sent other messengers:
Despite this clear warning, Saul remained hardened. He sent a second group of messengers, and they too began to prophesy. Still undeterred, he sent a third group, with the same result. God repeated His message three times, showing Saul that human will cannot prevail against divine decree.

Saul’s stubbornness mirrors that of Pharaoh, whose heart was hardened despite repeated demonstrations of God’s power. Each wave of messengers returned empty-handed, transformed by the Spirit rather than triumphant in sin. Yet Saul refused to understand. His rebellion had so clouded his heart that even miraculous signs could not break through his pride.

Through this episode, we see the majesty of divine sovereignty. God needs no sword or army to defend His servant—He simply speaks, and His Spirit moves. Psalm 33:10–11 declares, “The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

3. (1 Samuel 19:22–24)
“Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 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. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?”

a. Then he also went to Ramah:
After three failed attempts to arrest David, Saul’s stubbornness drove him to go himself. Each group of messengers he sent had been overtaken by the Spirit of God, yet instead of recognizing God’s clear intervention, Saul hardened his heart and resolved to take matters into his own hands. This is the pattern of those who resist God’s will—when divine restraint frustrates their plans, they redouble their rebellion. Proverbs 29:1 warns, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Saul’s pursuit of David represents the futility of human defiance against divine decree. The Lord had already declared that the kingdom would be torn from Saul and given to David. No army, no scheme, no spear could overturn what God had established. Each act of resistance only brought Saul closer to humiliation and divine judgment. The king who once prophesied in joy now prophesied under compulsion. He was no longer a vessel of blessing, but a warning of rebellion.

b. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also:
The same Spirit that had come upon Saul earlier in his life for empowerment in service now came upon him again for restraint and correction. God was making it unmistakably clear that David was under divine protection. Saul could not even cross the border of Ramah without being seized by the Spirit of God. The very power he once possessed now hindered his sinful intent.

This event reveals the sovereignty of God over both men and spirits. No earthly king can oppose God’s decree, for “He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35). Even Saul’s body and voice were overtaken to demonstrate that the Lord rules over all.

i. The Spirit’s action was not only defensive but instructive. God was essentially saying to Saul, “You could have walked in My Spirit like this, filled with praise and truth, had you remained humble and obedient. This prophetic state you now experience unwillingly could have been your continual blessing.” Saul’s forced prophesying stood as both a rebuke and a reminder of what he had lost when he turned from God.

c. He also stripped off his clothes and prophesied:
This act was not one of madness but of enforced humility. The Spirit of God caused Saul to remove his royal garments—the outward symbols of his power and status. In Hebrew usage, the word “naked” often refers to being stripped of one’s outer garments, not necessarily complete nudity. Thus, Saul likely lay before the Lord in his simple linen tunic, divested of all the regalia that marked him as king.

God was making a divine statement: “You are no longer king before Me. I have stripped you of your honor.” What Saul refused to surrender voluntarily, God removed by force. It was a visible sign of humiliation—he who exalted himself would be abased. Proverbs 16:18 declares, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

i. The scene is deeply ironic. Saul had sought to kill David, yet he lay helpless on the ground, prophesying under the power of the same Spirit who protected David. The hunter became the humbled. The one who came to seize another was himself seized by God.

ii. This episode reminds us that a man can experience the power of God without being surrendered to the will of God. Saul’s prophetic outburst was not a mark of spiritual renewal but of divine restraint. There is a vast difference between being momentarily moved by the Spirit and being indwelt by Him in obedience. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:22–23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?... And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Saul’s experience proves that outward manifestations are meaningless without inward submission.

d. Is Saul also among the prophets:
This saying first appeared in 1 Samuel 10:10–12, when Saul was anointed and the Spirit came upon him for the first time. Then it was a mark of divine favor, astonishing those who knew his former character. Now, it became an ironic proverb—a byword of humiliation rather than honor. Once Saul’s prophetic activity symbolized the beginning of his kingship; now it symbolized its end.

In this reversal, God demonstrated that what begins in the Spirit must continue in the Spirit. Saul had started well, anointed by God, yet he drifted into disobedience and pride. Now, the same Spirit who once empowered him for leadership brought him low as a lesson in sovereignty. This closing scene of the chapter portrays Saul lying helpless, stripped, and powerless—a fallen king silenced before the presence of God’s prophet.

David, meanwhile, remained untouched and unharmed, proving that “no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17) Saul’s downfall at Ramah is a picture of what happens when a man resists God’s plan—he ends up fighting against the very power that once anointed him.