1 Samuel 19:11 says, Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. Saul sent messengers to David's house to not only watch him but to kill him in the morning. They were there to make sure David didn't leave. God was watching out for David, though, and Michal, his wife warned him of Saul’s plans, even though he was her father. We can be certain that God is always watching out for us, no matter what happens in life, and it is also important that we put our spouse above our parents. Verse twelve adds, So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. Michal not only warned David, but she helped him escape as well. She could have been putting herself in danger, but she was willing to put David first, and she lowered him out window and he escaped. We need to be willing to put ourself in danger if necessary in order to help our fellow Christians. Verse thirteen continues, And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. Michal then made a dummy to put in David’s bed so it would look like he was still sleeping. She went above and beyond what many people would do, even for a spouse. After all, Saul was still considered the king, even though God had already replaced him. We also should be willing to stand up against authorities if they are threatening our fellow Christians. Verse fourteen states, And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. When Saul sent messengers to take David, Michal said he was sick, still risking her safety to save him. Sometimes, we may have to use whatever method we have in order to help a fellow Christian, and we should be willing to do so even if it is risky for us. Verse fifteen adds, And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. Saul was not going to be put off. He told the messengers to bring David in his bed so that he could slay him. Saul might have even liked that better than having to face David man to man, especially since he knew God was with David and not him. We can expect the people of the world to use every advantage available to discredit or destroy Christians. Verse sixteen continues, And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. The messengers discovered that an image and a wig were in David’s bed. If they were the ones responsible for watching him, they could have been in big trouble. Verse seventeen says, And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? Saul asked Michal, his daughter, why she had sent David his enemy away, and she said David had said he would have to kill her if she didn't. Matthew Henry points out that this false implication might have made Saul feel even more justified in wanting to kill David. Though she had helped David escape, Michal did not stand up to her father by telling him the truth when she was put in a position of a possible threat to herself, and we may find friends who have stood with us against evil in the world today abandon us if they feel threatened, much like Peter did with Jesus right before His crucifixion. Verse eighteen declares, So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. David didn't return to his family, but went to Samuel instead, which might have partially been because Samuel had anointed him as king. Whatever reason we might have for running when faced with a threat because of our being a Christian today, we need to go to the source of our power, which is God Himself, and for David, Samuel represented the source of God's power. Verse nineteen adds, And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. David and Samuel had gone to Naioth, and Saul was told this, evidently by some of the people of Israel who were either still loyal to Saul or afraid of him. We need to pray that we as God's people today do not become divided and betray one another. Verse twenty continues, 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. Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they found themselves in the company of prophets, the themselves began to prophesy as well as the Spirit of the LORD came over them. God can change the heart of those who are working against us just as easily today, especially if we have a group of Christians acting under His leadership. Verse twenty-one says, 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. Saul sent messengers twice more, and both times they began to prophesy as well. When the Spirit of God is at work, it doesn't matter how many times nor how many people His enemies send against Him. God can change their heart if they are open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, which these messengers had to have been, because as stated before God does not force His will on anyone. Verse twenty-two adds, Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a 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. Then Saul went looking for David and Samuel himself and stopped at a great well in Sechu and asked someone where they were. He was given a truthful answer that they were at Naioth. Whether the person who told Saul knew of his intent or not, he was still king, if in name only. We may not always know the true intent of people today when they ask about things relating to God and His.people, so all we can do is tell the truth under God's guidance. Verse twenty-three continues, 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. As Saul continued on to Naioth, the Spirit of the LORD came on him as well. God had never really abandoned Saul, and when he was open to God's Spirit, He still directed Saul. Verse twenty-four concludes, 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? Saul stripped off his clothes and began to prophesy himself, lying naked all night, and the people began to ask if Saul was now a prophet. Removing his clothes may have been symbolic of removing everything that stood between God and him. He was no longer Saul the king but simply a man with nothing between God and Himself. We may at times,e specially if we have gotten off track as Christians, need to strip our soul bare before God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our life.
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