1 Sam 19.1-7 tells us of Saul’s private attempts to kill David (18.17) openly, and he tried to enlist the help of Jonathan to do it. After killing Goliath and becoming famous, Saul dislikes David. Saul has tried to kill David several times already and now tries something new. But Jonathan is David’s friend and he tells him about it (v 2). Saul is beginning to put everyone into a difficult position because the servants of Saul liked David (1 Sam 18.5). Jonathan is loyal to David and is going to help David and he doesn’t “stay out of it.” He tells his father that what he is planning is wrong because the commandment said, “You shall not murder” (Exo 20.13). We are to submit to different authorities in our lives, but we are never excused to violate the Torah due to loyalty. Jonathan knew he could not obey his father. But Saul had a “cause” in his own mind, even though Saul saw how David delivered Israel. As a result, Saul listened to Jonathan and swore to leave David alone. Jonathan brings David back into Saul’s presence as he was before. But that oath will be short lived.
In 1 Sam 19.8-10 we learn that David went out to war against the Philistines with his own men (a thousand in 1 Sam 18.13), but Abner, Saul’s cousin, was still in charge of the whole army (14.50) and David struck the Philistines with a great slaughter. This only made Saul more envious and jealous of David and he tried to kill David again by pinning him to a wall with a spear. David escapes with his life and never returned to the palace again until he was king twenty years later.
In 1 Sam 19.11-17 we learn that David escaped from Saul with the help of Michal. She let David out through a window and it is at this time that David writes Psalm 59. Michal took an image called a “teraph” used as a household idol to help in the worship of God. They didn’t think of the teraphim (plural) as other gods, but it represented Yehovah. Rachel had teraphim in Gen 31.19. The would-be priest Micah used them in Judges 17.5. The word “idolatry” in 1 Sam 15.23 is the word “teraphim.” It seems that this idol did not belong to David, but it was in his house and it was wrong for it to be there. This may be another flaw in the character of David, but others think he may have not known. But, we know that Michal knew it was there and maybe this is what Saul meant when he said in 1 Sam 18.21, “I will give her (Michal) to him, that she may be a snare to him.”
Now, Israel had no business using these for images of God. However, there seems to be other types of teraphim used other than for idolatry. John Gill in his commentary on 1 Sam 19.13 says that some were used to draw heavenly influences, or to know the time of day. Some were made in the form of a known man. Wives had them made in the form of their husbands so that they might always have them there, like a picture. This may have been the type used here and had a human face, or Michal would have never tried to use it to make people think it was David.
Michal puts the image in a bed and told the messengers (“malakim” or “angels”) of Saul seeking David that he was sick. However, Saul wanted his people to bring David on his bed so he could kill him because he didn’t believe her. But the messengers found the idol on the bed, and Saul accused Michal of deception. He demands to know why she would deceive him! But the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. She was faithful to David with her actions but not her words. She says David would kill her if she didn’t help him escape. She sacrifices David’s reputation and honor to save herself. Saul calls David “my enemy” in 1 Sam 19.17.
In 1 Sam 19.18-24 we learn that David flees to Ramah and tells Samuel all that has happened. They both then leave Ramah and go to a place called Naioth. In Hebrew it is “Navit” and it means “habitation of prophets.” This may be the name of the home of Samuel or a place in Ramah. Whenever Naioth (Navit) is mentioned it is related to Ramah (v 23). Saul finds out David is there and pursues him. As they approach they saw a company of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them. Then the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) comes upon those messengers of Saul. When Saul learns of this, he sends other messengers and they also prophesied. So Saul decides to go himself and comes to Naioth in Ramah. When he arrives the Spirit came upon Saul also. Saul strips off his outer garments of royalty and armor, and laid himself out all that day and night. The Lord moved him to do this in order to say, “I have stripped you of the kingship.” Yehovah was in the process of humbling Saul because he wouldn’t do it himself. He was putting Saul in a place that would make it easier for him to repent about what he was doing to David.
This whole affair gave David more time to escape. Then the people wondered, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” This phrase was first used in 1 Sam 10.10-12. They were amazed that Saul was “religious” all of a sudden. Saul’s plan against David has completely failed. David’s consultation with Samuel is meant to strengthen David and have him wait on the Lord.
Eschatologically, this story is a picture of the battle between the Messiah (David) and the False Messiah (Saul). The False Messiah will find that people he thinks should be loyal to him (Israel) will turn to the true Messiah (Ezek 39.22; Rev 12.1-17). The False Messiah, like Saul, will act more and more irrationally and violently against the true Messiah, but also those who follow him (Dan 7.21; Rev 12.17). Satan and the False Messiah will get more and more desperate as his plans for world domination begins to fall apart and his time is coming to an end (Dan 11.45; Rev 19.11-21). Look at what happened to Hitler in World War II. At first, he won many battles and took Europe with ease and under his total domination. But as time went by his plans began to unravel and he became irrational and desperate. He retreated and retreated till finally he was in hiding in Berlin as the Allied forces and the Russians surrounded him. In the end, all he did was lead his country into total destruction, including himself and anyone who followed him.
We will pick up here in Part 16.
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