PROPHETS IN NAIOTH

We continue with our study from 1 Samuel Chapter 19.  You are probably not surprised to hear that our story is about to take some very strange twists and turns.   The life of David seems to be one long adventure after another.  You never know what God is going to lead him into next. 

Last week we discussed the first section of 1 Samuel Chapter 19. If you wish to review last week’s lesson, here is the link: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/davids-window-of-escape/.  Today we will continue in 1 Samuel Chapter 19 and discuss the end of the chapter. Very few words contain a lot of the continued story of the adventures of David. 

THE IDOL IN DAVID’S BED

After helping David escape by a rope from the window, Michal took an idol, laid it on David’s bed. She covered it with one of David’s garments and put some goats’ hair around the idol’s head.  Michal knew that Saul’s men would soon come looking for David.  Faking them off with this disguise was her attempt to give David more time to escape. Here is proof though, that David’s wife was placing idols inside their home. Not a good thing! Maybe in using this idol to fake off Saul, she was getting rid of it too. Who knows the exact thoughts going through Michal’s head in these moments. She must have felt desperate.

Did this bring visions of past studies to mind with you?  I Immediately thought of Rachel hiding her Father’s idols under her saddle when she and Jacob fled Laban. As I thought of Saul’s men entering the house of David and searching out his rooms, I remembered Laban. We previously studied about him searching out Jacob’s tents. He was looking for the idols that his daughter had taken from his home.

Most likely, Michal had also taken her father’s (Saul’s) idols and placed them in her home with David. Now, they were about to be removed and carried back to Saul, though unintentionally.

WHO WILL LEAD, SAUL OR DAVID?

After that thought, I remembered the stories of Jacob deceiving Isaac in order to get the birthright.  Isaac was blind and Jacob used goat’s hair on his arms to make him think he was Esau.  Again, goat’s hair was being used in a deception. This time it was used for Saul to be deceived into not murdering David. In one story, Jacob was seeking to inherit the birthright blessings from Isaac.  For today’s story, David was in line to inherit the kingship of Israel.  These two stories have so much in common. In both cases, leadership is in question.

Jacob’s mother helped him, Michal helped David.  A woman had a place in bringing about the destiny of these two important men.  Both women did something deceitful in order to protect the one they loved. We’ve heard this story over and over in biblical history. Eve was the first to follow the ways of deceit, and it has carried on from there. Often when women lack discernment, God turns the tale around eventually and brings forth the good from the bad.

Back to today’s lesson.  When the men arrived to kill David, Michal told them that he was ill and had taken to his bed.  When Saul’s men told him this, Saul required them to bring David to him so that he could kill him.  He told them to bring him in the bed where he lay ill and asleep.  This request was carried out pretty easy.  The idol did not make a sound!

SAUL QUESTIONS MICHAL

It was eventually discovered that Michal had deceived Saul with the idol in the bed instead of David.  Can you imagine the look on Saul’s face when he discovered the truth?  I can just picture Saul drawing back his sword and trying to kill an idol that was nothing but wood or stone.  He must have felt rather foolish.  Yet; it is said that he also worshiped such idols.  This should have been an ironic lesson for Saul. The very idol Michal used most likely originated from Saul’s own household.

After making this shocking discovery, Saul asked Michal why she had deceived him.  Michal claimed that she had to let David escape because he had threatened to kill her otherwise. 

DAVID GOES WITH SAMUEL TO NAIOTH

Meanwhile, David sought out Samuel at Ramah, telling him all that had taken place and how he had been forced to run from Saul.  (Remember that Ramah is the place where it is said that Rachel was weeping for her children, the place she died giving birth to Benjamin.)

So, David and Samuel went to Naioth for a while.  Naioth was part of the area around Ramah. It is not spelled out in the scriptures, but it is said that Samuel was teaching a school of prophets in Naioth. 

You can imagine what such a place would be like.  Prophets are people of God who are constantly seeking God’s face.  God’s Presence would have covered this area constantly.  When God’s Presence covers an area, it is impossible for evil spirits or anything associated with the work of Satan to prosper.  This sounds like the perfect place for David to be hiding.

Someone noticed David was there with Samuel and they reported this fact to Saul.  Saul sent a group of men out to capture David and bring him back to him.  However, on the way Saul’s men saw a group of prophets prophesying.  Samuel was standing there among them as their leader.  While watching these men pray, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men.  They too began to prophesy.

THERE IS SAFETY IN GOD’S PRESENCE

Why do you think this happened?  I believe it was because the Spirit of God was so heavy in this place that it drove out all evil from everyone who came there. 

When Saul was told about this unusual occurrence, he sent more men to capture David.  They prophesied too.

A third time Saul sent men seeking to capture David.  The same thing happened with them.  They prophesied.   

It seems that Samuel was very wise in his choices of where to hide David.

SAUL GOES TO NAIOTH

Finally, Saul went to seek David himself.  He arrived at Ramah and went to the great cistern/well at Seku.  There he asked the leaders of this area; “Where are Samuel and David?”

They answered that they were in Naioth at Ramah.  So, Saul went there.  Then the Spirit of God even came upon Saul!  He walked down the road prophesying all the way to Naioth.

So, symbolically we could say that Naioth is the place of the Presence of God.  You cannot encounter such a strong Presence and not have your demons leave.  This is what happened to Saul.  When his demons left, he let go of his desire to seek and kill David. All he wanted to do at that point is to speak of the goodness of God.

WHERE IS NAIOTH – REALLY?

I heard a wonderful sermon on this subject of being at Naioth.  The sermon was given by Pastor John Britto. Here is the link if you wish to hear it too: https://youtu.be/MZq8NBPP9A4?si=0CXHBcP7cwYYJHw7.

In his sermon, Pastor Britto reminds us that any place can be like Naioth if we seek God’s continuous presence in all that we do.  Naioth is a place where the enemy cannot come.  It is so Holy Spirit filled that demons run in fear.  They flee at the name of God. 

Our homes can become like Naioth if we simply pray, obey, and seek God’s face.  Our communities, schools, counties, states and country could do the same.  All it takes is enough people repenting, turning, seeking God’s presence and being obedient to God’s Word and ways in their lives.  This type of place has the ability to change even those who are as filled with demons as Saul was when he wanted to murder David.

So, Saul became defenseless at Naioth.  He found the sweet Presence of God there.  For a little while, Saul was his old self, only more so because of what he was experiencing.

DISROBING FROM THE WORLD AT NAIOTH

Also, when you read about Saul’s experience at Naioth, you need to understand the mistranslation found in most bibles.  The words usually say that Saul laid “naked” and prophesied there.  The word “naked” should read “dis-robed.”  Saul had become humble once again. There in Naioth, he worshipped God by laying aside his kingly garments.  It was simply an act of humility, which was yet another sign of the power of God within this area. Saul realized his unworthiness to be king. He saw that only God was good enough to be King. He put aside the things of the earth and looked toward the things of heaven.

This prompted people who had previously seen Saul’s tendency toward insanity to question the heart of Saul once more.  With these obvious changes, the people began to ask, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Now why would this particular question by the people be so significant? 

It was because the people had been, since the days of Adam and Eve, seeking one who would come to save Israel.  It was said that this “One” would be a prophet, a priest, and a King.  Little did they know that another man in this area had those qualities for real. 

His name was David.