06 May 2020
Repent and Submit to Grace
1 Samuel 19:23–24: “So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?'”
King Saul was heading to Naioth in Ramah to try and kill David, but on his way the Spirit of God came over him. This was significant because this was the last time the Spirit of the Lord rested on Saul. It seems God turned Saul’s heart to prevent him from harming David, but it also seems that God had a sense of humor. Saul stripped off all his clothes at the prompting of the Spirit of God. Saul wanted to kill David, but the Holy Spirit was so strong on him that he was helpless to touch God’s new king. Obviously it was divine protection by God on David, but somehow Saul couldn’t see that.
This is a beautiful picture of the grace of God in action. God had done everything possible to bring Saul to repentance. He even gave him a very intense spiritual experience much like the one he had when he was first anointed as king. Even though the prophesying went on for a day and a night, Saul would not surrender to God’s new king, and God did not force Saul’s will to submit. What was once proof that Saul was God’s anointed was now proof that he was God’s rejected. There is an appropriate warning in Genesis 6:3 against this kind of stubbornness toward the Lord: “And the LORD said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.’” How we need to respond quickly in repentance whenever we sense the Sprit of God convicting us of sins. Saul had multiple opportunities to turn back to the Lord and submit to His guidance, but his ego prevented him from responding.
“LORD, give us ears to hear Your voice of conviction whenever You call. We surrender here and now, this instant, to You, and ask for Your forgiveness, a cleansed heart, and a renewed spirit within us.”
Repent and Submit to Grace
1 Samuel 19:23–24: “So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?'”
King Saul was heading to Naioth in Ramah to try and kill David, but on his way the Spirit of God came over him. This was significant because this was the last time the Spirit of the Lord rested on Saul. It seems God turned Saul’s heart to prevent him from harming David, but it also seems that God had a sense of humor. Saul stripped off all his clothes at the prompting of the Spirit of God. Saul wanted to kill David, but the Holy Spirit was so strong on him that he was helpless to touch God’s new king. Obviously it was divine protection by God on David, but somehow Saul couldn’t see that.
This is a beautiful picture of the grace of God in action. God had done everything possible to bring Saul to repentance. He even gave him a very intense spiritual experience much like the one he had when he was first anointed as king. Even though the prophesying went on for a day and a night, Saul would not surrender to God’s new king, and God did not force Saul’s will to submit. What was once proof that Saul was God’s anointed was now proof that he was God’s rejected. There is an appropriate warning in Genesis 6:3 against this kind of stubbornness toward the Lord: “And the LORD said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.’” How we need to respond quickly in repentance whenever we sense the Sprit of God convicting us of sins. Saul had multiple opportunities to turn back to the Lord and submit to His guidance, but his ego prevented him from responding.
“LORD, give us ears to hear Your voice of conviction whenever You call. We surrender here and now, this instant, to You, and ask for Your forgiveness, a cleansed heart, and a renewed spirit within us.”