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The Beginning of the End
the will of God with him and listened reverently to Samuel’s words
of instruction. David learned precious lessons from the teacher of
Israel, but David’s connection with Samuel aroused the jealousy
of the king, who feared that the prophet would lend his influence
to advancing Saul’s rival. The king sent officers to bring David to
Gibeah, where he intended to kill him.
God Restrains Evil
The messengers went on their way determined to take David’s
life, but One greater than Saul controlled them. Met by unseen
angels, they began to speak prophetic sayings and proclaimed the
glory of Jehovah. Thus God revealed His power to restrain evil.
Saul, exasperated, sent other messengers. These were also over-
powered by the Spirit of God and united with the first in prophesying.
The king sent a third group, but the divine influence fell on them
also, and they prophesied.
Saul then decided that he would go himself. As soon as he would
come within reach of David, he intended to kill him with his own
hand, whatever the consequences.
But an angel of God met him, and the powerful Spirit of God
took control of him. He went forward uttering prayers to God, with
predictions and sacred melodies. When he came to the prophet’s
home in Ramah, he set aside the outer garments that indicated his
rank and lay before Samuel and his pupils under the influence of
the divine Spirit. The people were drawn together to witness this
strange scene, and the experience of the king was reported far and
wide.
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Saul assured David that he was at peace with him, but David had
little confidence in the king’s change of heart. He longed to see his
friend Jonathan once more. Conscious of his innocence, he found
the king’s son and made a touching appeal: “What have I done?
What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he
seeks my life?”
Jonathan believed that his father no longer intended to take the
life of David. “By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father
will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And
why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.”