Daily Bible Reflection

MAY 17
1 SAMUEL 20:1—21:15
JOHN 9:1-41
PSALM 113:1—114:8 PROVERBS 15:15-17

AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD'S POWER

1 SAMUEL 19:1-24

"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?" (1 Samuel 19:24)

According to William Cowper, God moves in mysterious ways, and when He does, wonders abound.
Saul was jealous of David's success and tried on several occasions to eliminate him. When the threats against David became obvious, David fled from Saul and came to Samuel at Naioth (living, dwelling) in Ramah (high or exhausted). When Saul heard that David was at Naioth in Ramah, he sent his messengers to take David.

Incidentally, when these messengers of Saul arrived to take David, they met the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of the Lord came upon these messengers of Saul. They prophesied (v. 20). Saul sent the second group of messengers, and they too encountered the Spirit of the Lord and prophesied. The same encounter happened to the third group of messengers (v. 21).
Finally, Saul himself went and encountered the Spirit of the Lord dramatically. He stripped off his clothes, lay down naked all day and night, and prophesied before Samuel.

All of these happened because Samuel and the company of the prophets were dwelling in an exalted place, and Samuel was standing as appointed over the prophets, and there was an encounter that made the king lie naked all day and night. Imagine if Samuel were not standing and the priests were not on their duty post. Saul would have captured and killed David, terminating David's divine assignment and purpose.

Do we stand in the presence of God as appointed, so that His grace will disgrace the enemies of our lives? Many lives are lost because we fail to stand before God. Samuel stood, and an encounter ensued. You too can stand before God and replicate this same encounter in your life, your family, your ministry, and society. If the enemies of your soul must have an encounter with God and be disgraced, then you must choose to stand before the Lord. Don't sit like Eli, stand like Samuel, and God will save your David and disgrace your enemies.

Prayers:
O Lord, my God, help me to stand in the place of prayer like Samuel.

Let my enemies encounter your power.

Disgrace every individual who wants to destroy my life.
SHALOM