David is a fugitive, running for his life, with Saul, the king in heavy pursuit. We read about this in 1 Samuel 18-20. How does one individual outwit a king who is obsessed with destroying him? Simple. It is by the power of the spirit. We are told that the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul. This indicates he was vulnerable, defenceless to the whims and dictates of his flesh. No wonder David cries out in Psalms 51:11 `take not thy Holy Spirit from me`. Where would we be without the Spirit? We would literally be up a creek like Saul was. To further compound his problem, Saul was given an evil spirit from the Lord. He was practically a raving lunatic, obsessed with only one thought – the death of David.
Our hero David represents what it is to be possessed of the Spirit. It seemed as Saul lost the presence of God, David gained more of the Spirit, and he continued to play his melodious harp. The more Saul lost grace with God, the more David gained favour with God and with people. God was with David wherever he went. When the Spirit is with you he delivers you from the throes of death itself. David is able to repeatedly escape from the murderous intents of his commander and king, Saul.
One standoff related to us in this narrative is that of Saul and the prophets. David escapes to Samuel, who hides him in the place where the prophets gathered. Saul sends multiple companies of men to retrieve David, but he grossly underestimated the power of the Spirit, for the soldiers overcome by the spirit began to prophesy. Finally Saul himself comes for David, the Spirit overcomes Saul, who rips off his own clothes, and lay on the ground prophesying. The mighty king was felled by the dynamic Spirit of God.
Don`t you long to be like David. I do. Encompassed by the spirit, driven by the whims of God, anointed for ministry. I tell you the Spirit will make you supra-normal. You will do things that you cannot do in your own might. Men and women will be astounded by the remarkable godliness that marks your life. But what do you have to do. Very simple. Do what David did. Live to please God. Say no to your flesh. Don`t retaliate against your enemies. Worship God like David did on his harp, but most importantly keep a soft and open heart to the Lord. This means surrender. Allow him to lead you wherever, whenever to do whatever. You know when he speaks to you don`t you? I believe you do. It`s soft, sensitive, persistent. Not in your ear, but in your heart. That knowing assurance that God is with you. Yes, that is the voice of the Spirit, may you heed it and be blessed.
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