Having been thwarted in his plans thus far, Saul – driven by the awful fury of his jealousy – told Jonathan and all his servants that they should rid him of David’s tormenting presence. But of course, this plot failed; for Jonathan delighted greatly in David, and all Israel and Judah loved him. Indeed, Jonathan stood in the breach to turn away his father’s anger, and he drew from him the promise that his friend would not be put to death. Here we see the truth of the saying, “How forcible are right words!” For a time, Saul was convinced of the unreasonableness of his enmity to David. But alas! The heart of man without the grace of God is so deceitful and desperately wicked! (Jer. 17:9) Jonathan’s pleadings and reasonings only had a temporary effect; for shortly afterward, as the young musician endeavored to soothe away Saul’s spirit of melancholy, he very narrowly escaped being transfixed to the wall again by the royal javelin.

It was evening when David slipped out of the king’s presence and fled to his wife and home. But Saul, intent on nothing short of murder, “sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning.” These were the men whom David characterized so vividly in Psalm 59, verses 6 and 14. However, the quick thinking of Michal saved her husband’s life! She let him down through the window so that he might escape, and then she placed an image in the bed and covered it with a quilt. Her stratagem to gain time until David had gotten a safe distance away from her father’s murderous rage was allowable, but her false words to Saul’s messengers about David being sick cannot be commended. They indicate that she did not believe that God could save her husband unless He did it by her sinful action.

David fled to Samuel in Ramah, thereby making the Lord his refuge. Samuel, as a prophet, was the one who was best able to advise him what to do in this day of distress. Together, Samuel and David went to Naioth. In that place, there was a school of prophets that Samuel himself had probably established, in order to train men to become spiritual instructors of the nation. The chief subject which engaged the attention of the students was the law of Moses and its interpretation; but along with that (although secondary to it), they practiced music and sacred poetry. In such a place, therefore, David would have found himself in congenial society; and the influence of his sojourn there must have been both soothing and salutary to his spirit. The little true pleasure that is to be had in this world is enjoyed by those who live a life of communion with the Lord.

We may be sure that the venerable prophet, while comforting David under his present trials, would have given him many valuable instructions as to the principles which were to regulate his conduct when he would occupy the throne. No doubt he entered into conversation with David about the terms upon which the scepter was given to him – which were made all the more sadly clear in light of the mistakes which Saul had committed, and the terrible consequences to which they had led. Samuel also probably spoke of his own experience as a magistrate – giving David maxims and advice which would never be forgotten. And at the same time, the good old man would continually commend David to the keeping of that God Who – throughout his own long and active life – had sustained and protected him.

Besides this interaction with Samuel, the pursuits of the sons of the prophets – both in their practice of music and poetry, and in their study of the Word of God – were just such things as David would most thoroughly enjoy. Surely they would have been soothing to his spirit after the trials through which he had just passed, as well as preparing it for the difficulties which still lay ahead.

But how impatient was Saul after David’s blood, and how restless he was against him! Shortly after David’s flight, the king proposed to snatch his prey from the midst of the sacred school and from the very presence of Samuel himself. Accordingly, three sets of messengers were sent to Naioth; but they were rendered powerless by the Divine Spirit. And a restraint was even put upon Saul himself, who – under the mighty impression of God’s Spirit – was forced to lay helpless upon the earth. Although he was baffled by one Providence after another, Saul could not see that David was under the special protection of the Lord.

This must have been a marvelous experience for David! To the eye of man, there was absolutely nothing to prevent the king’s messengers – or the king himself – from capturing him. But by faith, David knew that he was being kept within the curtains of an unseen pavilion, and that he was hidden beneath an invisible wing. The presence of the Lord surrounded and protected both Samuel and David. And our God will still do the same for each of His persecuted ones! “In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide them; he shall set them up upon a rock” (Ps. 27:5). Those who are hidden in Jesus are safe indeed! Nothing can separate them from the love of God, and no one can snatch them out of His hand!

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