1 Samuel 19:8-10 And There Was War Again!

”And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him. Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.“

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. And there was war again: In context, this speaks of more war between Israel and the Philistines, but it was also true spiritually. At the end of 1 Samuel 19:7, there was a truce in the spiritual war involving David and Saul. But whenever we are at a time of cease-fire in the spiritual war, we know the battle will begin again before long. It can always be said of our lives “and there was war again.”

b. David went out and fought with the Philistines, and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him: Spiritually, these are warning clouds of a coming storm. It was David’s success that aroused Saul’s jealousy before. When David was successful again, surely Saul would be tempted to jealousy again.

c. Now the distressing spirit from the LORD came upon Saul: Evil spirits were more than ready to attack Saul where he was most vulnerable. The attack was on the way.

d. Saul…sat in his house with his spear in his hand: Saul is in a bad place. He is tempted and spiritually attacked, and now he has put himself in a potentially sinful situation. David was playing music with his hand, but Saul knew spears better than praise music.

e. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear: Saul wavered from his change of heart and broke his oath to not kill David. All of that was thrown away as easily as the spear was thrown. But it didn’t “just happen.” Saul was unprepared to handle temptation, unprepared to handle spiritual attack, and had the opportunity to sin close at hand. Most of us will trip up under those circumstances.

f. But he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall: David was gone, but the spear remained. The thing Saul didn’t need – the spear – was left. The one thing Saul really did need – the person David – was gone. Saul was a loser on both counts.

g. So David fled and escaped that night: David never returned to the palace until he was the king of Israel – perhaps some 15 years later! From now until the day Saul dies David lives as a fugitive. (Guzik)

And There Was War Again!

Many of us only pay attention to the earthly realm and don’t give two thoughts to the spiritual realm. In Saul’s case the Spirit of the Lord departed from him and it opened the door to the distressing spirit which came upon him, so he tried to kill David with his spear.

I like what David Guzik says about the spiritual war:

“But whenever we are at a time of cease-fire in the spiritual war, we know the battle will begin again before long.” (Guzik)

How do you prepare for the spiritual war? Read Ephesians 6:10-20

The Book of Job and the Book Daniel gives us some insight to the spiritual world.

But Jesus tells Nicodemus what must happen to enter the kingdom of God.

”Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”“ ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Your physical body has a soul which is spiritual.

”And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Will your last breath of earth be your first breath in heaven?

Blessings