Mafia Forced to Preach?!

Man imagines that he is in control. When man is spiritually blind, he cannot "see" what is really going on in the spiritual realm. Just like Elisha's servant, many do not see that armies of heaven arrayed against the Syrians (2 Kings 6). But that doesn't stop God from carrying out his plans as He wills! Read this passage and see how many unwilling prophets there were. God turns man's plans right on their head.

20 Then Saul [Mafia "Don"] sent messengers [the hit-squad] to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And one said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Even King Saul, David's nemesis, did himself bow (unwillingly) under the power of the Spirit of God to prophesy, declaring praises to God and no doubt pronouncing self-condemning words along the way. My interest here is not to discuss how this is possible, or why God would do it this way. Rather, mentioning it simply surfaces a great reversal, an about-face for those who are in power and do not realize what kind of power they are up against!

This points out, how desperately wicked are men, who though forced to speak what is right, still choose not to believe it. It also points out how gracious God is who constrains men do what they ought to be willing to do, giving them, as it were, a second chance to come to their senses. Finally, such a story sheds light on the weakness of us sinners who could learn from their failure, turn to our Lord and find grace to help in time of need. Evermore, Lord, give us this truth, and a stomach to handle it with pleasure.