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The DEEP

Madness

Truth or consequences.

1 Samuel 19:18–24

So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. Now it was told Saul, saying, “Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!” Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, “Where are Samuel and David?”

And someone said, “Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah.” So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

The text doesn’t say what any of the prophecies were. All these messengers, and then Saul, say amazing things—things that everyone recognizes as supernatural prophecy.

But no one cares about what they prophesy. The point is to display God’s power vs. Saul’s lack thereof. First Saul’s messengers are turned into prophesying robots. Then the same bizarre fate befalls Saul, except he strips himself naked to boot. Now it’s obvious to everyone that Saul has gone around the bend.

And it’s obvious that this is the LORD’s doing.


This passage highlights the primacy of God’s glory. He will not be mocked. The consequences of opposing God are often totally embarrassing.

“and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” — Daniel 4:24b–25

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. — Romans 1:24–25

These examples are not unlike things that we can see going on all around us today. Some amazingly embarrassing things have become common. The people who openly oppose God have clearly been driven mad and are flaunting their madness.

And laughing at these things in public would bring down their wrath upon you.

To God be the glory; to His enemies be the opposite.


To forward this devotional, see the link in green below.

These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday ones are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to the DEEP click here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, can be downloaded here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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