And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
Saul is on his way home after Samuel privately anointed him, and at the hill of God he meets the band of prophets Samuel had described. The Spirit rushes on him and he prophesies with them — which raises the question the rest of his life answers: what exactly does such power prove about the man who receives it?
This third sign met Saul at Gibeah — the hill of God, held by the enemy. One writer notes how the signs grow, and what the prophets were doing there.
The enemy was camped on "the hill of God" — what a state of things! We too must expect to meet the enemy's power, at work not only outside, but also among those who "profess and call themselves Christians." But Saul would meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place (note the growth: two men at Zelzah, three at Tabor, a whole company now), with instruments of music — a harp, a tambourine, a flute and a lyre. Remarkable! Music and song in front of the enemy. Why not? The enemy's power is serious, but it need not frighten us. When Saul met the prophets, the Spirit of the LORD came on him, and he prophesied too. So, set against the devil's work, there is the power of the Holy Spirit.
The same scene should have taught Saul something about the nation he was to lead.
Finally Saul would come to the hill of God, the seat of His power — and in fact it was in Philistine hands, invaded and ruled by the enemy. He had just met those in Israel who stayed faithful to God at Bethel. Here he should have faced the true state of the people, and it should have spoken to his conscience. But in this very place God was entering into relationship with Israel through the prophets. God's resources were not lacking. Despite the Philistines, the Spirit could act in power and in grace.
Victory over the Philistines was within reach, on one condition.
He could well have done it, had he proved obedient. Here, in sight of the enemy, the Spirit of the Lord came on him, and at once he is prophesying with the prophets, with all the marks of joy and triumph. The battle was the Lord's, so he might well rejoice, for then the victory was sure.
One writer sets this moment beside the day the Spirit came on David.
The historian uses the same words of Saul and of David. But the Spirit coming on a man in that way does not have to mean a lasting supply of spiritual power. With Saul, the Spirit came on him this way in chapter 10:10 and chapter 11:6. With David, the Spirit came on him from that day forward. Was Saul, then, less well supplied than David? Not at all. As long as he was on probation, God gave him the Spirit in power whenever he needed it.
Saul really did become "another man." That is not the same as a new heart.
Even where there is no work in the conscience, and so no salvation, the power of the Spirit may be so great that for a time the man under it becomes another man. After Samuel anointed Saul, the Spirit of the LORD came on him, and he became another man. Later the Spirit of God came on him again, and he prophesied as he had before. But neither time was there any work in his conscience, or change of heart.
So what can a gift not do? One writer answers with two short sayings.
Sin leaves a void in the soul that no gift, however rich, can fill — nothing can, short of Christ and heart-belief in Him… A man may preach with the gift of Paul, but if that is all, his gift and his use of it will not save him. As Rutherford said, "Preaching is not Christ," though it may be about Him; and Matthew Henry, "Saul prophesying among the prophets is Saul still."
The change was real. The people who had known Saul all his life were still not convinced.
Through him God could have taken up His relationship with Israel again, but faith was not active, and those watching the scene are not fooled. Saul is changed into another man and prophesies, yet the people who knew him before have no confidence in him. "Is Saul also among the prophets?" And a man from the same place answers, "And who is their father?" Does Saul have the same father as God's servants?
- Place — The Spirit came on Saul at the hill of God while the enemy held it. The prophets made music there anyway. The Spirit's power is God's answer to the enemy's presence.
- Power — Saul received the power his new task needed, in sight of the very enemy he was sent to beat.
- Probation — On Saul the Spirit came whenever the need arose; on David, "from that day forward." Same words, different men.
- Proof? — The gift changed Saul into another man without touching his conscience. Power is not conversion, and the neighbours' question showed they knew it.
- Point — Nothing but Christ fills the void sin makes. A man may prophesy and preach with great gift, and still be, as one writer quotes, "Saul still."
And it came to pass, when all that knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
Men who had known Saul all his life could not believe their eyes. The son of Kish was prophesying with a company of prophets. Their question came from shock, not praise. It raises a hard question: what does such a moment prove about a man, and what does it not prove?
The shock makes sense only because Saul's reputation was the opposite. He had little to do with Samuel, though the prophet lived nearby.
This is even more remarkable when you remember how close they lived. Gibeah of Saul was not more than twenty miles from Samuel's headquarters at Ramah. It shows how little interest Saul took at that time in public affairs, or in the welfare of Israel. Every godly Hebrew would have cared deeply about such things… But most serious of all, Saul had no piety. You can gather this from his not knowing the prophet… "Is Saul also among the prophets?" shows that his lack of interest in spiritual matters was well known.
This sign carried an offer inside it. God was showing the new king that He was ready to lead him.
before-note-none
Along with this sign, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul. This turned him into virtually another man as he prophesied among the prophets. By this God was showing His own willingness to lead Saul by the power of His Spirit as Saul took the kingdom. But Saul himself had to realise something. He could expect this guidance only if he submitted to the Spirit of God.
There is a sharp line here. The Spirit may use a man as an instrument without ever touching his conscience. Saul is the proof.
When the conscience stands in the presence of God and bows to His judgment, the Spirit of God acts in saving grace. He does not use the man as a mere instrument. He blesses his soul. In a word, it is salvation. But where the conscience is not touched, there is no salvation. Even then the power of the Spirit may be so great that for a time the man under it becomes another man… Saul prophesied like this twice, and on neither occasion was there any work in the conscience or change of heart.
The same warning reaches beyond Saul to spiritual gift itself. Even the greatest gift leaves a man where it found him.
Sin has made an emptiness in the soul. The richest and most abundant gifts cannot fill it. Nothing can, short of Christ and heart-belief in Him… A man may preach with the gift of Paul. But if that is all, his gift and his use of it will not save him… As Matthew Henry said, "Saul prophesying among the prophets is Saul still."
The crowd asked about Saul; one bystander asked about the source. Commentators treat that second question as the wiser one.
One person who lived there asks a discerning question: "But who is their father?" The source of the prophecy was the important thing. The questioner could tell that this was not Saul's normal character. But if it was a true prophecy, it came from God.
Another writer hears distrust in the same words. The question asks whether Saul belongs to the same family as God's servants.
Saul is changed into another man and prophesies. Even so, those who knew him before have no confidence in him. They ask, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" And one from the same place answers, "But who is their father?" Does Saul have the same father as God's servants?
The question stuck. It passed into common speech in Israel and was used far beyond Saul's case.
When, shortly after, he was seen among the prophets and prophesying with them, everyone who knew him was astonished to find him in such company and so occupied — so much so that "Is Saul also among the prophets?" became a proverb, used whenever anyone was seen acting out of character.
One writer counts up what Saul received before he was ever tested. That, he says, is the ground of Saul's accountability.
Three great things were done for Saul himself. God turned him into another man, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and God was with him… Responsibility begins only after grace and goodness have done their utmost… Grace in fact creates our responsibilities, whether then or now, and it supplies what we need to fulfil them.
- Known — everyone knew Saul cared nothing for God. That is why the neighbours who grew up with him were stunned to see him prophesy.
- Given — the Spirit came on him as a sign that God was willing to lead him as king. The gift was real, and Saul had to submit to it.
- Not saved — the Spirit's power on a man is not saving grace reaching his conscience. Saul among the prophets is Saul still.
- Sourced — one bystander asked not about Saul but about the prophets' father. A true word's worth lies in who sends it.
- Accountable — grace did its utmost for Saul first. Only then did responsibility begin. Grace creates our responsibilities and supplies what we need to meet them.