God Restrains Evil

The messengers went on their way determined to take David’s life, but One greater than Saul controlled them. Met by unseen angels, they began to speak prophetic sayings and proclaimed the glory of Jehovah. Thus God revealed His power to restrain evil.BOE 330.3

Saul, exasperated, sent other messengers. These were also overpowered by the Spirit of God and united with the first in prophesying. The king sent a third group, but the divine influence fell on them also, and they prophesied.BOE 330.4

Saul then decided that he would go himself. As soon as he would come within reach of David, he intended to kill him with his own hand, whatever the consequences.BOE 330.5

But an angel of God met him, and the powerful Spirit of God took control of him. He went forward uttering prayers to God, with predictions and sacred melodies. When he came to the prophet’s home in Ramah, he set aside the outer garments that indicated his rank and lay before Samuel and his pupils under the influence of the divine Spirit. The people were drawn together to witness this strange scene, and the experience of the king was reported far and wide.BOE 330.6

Saul assured David that he was at peace with him, but David had little confidence in the king’s change of heart. He longed to see his friend Jonathan once more. Conscious of his innocence, he found the king’s son and made a touching appeal: “What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”BOE 331.1

Jonathan believed that his father no longer intended to take the life of David. “By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.”BOE 331.2

After the remarkable exhibition of God’s power, Jonathan could not believe that his father would harm David, because that would be rebellion against God.BOE 331.3