He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”– 1 Samuel 19:24

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 12, 2012): 1 Samuel 19

It happened in my Social Studies class in Grade Seven. I was sitting in the back of the classroom minding my own business when a girl (one of the cool kids) decided to get into a fight with my teacher (Mr. Kidd). Finally Mr. Kidd dropped his ultimate weapon and the girl was sentenced to spend some extra time in class with the teacher. I still remember his words – when the class is over, go and take Garry’s seat. I also remember the girls response – Who? I am not sure it helped that Mr. Kidd chose that moment to declare his appreciation for me. But that moment was a blow to my ego. In spite of the fact that I had narrowly lost an election for the grade seven rep seat on the Student Council, there were still people in my class that had no idea who I was.

It is one of the biggest fears that every one of us lives with every day – the chance that someone will realize who it is that we really are or the reality that we have not truly made a difference. The fear probably started sometime during our Junior High years. It was that moment in time that everyone wants to be accepted and to be known, and yet every one of us can come up with several reasons why we might be rejected. It is too bad that we did not understand the insecurity that we were all feeling during those years.

Saul actually got to live the nightmare. The text says that he lay down naked – he was totally revealed - but it was more than just nudity that is the point of the statement. He was divested of everything that symbolized him as king. His royalty, for a short time, was removed, his armor was laid aside – and that all by itself was a prophecy of the way that Saul’s life would end. His kingdom had already been removed and Saul literally no longer had command of his own senses.

Day and night, God essentially imprisoned Saul. God kept him in chains so that David could escape from within his reach and that is evidence of God’s providential care for David. Essentially God made Saul into a prophet – his prophet - so that he could make David into a King.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 59