Saul Checked by the Spirit of God
David hastened to apprise Samuel of the turn that events were taking, and of his grave suspicions that Saul was attempting on his life. For greater security the prophet led him to a cluster of booths, woven probably of osiers (hence the name Naioth), where a number of young men were being trained for the prophetic office. This gives us an insight into the constructive work in which Samuel was engaged during the later years of his life. They were living in an atmosphere which seemed charged with spiritual electricity. Into this sacred assembly Saul forced three successive bands of messengers to arrest David-and finally went himself.
Before he reached the place he, also, was overcome, and lay on the ground in a trance which lasted all that day and night. Such scenes were not uncommon in the days of Wesley and Jonathan Edwards. But there was a vast gulf separating Saul from David in this matter. Between David and the prophetic Spirit there was a real affinity. In purity and simplicity he had yielded himself to God. Saul was another man for the time, but not a new man. The Spirit was on, but not in him. He had gifts, but not grace. There was no root, and the plant withered away.