Not the Magi. The three kings I’m thinking about are, Saul, David and Solomon. Often thought to be the first three kings of Israel; though when you read the text, you’ll discover another was crowned before David. Anyway, as the main royal founding fathers – what a mixed bag of disappointment, disobedience, adultery, murder, bloodshed, excessive sexual appetites and squandered privilege. Perhaps historically, and compared to David, Saul is seen as the real baddy. Though in reality his increasingly embittered character was generally always toward David and that after God had already torn the kingdom from his hands. And why did he lose his kingship? For an act of worship? For possibly showing mercy and the pragmatic use of acquired resources? There was no act of adultery here, no cold-blooded plotting to kill the husband of an illicit lover whilst already a polygamist. I’m not questioning God’s judgment. I wouldn’t dare. But there remain aspects of the Saul narrative I’ve always really loved, and continue to share.
Who would have thought, when going out to look for donkeys you would return a king?
This line has often been my opener at the beginning of a church weekend, or similar residential gathering. The idea is simple, our preconceived ideas, or indeed justifiably warranted expectations, can be radically changed when the prophetic of God is allowed the space to minister. Or on a broader landscape, your present task is probably not your final destination.
Two things strike me in the Saul narrative. Both are linked to the dramatic influence of the presence of God. Let’s never grow tired of hungering for more.
The first is seen in Saul’s unexpected ability to prophesy through the encounter and impact of the company of prophets. Time and time again I’ve seen hesitant, and even reluctant, conference attendees step out in faith and prophesy. In the same way, the reluctant evangelist will begin to move in boldness on their Summer short-term mission week. Likewise, the previously spiritually naïve will start getting pictures and words during a well executed prophetic activation session. It’s what I call, environmental anointing – the tangible presence of God on another transfers faith. It’s as basic as the known dangers of hanging around with the wrong people. Attitudes and behaviour are contagious. But it’s also something extraordinarily spiritual too. Consider the quirky narrative of Mary and Elizabeth, both pregnant, and when they meet, the unborn John the Baptist is filled with the Holy Spirit. Why? Well the Spirit was already all over Mary – read the text, in a way that’s why she was a pregnant virgin! I’m a great believer that the manifest presence of God on others is contagious in the right environment. The classic one is found in 1 Samuel 19 and involves our first king. Saul is at his most embittered, desperately wanting to find David and kill him. He hears that the young pretender is hanging out with Samuel, so Saul sends a troop of solders to kill him. As they near Samuel, they all start prophesying. A second troop is sent, and the same happens. Finally, Saul goes himself. Then both the obvious and the extraordinary happens. Before reaching Samuel, whilst simply in the town, in the immediate environment, Saul starts prophesying as he walks around; it’s like some ancient prayer-walk. Then in Samuel’s presence he rips his own clothes off and lies on the floor… witnesses express the same words previous witnesses expressed at his time of anointing, ‘Is Saul too one of the prophets?’
Wow! Amidst sin, rebellion, personal angst, demonic attacks and human envy, that first anointing had not left him. I believe, Saul was sensitive to God’s presence, and happy to receive and operate under the anointing of God. But he never disciplined himself in the ways of prophecy and kingship. His height and good looks may have made him, to a certain extent, a natural leader, but sadly he lacked discipline.
In my book, School of Prophecy, I unpack the pathway to maturity in all the ministry gifts, though especially the gift of prophecy. I suggest little has really been written and taught about the disciplines of prophecy that lead to the maturing of the gift. The maturity I’m talking of will be expressed in healthy and hopeful-filled revelations, frequent revelations and tangibly fruitful ministry in the light of such revelations. Indeed, we need maturity across all the ministry gifts – perhaps a subject for a future blog?
I said earlier, two things strike me about the Saul narrative. First the ministry of the prophetic, undoubtedly helped by the presence of Samuel’s spirituality. Yet also in parallel to Saul, and in the very the presence of Saul, we witness David developing his own prophetic minstrel ministry. There’s so much more to be said – so read my book. Prophecy is essential to the life of the church. The Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. In today’s church prophecy is needed, misunderstood, abused, but mainly just neglected. Just neglected! How the Spirit must grieve.
The second thing that strikes me from the Saul narrative is that he was changed. God changed his heart (1 Samuel 10:9). When I come to read that verse, I sometimes weep. How powerful. How extraordinarily simple. When you spend time in the presence of God (and godly people) – you are changed. To what degree, probably depends on you, your openness, your humility, your teachability, your hunger. Nevertheless, we know how the story goes, Saul’s change was not permanent. Even though the actual impartation may well have been. Remember, even when our Heavenly Father is the gardener and we’re seriously attached to Jesus – there’s still pruning to be done and even in that scenario there’s always a chance of dead wood. That’s not intended to be a fearful conclusion, but a motivational one. If we’re truly hungry and thirsty for God’s righteousness, let’s remain in Him, hungry and thirsting for more. Amen.
Oh, I nearly forgot, what of the third king? Solomon, erm? … Ditto. It starts so well, but then as you continue reading the narrative, your heart breaks, you want to scream at him. He encountered the Shekinah Glory! Yet his sexual appetite and the stupid idolatry of his lovers, completely consumed this highly gifted man of God. As one commentator concluded, Solomon – the wisest fool in history. Sadly, this time it is more of a fearful conclusion. After David’s heartfelt repentance over Uriah and Bathsheba (see Psalm 51), God was able to work again with this spiritually sensitive warrior and worshipper. But for Solomon, he simply spiralled out of control. Perhaps God is highlighting a difference here between David’s ongoing spiritual awareness and his son’s? Can we still recognise sin or has a modern world of inclusivity numbed our spiritual senses? Perhaps it’s time to get serious with sin, and call out the falsehoods that lie behind our modern ideologies and recognise them for who they are, the same ancient demonic idols of the past packed with hostility against everything godly, pure and noble: materialism, hedonism, eroticism, imperialism and even modern panentheism.
The good news? God still anoints Sauls, Davids and Solomons. Such is His grace. The call on us? To look unto Jesus. Don’t get so easily distracted. Discern the times. Beware, the world’s agenda does not always echo the fruit of the Spirit or the purposes of God’s Kingdom. We need to become wise and mature in our prophecy and kingship. Let us discern and call time on the demons of the past that continue to reside in the shrines of modern secularism. But first, and very simply – a discipline to keep us in His fellowship. Each morning when your eyes open for that very first time, the nano-second after that initial thought of shock and unbelief – Praise God and welcome Him afresh into the adventure of your day. Amen. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Ain’t that the truth!
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