1 SAMUEL 10


10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of Elohim came upon him, and he prophesied among them.


-Inspiration is the action of the mind of the Almighty on the brain of the medium who becomes a prophet. It is an action independent of the will of the medium.

It neither receives from nor can be obstructed by their natural powers.

A man may know all that God has revealed in this way, and yet have no more inspiration than a magpie. His knowledge is obtained by the use of his senses in the ordinary way, and subject to the error incident to imperfect faculty.

The Christadelphian, Oct 1871

11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

THE PROPHETIC INSTITUTION


During Samuel's lifetime... "the prophets" and the "sons of the prophets" became a flourishing institution.

....A still more interesting illustration is found at the close of the days both of Samuel and Saul-a case which not only shows the prophetic institution in full and vigorous operation under the hand of Samuel, but shows the ascendant and irresistible operation of inspiration upon those who become the subjects of it-whether willing or not.

Saul had become the enemy of David:

"So David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him: and he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul . . . and Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they prophesied likewise.

And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then went he-Saul-also to Ramah and came to a great well that is in Sachu, and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold they be at Naioth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God was upon him also and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he stripped off his clothes also and prophesied before Samuel in like manner and lay down naked all that day and all that night" (1 Sam. 19:18-24).

When Samuel died, Saul was left to his own resources. The company of prophets organised under Samuel would probably scatter. At all events,

"When Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets" (1 Sam. 28:6).

The Christadelphian, Dec 1898