Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ 1 Samuel

[Envelope 11]

In 1 Samuel 10 when Saul is prophecying...what exactly was he doing? What precisely was he doing?

[jimwalton]

Put these two thoughts together, and you'll probably see the answer to your question:

Walter Brueggeman says,

"The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us. … Prophetic ministry seeks to penetrate despair so that new futures can be believed in and embraced by us."

Joe Greene writes:

"The Spirit of God is often portrayed in the OT as working in leaders and prophets to establish, deliver, judge, guide, and restore the people of God."

At the time, Saul was seeking guidance about whether or not to attack the Philistine garrison at Gibbeah. So Saul is seeking the Lord's guidance. As a prophet, he receives a message from the Lord to guide him in such matters to deliver, protect, and restore his people, the Israelites.