I’m sure we can all think of leaders who acted unethically. Many leaders justify their actions by believing that their position places them above ethical constraints. They consciously or unconsciously assume that the same rules do not apply to them. In 1 Sam. 22, Saul does the unthinkable. He orders the execution of God’s priests who unwittingly helped David by providing him with food and a sword (they assumed he was on a mission for Saul when in fact he was fleeing from the king). Saul’s actions should cause us to remember that we are never above God’s standards, no matter how high we climb the ladder of success.

After David escaped from King Saul (see the “Making Your Exit” post), he went to Samuel at Ramah (1 Sam. 19:18-24). Saul heard about it and sent men to apprehend David. The Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men and they prophesied. In this state, they could not arrest David. This happened two more times before Saul, himself, went to Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him, too, and he found himself prophesying alongside the prophets.

Samuel was a powerful ally and protector of David. We sometimes need a Samuel in our lives who can shield us from life’s dangers. One of my Samuels was my senior pastor when I started out in pastoral ministry. He shielded me from some of the flak that might have taken out a young leader. I still need these kinds of people in my life. However, I also realize that I must be a Samuel to others who might benefit from my influence.

We all need allies in our lives who see or sense that the tide is turning and that it is time for us to make our exit. Sometimes, this involves an escape as we see in 1 Sam. 19:11-17. David’s wife, Michal, learned that her father, King Saul, planned to kill David. In response to this imminent threat, she warned David and helped him escape through a window in their house. When pressed by Saul’s men to let them in to see David, she concocted a story about David being sick (she even placed an idol with goat’s hair in David’s bed). When Saul eventually learned that David had escaped, he was not impressed.

Even though I wouldn’t condone Michal’s deception, I admire her courage in helping David escape the clutches of her father. Are we willing to take risks in our efforts to help others make necessary transitions? Perhaps, someone on your ministry or work team needs to transition to a different area. We all can benefit from allies who help us see the need for change and then support us as we make the transition.