Dunamis

The Greek word is Dunamis. We call it dynamite. And it’s the word used to describe the power that comes upon us through the Holy Spirit. I think I understand where I get my exaggerations from. Dunamis is bigger and better than power. It’s highly explosive. It’s any person or thing having a spectacular effect. To blow up, shatter, and destroy.

Here’s the back story.

Saul’s jealousy of David is growing by the second - especially after David marries Saul’s daughter Michal. Thinking Michal will destroy and make David’s life miserable, Saul finds himself outraged when he learns about Michal’s deep love for David. (Essentially making his plan irrelevant and moot). When Michal learns that her father is going to have David killed, as a good wife should, she helps her hubby escape. And off David trots - to find Samuel - (and I’m sure ask him what the bleep is going on being that Samuel was the one God used to anoint David as the leader of Israel).
1 Samuel 19:19 - 24.

Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah” so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men and they also prophesied. Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said.

So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

It is terrible that I find myself snickering when reading this passage? It truly is kind - of humorous. Okay, rewind to the top.

The Greek word is Dunamis. We call it dynamite. And it’s the word used to describe the power that comes upon us through the Holy Spirit.

I love this story for the following reasons:
1. Love is more dunamis than jealousy.
2. Godliness is more dunamis than wickedness.
3. And the Spirit of God is more dunamis than anything.

And because of this dunamis quality we have, 1 John 4:4 gave me a swift kick more than it had before: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater (or more dunamis) than the one who is in the world.”