1 Sam. 23:15-29
15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh when he learned that Saul had come out to seek his life. 16Saul’s son Jonathan set out and came to David at Horesh; there he strengthened his hand through the Lord. 17He said to him, ‘Do not be afraid; for the hand of my father Saul shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be second to you; my father Saul also knows that this is so.’ 18Then the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
19 Then some Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, ‘David is hiding among us in the strongholds of Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon. 20Now, O king, whenever you wish to come down, do so; and our part will be to surrender him into the king’s hand.’ 21Saul said, ‘May you be blessed by the Lord for showing me compassion! 22Go and make sure once more; find out exactly where he is, and who has seen him there; for I am told that he is very cunning. 23Look around and learn all the hiding-places where he lurks, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.’ 24So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul.
David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. 25Saul and his men went to search for him. When David was told, he went down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. 26Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, while Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. 27Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Hurry and come; for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.’ 28So Saul stopped pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. 29David then went up from there, and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.
BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: What do you suppose Saul said to himself when he was so close to David and was called away to battle the Philistines?
"See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are."
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2 comments:
This continual "chasing escapade" certainly seems to be full of all kinds of jealousy and hate. It seems that if Jonathan told him that he would be safe from Saul, what happened to Jonathan's words? David is probably saying, "I hope Saul gets tired of this before I do!" Of course, this is a life and death matter!
Just where did the Philistines come from?
Need those good blogging ideas!!!!
Even though it seems that the scripture sometimes makes us wonder just "what to write", right?
I can only imagine how frustrated Saul must have been to be so close to David, but then be pulled away to fight an old enemy that was threatening his country. In truth, the Philistines were far more a threat to his country, than David....but then again, David was a far greater threat to him...or at least his prestige and pride. But, interestingly enough, Saul had the insight to see the greater danger in the Philistines, and so he set aside the personal danger that he saw in David to attend to what was in truth more pressing.
Might we ask that God would give us such insight. That we, too, might be able to discern those things which are most pressing for the kingdom of God, and those things that are simply pressing upon us. And then once discerned, the will to do that which is needed for God's kingdom and not my kingdom.
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