David Escapes From Saul
March 16, 2019
Commentary
As we read I Samuel 23-24 and consider the events, we are reminded of the words of Christ in Matthew 18:7, “Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!”
David was at Horesh in the Ziph Desert. He was afraid because Saul had come to the area to kill him. In these days of hiding, it seemed as if Jonathan was the only one whom David could trust. One night, while David and his group were hiding in the wilderness, Jonathan comes to visit him (v. 15). This may have been the last time Jonathan and David were ever together. Jonathan came to encourage him and no one knows how much his words meant to David (v. 16). Johnathon tells David not to be afraid becaisw his father Saul will never get his hands on him (v. 17). They both promised the Lord that they would always be loyal to each other (v. 18). Saul was told that David was hiding nearby and they could easily catch him (vv. 19-20). Saul thanked the people for helping him and asks them to help him catch David (vv. 21-23).
Since Jonathan had been able to find their hiding place, David presumed that Saul would be able to find them so he moved to the desert of Maon, 10 miles southeast of Hebron (v.24). Saul pursued him there and just as everything looked hopeless for David (v. 25), Saul was called back to defend Israel from a Philistine attack (vv. 26-28). That is why the place is called “Escape Rock."David takes this opportunity to move on to Engedi (v.29), an oasis 10 miles north of Massada on the Dead Sea. This happends to be one of my favorite places to visit when I go to Israel.
David escapes from Saul. From all of this we can see God’s hand of direction and protection in David’s life. Whether He used direct means to prevent David’s capture (vv.27-28) or He gave him warning so he could escape, the Lord was sovereignly orchestrating the events of David’s life just as He wants to orchestrate the events of our lives.
Application
I must not soon forget the principle teaching of this passage that, no matter how harsh the circumstances of this life may be, God is always there to direct and protect me. He doesn’t want me to worry or fret, but just trust Him to take care of me.
1 Samuel 23:15– 29 (NET)
15 David realized that Saul had come out to seek his life; at that time David was in Horesh in the wilderness of Ziph.
16 Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him through God. 17 He said to him, “Don’t be afraid! For the hand of my father Saul cannot find you. You will rule over Israel, and I will be your second in command. Even my father Saul realizes this.” 18 When the two of them had made a covenant before the Lord, David stayed at Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.
19 Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? 20 Now at your own discretion, O king, come down. Delivering him into the king’s hand will be our responsibility.”
21 Saul replied, “May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have had compassion on me. 22 Go and make further arrangements. Determine precisely where he is and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. 23 Locate precisely all the places where he hides and return to me with dependable information. Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the thousands of Judah.”
24 So they left and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the rift valley to the south of Jeshimon. 25 Saul and his men went to look for him. But David was informed and went down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard about it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, but Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to capture them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”
28 So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth. 29 (24:1) Then David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En Gedi.