DAY 20, Read 1 Sam 23:14-29
Key Verses: “Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them. But a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!’ Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape” (verses 26-28).
We said yesterday that the power of the mighty hand of God makes a difference upon a life. We also said that it brings enormous burden and responsibilities. You only need to compare the life of David to his brothers, and to King Saul, to see the difference which the mighty hand of God brought upon David’s life.
The mighty hand of God also delivers us from our enemies, from trials and from the troubles of life. God demonstrated this fact in the life of David. King Saul enjoyed the presence of David because as he played the harp, it calmed and soothed Saul’s nerves whenever the distressing spirit came on him. Despite all that, Saul had a strong disdain for David. Soon after the killing of Goliath, he began to feel threatened by the presence of David. He began to scheme to eliminate David. His plan to eliminate David became a daily obsession. Consequently, David became a fugitive in Judah who moved from place to place, but God would not allow Saul to get at him. “And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.”
Saul’s obsession to kill David made him to suspect all his servants, including his son Jonathan. He accused all his servants of conspiring to shield David. “All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day.”
Saul’s near misses on David’s life, and his doubt of the loyalty of his servants, eventually led him to kill all the priests of the Lord. This was expedited by Doeg the Edomite, who revealed to Saul that he saw Ahimelech give some provisions to David when he came to Nob. In all, eighty-five priests were killed because Saul could not lay his hand on David (1 Sam.22).
At the Wilderness of Maon, Saul came very close to capturing David, but God frustrated him. Suddenly, he got the information that the Philistines have invaded the land. He had no choice than to abandon the pursuit of David. “Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them. But a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!’ Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape” (verses 26-28).
PRAYER: Oh God, may the power of your mighty hand deliver me from all the snares of the devil against me.
