A Relentless Pursuit Foiled. But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, because the Philistines have attacked the land.” So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape. 1Sa 23:27-28
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHY
INTRODUCTION
The authorship of these books cannot be determined, but there is abundant evidence that they embody the report of eye-witnesses. Some of the more prominent characters in the scenes described are name as writers in 1Ch_29:29.
The First Book of Samuel records the rise of a new political and spiritual order represented by the kings and the prophets. The establishment of the monarchy, with Saul as the first king, is an epochal event in the development of Israel’s national life.
Of no less importance is the appearance of the “schools of the prophets” under the leadership of Samuel. In these institutions we see the beginning of the movement which made Israel spiritually supreme among the nations.
III. FROM THE ANOINTING OF DAVID TO THE DEATH OF SAUL, I Samuel 16-31
34. Saul Pursues David to Slay Him, I Samuel 21-26
48. From what two sources did David find comfort when pursued by Saul?
Saul Pursues David
Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph [in the woods] at Horesh.
And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went [into the woods] to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.
He said to him, “Do not be afraid; the hand of my father Saul will not find you. You will be king over Israel and I will be second in command to you; my father Saul knows this too.”
So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; and David stayed [in the woods] at Horesh and Jonathan went to his house.
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds of Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?
Now then, O king, come down [to Ziph] in accordance with all your heart’s desire to do so [and capture him]; and our part shall be to hand him over to the king.”
Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, because you have had compassion on me.
Go now, be very persistent and investigate, and see where his haunt is and who has seen him there; for I am told he is very cunning.
So look, and take note of all the places where he hides and come back to me with the established facts, then I will go with you. If he is [anywhere] in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”
So they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.
Then Saul and his men went to search for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed [there] in the Wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard it, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon.
Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to capture them.
But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, because the Philistines have attacked the land.”
So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.
David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi.
A RELENTLESS PURSUIT FOILED
Amid outward strife, God is sure to provide some rill of human love-a tender friendship, a Jonathan. See Psa_106:46. This is the mission of a friend-to strengthen our hands in God, whisper words of hope, and enter into renewed covenants with us. Is not this what our best Friend does? He finds us out in the deepest woods, and whispers His Fear not. There is no hunted soul to whom Jesus will not come to pour in the oil and wine of His presence.
Let us always strengthen our friends’ hands in God. We sometimes weaken their good resolutions by our timid entreaties, as Peter did when he urged the Lord to spare Himself, Mat_16:22. No, you must always help your friend to be his noblest and strongest. The angel strengthened the Redeemer in the garden. The one word for us to pass on is, “O man, greatly beloved, fear not; peace be unto thee; be strong, yea, be strong,” Dan_10:19.
The Ziphites made a direct bid for Saul’s favor, but their plot miscarried. When a man puts his life into God’s hands, he has no need to fear “the arrow by day nor the terror by night.” Whatever difficulties threaten him, there is ever a way of escape.
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