1 Samuel 23 Running

David is still running from Saul. Today, he gets withing striking distance, and then is called off by other kingdom matters. Can we say, “fingerprints of God”?

We see two times David has to cut and run. The first is to protect the people he was staying with. David’s deliverance of the people made him a hero in their eyes, but not enough for them to risk their lives to protect him.

The second time David is chased is because of betrayal. David did nothing wrong to get the people of this small village to turn against him. They didn’t simply stop dealing with him, but they outed him to Saul. They did everything they could to get him killed. Let’s rejoin our story and run with him as he avoids capture.

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David and his men have been hanging out in the forest of Hereth and the wilderness of Ziph after returning to Judah. These areas offer strongholds for David and his men. They have been striking against raiders and bandits who would accost the people in the area.

News reaches David in his camp of a city under siege; Keilah. They are very close to the border of Israel and Philistine territory. They are at the western end of the Valley of Elah. It would be wise to keep the Philistines OUT of the valley.

David knows the Philistines battle superiority but he also knows his God. His God helped him defeat Goliath. His God helped him battle the Philistines under Saul MANY times. He is prepared to let Him do so again. But David isn’t with battle hardened elite troops. He is with a band of men from the bottom of society. Those who were in debt or downtrodden. Men who were disillusioned with the way things are going in their world. They had proven themselves in battle before, but this enemy is different. David doesn’t want to get them in over their heads.

David needs to ask God what to do. Fortunately for him, he has a priest in residence who can do just that. David calls for Abiathar. Abiathar comes and stands before David.

“I need to inquire of the Lord. ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’ (verse 2b).”

Abiathar waited for a moment, listening for the voice of the Lord. “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah” (verse 2c).

David turns to his ranking men who are waiting with him. David’s eyes glow with eagerness to do the Lord’s will but his men’s faces don’t match his. His eldest brother steps forward to be spokesman for the group.

“Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” (verse 3).

David recognized his reluctance. They would most likely be vastly out-numbered, but that doesn’t mean anything when God is on your side. David accepted the Lord’s command to go, but for his men he would ask God directly if He would fight for them.

“Inquire of the Lord for me again. “Will we prevail against the Philistines if we go to Keilah?”

Abiathar waits on the Lord’s voice again. He speaks the words of the Lord loud enough that David’s men can clearly hear His answer.

“Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand” (verse 4b).

ALL doubt evaporates at these words. David’s men KNOW the power of the Lord. They have seen His hand at work in their small battles and in the life of David. Because they KNOW He will be with them, they are READY to go!

It took less than a day for David and his men to reach Keilah. It look less than a day to send the Philistines back where they came from. The majority of the Philistines died on the battlefield but a few escaped to tell of this event.

After the battle had been completed, David and his men entered the Philistine camp and plundered it. In that camp were livestock the Philistines had taken from the people who lived nearby. There were also weapons of war and supplies that would be put to good use by David’s fighting forces.

The people of Keilah are overjoyed at the deliverance from the Philistines. David is their hero! News spread quickly of the victory God had wrought through David’s hand for the people. Not only has David defeated the Philistines but he has restored their goods, including their livestock.

One of the places the news spread to did not receive it with the same spirit. That place was Gibeah, and the person receiving it was Saul. This should have been Saul’s victory. HE was supposed to be the one to deliver Israel but David had stepped in front of him and, once again, stolen the hearts of the people. Even though Saul was angry about David’s victory, he was happy to hear a reliable and recent report of David’s whereabouts. In fact, Saul was elated by this news, for his own purposes.

Abner and the messenger who brought Saul the news stood before Saul as he voiced his excitement over this turn of events. “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars” (verse 7b).

Saul was taking no chances. He would take David this time with sheer numbers. He sent messengers to every tribe and called for their mighty men to assemble in Gibeah in three days’ time. From there they would march against Keilah and demand they surrender David to him.

David received news of the edict Saul had sent. He knew the people couldn’t refuse their king’s command. David is faced with a problem. He K Saul NOWS means to kill him and anyone who stands in between them. He has three options: 1) stay and fight Saul’s forces, 2) stay and take refuge within the city, or 3) escape before Saul arrived. But he doesn’t know which one to take. He needs to seek God’s direction again so he sends for Abiathar.

“Abiathar, I have an urgent matter I must inquire of the Lord regarding. ‘Bring the ephod here’ (verse 9b).”

David gathers his men while Abiathar retrieves the ephod he had carried with him when he fled Nob. Abiathar brings it to David. This is a very serious matter, if David felt the ephod was required before asking for the Lord’s direction. Abiathar put the ephod on his body and fastened it securely. He now stands ready for David to ask his question of the Lord.

David speaks directly to the Lord. “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant” (verses 10-11a).

Abiathar speaks the Lord’s words to David. “He will come down” (verse 11b).

David refines his question. “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hands of Saul?” (verse 12a).

The Lord speaks through Abiathar again; “They will surrender you” (verse 12b).

That is what David needs to know. The Lord’s answer made up David’s mind. They have to leave before Saul arrived. David knew that the people were grateful for his deliverance of them but, they were not willing to sacrifice their lives to save his or his men’s.

David doesn’t know how much time they have before Saul’s forces will arrive. He knows there is no way he can get his entire forces out of Keilah in one group and make it safely past Saul. David is DETERMINED not to shed any Israelite blood by his hand, or his men’s. David looks to his men gathered around him. The weight of each of their lives pressed itself upon his shoulders. He will have to shift that weight to the Lord’s for now because he can’t be with each of them in their return to camp.

“Saul is on his way here. You heard the word of the Lord. We cannot put these people in danger and we know what the outcome would be if we did. They would turn us all over to Saul. We must leave at once but we cannot go out as a company. We must scatter in small groups and make our way back to our temporary home by as many routes as possible. Saul will not be able to follow all of us. Once he learns that we have escaped he will not pursue us. Each of you carry what spoils you feel you can easily bring without compromising your own safety and let’s be on our way. We will meet up again at the place where we left when we set out for this place.”

David did not name the place for them to meet for fear Saul would learn of it when he questioned the people of Keilah. Even if they did have that knowledge and passed it to Saul, David intended to be gone from that place as soon as his men were all present.

David’s men quickly break up in groups of ten to twenty men, strapping to their bodies anything they can, and dispersed in every direction but the rout Saul is expected to be approaching from. Within the hour Keilah held no more of David’s men.

Saul and his forces arrived in Keilah two hours after the last of David’s men melted into the surroundings. They took up positions around the city as if to lay siege to it. Saul calls out for the elders of the city to come out and meet him.

The elders of Keilah appeared at the city gate, but would go no further. They had just finished with one attack and were not willing to put themselves in line for a second one.

Saul called out to them from across the field.

“Send David, the son of Jesse out to me and all will be well.”

“He is not here. He departed some time ago.”

Saul is distressed at this news. He suspects a trick. “Where did you send him?”

“We did not send him. He left of his own accord and we know not where to.”

Saul’s distress is now a simmering anger. “When did he leave? Which road did he take?”

“We know not which road he took nor the hour of his departure. One minute he and all his men were with us and within a short time there remained none. They left little by little and by no appointed roads. We know no more than this.”

Saul is furious by now but he has no choice but to turn back. He cannot order those under him to lay siege to the city when there is no hope of retrieving David with these actions. He has no idea which direction David fled or where his final destination is, so following him would prove useless. He will admit defeat, for now, but he will hunt David every day until he finally lays hands on him.

David and his men are on constant look-out for Saul’s forces. They KNOW Saul will give anything to find them, and end this; permanently. They feel very blessed that all of them made it safely back from Keilah. That was a close call!

David and his people are in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh when an unexpected visitor comes walking in. It’s Jonathan. He was discovered by one of the sentries and brought straight to David.

The two of them clasp arms in the soldier fashion then move in for an embrace.

“I feared I would never see your face again” David says after their embrace ends.

“And I too” answered Jonathan.

“Not that I’m not glad to see you, but how did you find us?”

“I still have some who are loyal to me and not my father. Your brother is one of them. We leave notes in special hiding places.”

David looks at his brother with an astonished look. His brother blushes and ducks his head. David shakes his head in wonder.

“I’m surprised you haven’t been found out. You know that your father knows of our special bond. I would not be surprised to find him following you, to learn of my whereabouts.”

Jonathan hangs his head and sighs.

“As much as I am enjoying your company, we cannot do this again, until your father is truly over his blood lust for me.”

“I won’t come again, but while I’m here, lets enjoy our time together.”

David and Jonathan go for a short walk together and share all that is happening in their lives. Jonathan had special news of his own, as his wife had just born him a son. “His name is Mephibosheth” announced Jonathan.

“Congratulations my brother” exclaimed David.

They talk a little longer before Jonathan decided he should be on his way. “Before I leave I want to renew our covenant once again. ‘Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.’ (1 Samuel 23:17) My heart will always be with you and I will protect your whereabouts with my life.”

With tears threatening to spill over, David clapped his brother on the shoulder. They embraced one final time before parting. Jonathan returned to Gibeah. David waited until Jonathan was well under way before ordering his group to move again.

“To protect Jonathan’s life, we are moving again. He cannot be forced to reveal our whereabouts if he doesn’t know them.”

By nightfall, David and his company were settling into place in the wilderness of Moan.

Wherever David went he offered the services of his people as protection. The towns nearby have benefited greatly from their presence as they keep the shepherds and sheep safe.

One man in the town of Ziph wants David gone! His name is Philip and he was doing fine before David came. In fact, David has cut into his ‘protection’ business. He used to charge the other sheep owners for him watching over their sheep and shepherds. Those who didn’t pay usually wound up with missing sheep. David is ‘charging’ for his services too, but his prices are much lower. Or so he would have the people believe.

David’s services are in exchange for supplies for those with him. David requests to be part of the shearer’s feasts. This only happens once a season but he has a LOT of mouths to feed.

Philip has been stewing on this David problem for months. He hasn’t been able to ‘add to his herd’ thanks to David’s watchful eye. Most of Philips ‘customers’ have pulled away from him and he doesn’t like the pinch it is putting on his purse. And it doesn’t look like David is planning on leaving any time soon. He realizes that he is going to have to do something about this situation or he might go broke.

Everyone in Israel knows Saul is searching for David. If Philip can get word to Saul of David’s whereabouts, Saul would take care of Philips problem for him. But David has an army of his own. Philip has no idea what David would do if he found out someone informed on him. David might hunt the man down and slay him. Or David might rob the person of all his property. Or maybe David might call down fire from Heaven on such a person. Thoughts like this are the only things that have restrained Philip from informing on David to Saul already.

Philip has a few friends in town. They are some of the other business owners. He calls them together one night. As soon as they are all assembled Philip gets right to the point.

“We have to get rid of David. He is cutting into profits.”

“And how do you expect to do that? He has an army with him. He is well guarded.”

“I’m not saying to kill him.”

“What then because I don’t see him volunteering to leave.”

“He will leave all right. He just needs the right incentive or the right ‘escort’.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Philip face transforms as a wicked smile spreads across it. “Glad you asked.” Philip pauses to ensure he has everyone’s attention. “We are going to hand him over to Saul.”

“How are we supposed to do that? Won’t David see us on the road when we make our way out of town?”

“He may see us but if we go with ‘normal business” purposes he won’t have any reason to suspect us.”

The idea was immediately accepted and they began discussing who would go and what goods they would bring. They also agreed it would be wise to have their men watch David so they would know exactly where he is at all times. When everything has been agreed upon the meeting brakes up for the night.

Early the next morning Philip’s plan was set in motion. Men posing as shepherds are sent to ‘tend the sheep’ near David. Philip and two other men will carry their wares to Jerusalem. They will then leave them in the hands of a merchant Philip knew well. This man will sell their items along with his own, for a commission of course. This will then leave Philip and his companions free to travel to Gibeah and request an audience with Saul.

All is proceeding according to plan. Philip and his friends approach Saul’s servant who is in charge of who gets in to see the king. Philip takes the lead.

“We need to see the king.”

“The king is not accepting visitors today. He is busy with state matters.” (Which means he is having one of his ‘bad’ days.)

“But we have come all the way from Ziph on important business.”

“I don’t care where you came from” barks the king’s servant. “I said he is not available.”

“So Saul does not wish to know the location of David and his men?” Philip shrugs and turns as if to leave.

“Wait! Why didn’t you tell me you had news of David right away?”

“You didn’t ask what my business was” replies Philip with a look of innocence.

“Wait here.”

The servant rushes off to consult with Saul. Philip and his friends begin laughing once he is away.

“I told you it would be easy” says Philip.

The servants is back within minutes and ushers Philip and his companions into Saul’s throne room.

“I understand you have news of David’s whereabouts. Speak” commands Saul.

“Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds of Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshinon…” Philip looks to his companions who eagerly nod their heads in agreement. He turns back to Saul and continues. “…Now come down, O king, according to all your heart’s desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand” (verses 19-20).

Saul is up and off his throne so fast that his servant fear he is about to be struck. Instead, Saul moves toward Philip and claps him on the shoulder.

“May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have had compassion on me. Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning. See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, 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” (verses 21-23).

Philip and his companions bow deeply. Philip ends their interaction with his parting words of loyalty. “It will be done as you command my king.”

On the way back to Ziph the three men are congratulating one another on how well their plan worked.

“Saul will not wait for our report. He will surely be following us within a day. You could read the eagerness on his face. He wants David more than he has ever wanted anything in his entire life.”

“I agree. We need to make sure we don’t disappoint him or we may join David on his list of those he hunts.”

“Our men have been watching him. I trust they will not lose him.”

“They better not!”

Philip was correct in his assumption of Saul’s eagerness. He waited no time at all in summoning Abner.

“Ready the men! David has been sighted in the strongholds of Horesh. We have men there who will be tracking his movements so we do not miss him this time.”

Abner bows and affirms his loyalty. “It will be done as you command my king.”

It takes less than two hours for Saul’s men to be ready to march. Saul holds them back another hour to give his new allies time to get ahead of him. Philip and company are well under way when Saul finally sets out.

Back in the wilderness of Maon, David and his men have been going about their normal routine. About midday one of David’s men noticed something strange. A man had appeared to be following him. He caught glimpses of this man every so often, from first meal until now. At first he thought nothing of it for they meet many shepherds during their day, but this same man kept popping up in unexpected places. And he is CERTAIN it was the same man each time. He decids that David should be made aware of this, but he doen’t want to alert the man to his discovery.

After careful consideration David’s man calls out to one of his fellows to attend him.

“I have need of your water skin. Mine appears empty.”

The second man quickly approaches and holds out his water skin. In a hushed voice the first man tells of his suspicions. “I need you to inform David that we are being watched. I don’t know how to proceed and I don’t want to draw the observer further into the camp, lest he discover our central location.”

The second man nods discretely. “Would you have me fill your water skin? I need to replenish my own and may as well tend to yours too.”

“That would be most welcome.” The first hands his skin off to his fellow who casually walks away. The observer maintains his watch on the first man.

Within minutes David joins the first man. “I brought your water skin. Your brother filled it for you. Would you join me for a rest?”

Both men move away and draw their observer with them. David quickly steps into the shadows and his man continues on. The observer passes the place where David waits without noticing him. David steps behind the man and calls out.

“Explain why you are following us” David demands.

“I wasn’t following you. I was…”

“Don’t deny it. You have been found out. No use denying it.”

“I was told to watch where you went but not to harm you.”

“This is harm enough! Who set you to this task and what was his reason? How many of you are there?”

“My master Philip of Ziph set me to this task. I know not the reason why. He has gone to market but is expected back in two days. I do not know the count but there are more than a score to be certain.”

“When did your master leave?”

“He left a full day before.”

“Return to your camp and do NOT speak of this or I WILL find you.”

As soon as the man is out of range David tells his man to quietly gather the troops. He also tells him to make the others aware and be on the look-out for the others following them.

The spies are easily flushed out and sent packing. The ease with which they were discovered tells David that they were not experts at their craft. With his men assembled they begin preparations to break camp again. They are becoming quite good at this with the amount of practice they have had. It still takes time though because their numbers are still growing. David is certain that the fellows following his men mean that Saul has been informed of their location and is on his way even now.

David and his band move to the opposite side of the mountain from where they had just been. Morning brought with it a column of dust rising up from the ground. This was surely Saul’s army. They were moving fast! David’s band was slower because it contained children and animals. David knows it will be no time at all before Saul overtook them, now that he knows where to look. David calls out to the Lord for help as he pushed his people to their limits.

While David was crying out, the Lord was already answering him. A fast rider meets up with Saul and his forces. He has an urgent message. He is quickly brought to where Saul is in the column.

“What is it? Speak” barked Saul.

“Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land” (verse 27).

Saul’s face falls. He doesn’t want to lose this opportunity to capture David, but his duty as king means he has to protect all of Israel. If he fails to do so, then there would be no kingdom for him to pass onto his son. With a heavy heart Saul orders his forces back the way they came.

David can see Saul and his forces from his hiding place. He watches as they turned and leave. David fells on his face before the Lord and gives thanks to the Lord. He has, once again, answered David in his time of need. David and his people move onto the strongholds of Engedi, since they were no longer safe where in the wilderness of Maon.

(to be continued)

I’m not certain this is the right timeline for Jonathan’s son to be born. I think it is correct. He was five years old when Saul was killed. And, after consulting a timeline of David’s time on the run, it puts this encounter at the five-year mark. Google has been known to be wrong though.

Jonathan’s son would be the only one of Saul’s descendants to sit in David’s presence. But we are getting WAY ahead of our story.

Saul being called away in the nick of time for David is definitely a GOD thing! God had the Philistines marching to battle before Saul even got withing sighting distance of David. I LOVE to look at things like that. How God plans FAR in advance to bring about the exact result He wants at the specific moment in time. I have watched His hand do this in my life, on more than one occasion. And it ALWAYS blows me away with wonder and praise.

Father God, thank You that You know WELL IN ADVANCE, everything I need. And that You prepare the way long before I even step foot on the path. You have been doing that since the first moment of creation. ANYONE who doubts that should take a closer look at the first prophecy You gave concerning Jesus. It was in the Garden of Eden. And even then, it wasn’t a slapped together repair for what had just happened. It was a well-planned, in advance, for what was sure to be. Eve did NOT surprise You or catch You off guard with her sin. You already had the plan in place to redeem what was lost that day.

Which builds my faith even stronger, because I KNOW You have my future planned out as well. Why should I worry? Why should I fret? YOU are my provider and maker and You are NOT through with me yet. I’m looking forward to seeing where You take me.