RPG Adults
SAUL SOUGHT FOR DAVID, BUT ALL WAS IN VAIN
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9
1 Samuel 23
Psalm 23
“Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil.”
SAUL SOUGHT FOR DAVID, BUT ALL WAS IN VAIN
The men of Ziph had told King Saul of David’s presence among them. While the king’s hopes of capturing David were high, the son of Jesse was no ordinary soldier. He was highly skilled in military manoeuvres. This was natural for him although he had no formal training. God had put in him that wisdom.
While Saul sought him in Ziph, David had already moved to the wilderness of Maon. When he killed Goliath, he told the story of killing a lion and a bear to save the sheep. That experience would have encouraged him that even the giant was no match for him when God is with him. Saul nearly captured David, but again the search party missed him. Later, David wrote in Psalm 23 that though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, he feared no evil because God was with him. The Lord was the secret to all his successes. At the end of David’s life, his life as king became a standard for good kings.
While King Saul was going after David, a messenger came to Saul and told him of the Philistine invasion. The call was urgent and needed the king’s attention. Saul immediately returned from pursuing David to fight the Philistines. The place where Saul returned from pursuing David was named Selahammahlekoth, meaning the rock of divisions or escapes. Thus, David was spared and he found a new hiding place in Engedi. Saul departed for a while, but did not give up on going after David. However, the current ceasefire helped David to escape the pursuit of Saul.
God had appointed David to be king and sent Samuel to anoint him. It would have been easy for God to perform a miracle to give the kingship to David. However, He chose to use ordinary means and protected David in critical situations. This is primarily how God works with his people. His sovereignty and human responsibility always go hand in hand. Man must pray, work hard and be faithful in seeking God. Good results come, according to His will.
THOUGHT: God’s protection also involves personal diligence.
PRAYER: Father, give me grace to follow Thee and to do my part diligently.