43 David in the Wilderness

After escaping Saul’s pursuing him at Keilah, David then found refuge in Ziph, which was in the Judean wilderness. Even so, it was not only where the Lord wanted David to be at the time, but closer and close to where David would ultimately establish his headquarters, in Hebron.

Ziph was without doubt austere and rugged landscape. Things were far from easy for David and his men in that location. Yet, the Lord was familiarizing him with areas which would become of great importance during his reign, and especially when he was on the run from his son Absalom.

1 Refuge at Ziph

1 Samuel 23:14-15

The passage shows how Saul was still relentless in his pursuit of David. Which is a picture of how Satan is relentless in his attacks on believers.

The text clearly shows how “God did not deliver him (David) into (Saul’s) hand”. This is in stark contrast to Saul’s attitude that God had delivered David into his hands even in Keilah:

1 Samuel 23:7

Throughout his difficulties and hardships, the Lord was preparing David to become Israel’s next king as He had promised.

2 Encouragement and Fellowship

The Lord also ministered to David’s needs, by providing with encouragement and fellowship, from his friend Jonathan:

1 Samuel 23:17-18

Jonathan had a strained relationship with his father himself, therefore he wouldn’t be able to do anything to protect David, however he provided him with something equally important.

David needed to be reminded that the Lord had indeed said he would e the next king. In addition, he was in need of fellowship from Jonathan, a likeminded believer.

Jonathan’s faith was shown, in that he believed that David would become the next king, and had every intention of faithfully serving his friend David.

Jonathan mentioned that his father knew this, which is a possible reason for Saul’s rebellious attitude and continuing to fight against God’s determined will.

Jonathan stated that he would serve under David, however that would not happen, as he would be killed before David ascended to the throne.

Jonathan and David then renewed the covenant they’d previously made between them. Yet, the covenant didn’t just include David and Jonathan, but the Lord as well.

Scripture is clear on the strength of a threefold covenant:

Ecclesiastes 4:12

After the covenant renewal, Jonathan returned to his home in the city, while David remained in the wilderness at Ziph. It would be the final time the two men would ever see each other.

3 David is Betrayed

The men of Ziph determined things would be much better for them with the king, if they gave him information about David’s whereabouts:

1 Samuel 23:19-23

Saul then desired more specifics from the men, desiring detailed information as to where David was hiding.

In verse 20, the men of Ziph showed their duplicity, as they seemed to desire credit for providing Saul with the information.

In verse 21, Saul once again, seemed to believe that the Lord was providing the information about David, as he asked for the Lord’s blessings upon these informants:

1 Samuel 23:21

Saul then instructed them to obtain even more information about David’s whereabouts, as he concluded that he was “crafty” due to the numerous times he’d avoided capture. Thus, rather attributing it to David’s craftiness, than God’s protection.

Saul then promised to engage in an intensive search throughout all Judah, thus willing to disrupt the lives of innocent people, to satisfy his jealous fury, and his hatred of David.

4 David’s Deliverance

1 Samuel 23:24-29

While Saul conducted a search for David in Ziph, David and his men relocated to Maon, in another mountainous area of Judah. This again, shows how the Lord was protecting David.

However, things still weren’t easy for David, as his location was uncovered, and reported to Saul. Saul, then had his men camp on one side of the mountain, while through the providence of God, David encamped on another side.

Saul then employed a military tactic known as “encirclement” as he had his army slowly encircle, and then closed ranks on David and his men.

God’s providence was seen again when messenger then advised Saul that the Philistines had invaded Israel:

1 Samuel 23:27-28

Despite Saul’s unrelenting desire to eliminate David, he was still king of Israel, which meant he had the responsibility protect the nation. And since that was his priority, he then redirected his troops to deal with the invading Philistines, and therefore, David was able to escape once again, and he went to En Gedi, a place where he would find protection and physical refreshment.