safety – King David 101

When We Sing, We Soar

“And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have had compassion on me. ²² 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. ²³ 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.” ²⁴ And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul.”

1 Samuel 23:21-24

At this point, a little before and a little later David wrote Psalms 13, 34, 52, 57, 59, and 142. We know this by the superscription written above each of them. All are desperate observations and praises.

We also know that David wrote almost ½ of the book of Psalms.

In this passage (chapter 23) we read of King Saul’s continual pursuit of David. It’s the Ziphites, in verses 19-20 we read of their cooperation with Saul, and they become his willing accomplices. They pass on David’s general location.

But Saul needs specifics. It’s a fairly large area and David and his men are constantly moving. King Saul is also aware that the Philistines are watching and ready to pounce. Saul really needs precise info. He needs to reduce his exposure to the enemy army and avoid a long-drawn search for David.

During this time, David writes and sings.

These Psalms have been passed down to us and we can (if we wish) find a deep source of strength. We read of the Lord’s care for believers who are also being pursued, attacked by the enemy of our souls. Satan may pressure us, but he can never destroy us.

Worship is warfare.

Throughout scripture we defend and advance through praise and worship. When our hearts sing we defeat the enemy and rout the presence of darkness. David understood this, strumming his harp was not just a casual action of meditative relaxation.

We are commissioned to go to war against evil. The Psalms teach us how this is done. Too often we let the enemy advance because we are too quiet. When Israel went to war, the musicians went first.

When we sing we soar.

Psalm 13:3-6, ESV

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
⁴ lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

⁵ But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

“You Shall Be King”

KingDavid101.com

“David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. ¹⁶ And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. ¹⁷ And he said to him, “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.” ¹⁸ And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.”

1 Samuel 23:15-18

Somehow I think that if a hitman was actively following me, I would become fearful and a bit paranoid. I would see everyone through these fallen filters. I don’t know what I would do, and fear would consume everything.

Jonathan finds David hiding in the wilderness. Saul’s son, a man who could be king himself rejects the throne himself. Jonathan correctly sees the good in David: the anointing by Samuel, Goliath, the psalms David wrote, and all the victories over the Philistines.

There is no doubt in Jonathan’s heart. He believes in David and humbly steps aside. There is no bluster and no prideful desire for taking Saul’s throne. He understands that David will be the next king of Israel.

Jonathan’s presence to the wilderness of David was significant and timely. It’s written in verse 16 that he “strengthened his hand in God.” The word in Hebrew is somewhat broad, but it often means “to restore to strength” or “to make hard.” This is exactly what David needed to hear.

We all desperately need encouragement from someone else.

And we must be an encouragement to God’s people who are in a deep wilderness.

Sure, the Word, worship, and communion are places of encouragement for me. The “home groups” and my elders build me up (or edify).

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV

Jonathan become God’s agent to support and reassure David who hides from King Saul in a difficult place in the wilderness. What a powerful ministry. To come along the side of another and remind someone else of God’s calling, and to strengthen them of God’s purpose and work.

This passage should bless both the “would be king,” and those 600 men who have attached to David. What a blessing Jonathan is to David.

We are called to do what Jonathan did for David.

“I’ll lift you and you lift me, and we’ll both ascend together.”

John Greenleaf Whittier

“Until I know what God is going to do for me.”

“Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.”

⁴So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.”⁵“One day the prophet Gad told David, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” So David went to the forest of Hereth.”

⁶“The news of his arrival in Judah soon reached Saul. At the time, the king was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers.”

1 Samuel 22:3-6

David and 400 (“the 3D men”) are together in the Cave of Abdullam waiting for what, I do not know. I suspect they didn’t know either. For any of us who are in a “holding .pattern,” David’s stay can be understood. But God hasn’t forsaken you, not a bit. Waiting on God is never easy. Every disciple goes through this.

David takes up this time to care for his parents. You see they followed David out into the wilderness. I’m pretty sure that were prime candidates for blackmailing David. They could be easily taken as hostages by Saul, to manipulate David who is hiding.

Now there is a reason that they went to Moab. David’s great-grandmother Ruth was a Moabite (Ruth 4:18-22, 1:4). That would mean that one of his parents could claim that Ruth was a grandma to one of them. It’s said that “blood is thicker than water.” That proverb has a powerful theological meaning.

As David arranges for their safety with the king of Moab, he makes a curious statement, “until I know what God is going to do for me.” That phrase encapsulates David’s heart and mind. David doesn’t know how or why; he has no idea what is going to happen next.

In his heart he’s taking it one step at a time, and he really doesn’t know what the next step is going to be. He’s walking by faith, not by sight. And you know that is how God works out His will. We don’t always understand, but we do obey.

Gad the prophet steps up and speaks the word of God to David. He must return to Judah. That is probably not what David wanted to hear; after all, it’s moving toward danger. King Saul rules Judah, and David must be thinking that he would be moving into peril.

King Saul hears of this and he’s waiting for David.

The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will. Perhaps it’s here that David pens this verse. David is learning that the Cave of Adullam is not a safe place, he must understand his real safety is in the Rock of God.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.”

Psalm 91:2