1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ
1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ
1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ
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90 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 <strong>Samuel</strong> 2007 EditionSaul resisted them. It is curious that Jonathan could find David, but Saul and hisintelligence experts could not locate him. God was protecting His servant. Jonathan andDavid made another covenant (cf. 18:3; 20:8, 12-17). This is the last meeting <strong>of</strong> these"soul brothers" that the text records.David's escape from the wilderness <strong>of</strong> Ziph 23:19-23Again the writer directed our attention back to Saul. Psalm 54 tells us what David wasthinking and praying during this experience. He trusted in God.Evidently the Ziphites thought that they would be better <strong>of</strong>f if they informed Saul <strong>of</strong>David's presence in their area than if the king discovered that he was there. He mighthave blamed them for sheltering David and taken revenge on them as he had on thepeople <strong>of</strong> Nob.Again Saul spoke piously (cf. v. 7) and praised the Ziphites for having compassion onhim. Really it was David who was in need <strong>of</strong> compassion from these people, but he foundnone. Saul proceeded to seek human help in finding David from his allies ("go," "makemore sure," "investigate," "see," "look," "learn;" vv. 22-23). However there is no mention<strong>of</strong> his seeking divine help in prayer (cf. vv. 2, 4, 11-12). He attributed cunning to David,but Saul was the really cunning hunter in this story. 260 The king was projecting his owndeceitful behavior on David. Whereas God promised to go with David and deliver thePhilistines into his hands (vv. 2, 4), Saul promised to go with the Ziphites to destroyDavid among the Judahites (v. 23).David in the wilderness <strong>of</strong> Maon 23:24-29Maon stood about five miles south <strong>of</strong> Ziph in the wilderness <strong>of</strong> Judah. The "Arabah"describes the low-lying area that extends from Mt. Hermon to the Red Sea, including theJordan Valley and Dead Sea regions. Jeshimon means "desert" or "waste" in Hebrew, soit may have been the name <strong>of</strong> a region east <strong>of</strong> Ziph.Some <strong>of</strong> David's sympathizers ("they," v. 25) informed him <strong>of</strong> the king's approach withsoldiers. David and his men then sought refuge behind a huge rock in the area. Just asSaul's men were about to close in on David, news reached Saul that the Philistines hadinvaded an unspecified area <strong>of</strong> Israel. Saul had to break <strong>of</strong>f his personal vendetta torespond to the Philistine danger (cf. v. 1). David then moved on to Engedi, 14 miles east<strong>of</strong> Ziph, to increase his safety.This chapter encourages all <strong>of</strong> God's servants who, like David, feel vulnerable to attacksby people who do not fear the Lord.How did God deliver David? He saved him by bringing information to his ears that Davidneeded to protect himself (vv. 2, 4, 11-12, 25). He also did it by distracting David'senemy (vv. 27-28).260 Herod the Great was another cunning ruler, who was also not worthy to be king, who tried to execute theLord's anointed, Jesus <strong>Christ</strong> (cf. Matt. 2:1-12).