1 Samuel 30

1 Samuel 30:7-13

7. ¶ And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah: and Saul said, God hath ’ delivered him into mine hand; for ’ he is shut in by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. 8. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9. ¶ And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, ’ being hither the ephod. 10. Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath ’ certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah to destroy the city ’ for my sake. 11. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And ’ the LORD said, He will come down. 12. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? and the LORD said, They will deliver thee up. 13. ¶ Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go: and it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah: and he forbure to go forth.

How often do we place our safety in that which most endangers it? David in a fortified city might hope to be secure, but here his peril is greater than in the desert.

1. Saul hears of him, and though he no doubt well knew the generous action which had brought David thither, he contrives his destruction; and foolishly as wickedly concludes that it was God’s doing, to give him this advantage against his rival, by shutting him up, where, if his army surrounded the city, it was impracticable for him to escape. He pretends was against the Philistines, but in fact designs the armament against Israel, and summons all Israel to attend him, to go down to Keilah. Note, (1.) Wicked men often cloak with fair pretexts the loudest designs. (2.) When providence seems to favour a bad cause, those who are engaged in it, are foolishly ready to conclude God is on their side.

2. David had friends at court, who took care to warn him of some mischief designed him. He therefore instantly has recourse to God, and makes use of that ephod which the Lord had so graciously sent him. He humbly begs God to direct him. He also whether Saul would come, and the Keilites betray or defend him? And God kindly informs him of Saul’s intentions,

and that if he stayed in Keilah, they would deliver him up. God knows the thoughts and intentions of men, and not only forelates what will happen, but what would have happened, if he had not interposed to prevent it. Note, (1.) They who seem our friends friends when danger is distant, will often, when it threatens them near, desert us to secure themselves. (2.) God knoweth how to deliver his people out of temptation, and to disappoint the secret purposes of their enemies.

3. David harcupon leaves Keilah: his little army being now increased to six hundred men, and Saul having heard his escape, desists from this enterprise, to follow other methods of destroying him. Note, All the disappointments of God will not alter the mind that is bent upon mischief.

4. ¶ And David abode in the wilderness in Strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph: and ’ Saul sought him every day, but ’ God delivered him not into his hand. 15. And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David saw that the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. 16. And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and ’ strengthened his hand in God. 17. And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee, and thou shalt he king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also ’ Saul my father knoweth. 18. And ’ they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

1 Samuel 30:14-18

Being disappointed of his scheme on Keilah, Saul sets himself in re栗els malice to the pursuit of David, who, without resistance, sought only by flight and concealment to escape his fury.

1. David secures himself in places hard of access, in a wilderness, a wood, a mountain, shifting his abode that it might be more difficult to find him: attempting neither to flit up rebellion, nor oppose force by force, but leaving his case entirely in God’s hands, and waiting his leisure.

2. God continues to protect him, and to disappoint all Saul’s unintelligible endeavours to discover and destroy him. Vain is might or coming against the Lord: though all the powers of hell, and all the malice of earth join with the corruption within, to make a prey of the redeemed sinner, yet none can shock him out of the Saviour’s arms.

3. Jonathan, his faithful friend, by appointment meets him once in a wood, during this pursuit, and greatly encourages his confidence in God. Though the interview must have been fatal if discovered, yet love is stronger than death, and will break through all fears for the enjoyment of their company who are dear to us. David might justly fear which thus pursued, but Jonathan bids him be of good courage, God would preserve him from his father, the kingdom would infallibly be his own, and Saul himself, that thus fighting against God, was convinced of it, he gladly resigns to him, content to be next him, and happy to see his friend fit on the throne, that by hereditary right, would have descended to himself. Here they renew their command, and part; not according to Jonathan’s fond wishes, to meet again in peace, but (to providence enlance) to see each other in the flesh no more. Note, (1.) The words of a pious friend are a reviving cordial to a fainting heart. (2.) Where true love is, even kingdoms are not too great to part with. (3.) Renewed engagements are a strengthening to the hands of friendship; and the friend of Jesus is glad of every opportunity to repeat his vows of fidelity to him.

4. ¶ ’ Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 20. Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down, and ’ our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand. 21. And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ’ ye have compassion on me. 22. Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his I haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me, that he deaeth very subtly. 23. So, therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come ye again to the, with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. 24. And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 25. Saul also and his men went to seek him; and they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon:

on:

on: and when Saul heard that, he purified after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David made halfe to get a way for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compelled David and his men round about to take them. 27. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Hafe, then, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. 28. Wherefore Saul returned from purifying after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-Hammahle-koth. 29. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.

1 Samuel 30:19-20

In his own tribe, David hoped for protection, but alas! a man’s foes are often those of his own household.

1. The Ziphites, either afraid of Saul’s cruelty if they concealed their knowledge of David’s bisents, or to ingratiate themselves with him by so acceptable a piece of intelligence, inform the king, where he was, invite him to come, and promote him to deliver up David into his hand.

2. Saul embraces the welcome offer, blessing God and them for their regard to him, whilst none about him seem to compelthouse his troubles. To make his prey the furor, he bids them yet difficult information, and he would go with them, and seize him. Now, (1.) They are truly miserable men, whose pride, ambition, malice, and envy prey upon them; and suffer them not to enjoy the blessings they possess. (2.) God mocks at men’s impotent attempts, and when they seem fared to succeed, he baffles and confounds them with their own devices.

3. The delay of Saul gave David time to escape; he received intelligence of the plot, and retired to the wilderness of Maon; he that when the Ziphites led down Saul’s army, he was fled. However, Saul purifies him, and was so near overtaking him, that whilst his troops ascended a mountain on one side, David and his men fled on the other. Just at that critical juncture, he was brought Saul from court, that the Philistines had invalid the country; probably they had heard of Saul’s absence, and had fallen upon Benjamin, where Saul’s estate lay: this makes him stay the pursuit, and return to make head against the invaders, which gives David an opportunity to escape to the strong holds at En-gedi; and the place, in memory of this deliverance, was called Sela-Hammahle-koth, the Rock of Division. Now, (1.) God has various ways of delivering his people; even the Philistines shall sometimes be made instruments of his mercy to them. (2.) They who have fled to the mountain of refuge Jefus Christ, shall find such a strong rock of division between them and danger, that none shall be able to hurt them.