lessons from our escapes

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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lessons from our escapes

1 Samuel 24:1-8 (JDV)

1 Samuel 24:1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “Notice, David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.”
1 Samuel 24:2 So Saul took three thousand of Israel’s choice men and went to look for David and his men in front of the boulders of the Wild Goats.
1 Samuel 24:3 When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to cover his feet. David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave,
1 Samuel 24:4 so they said to him, “Notice, this is the day Yahveh told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.'” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
1 Samuel 24:5 Afterward, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
1 Samuel 24:6 He said to his men, “I swear before Yahveh: I would never do such a thing to my lord, Yahveh’s anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is Yahveh’s anointed.”
1 Samuel 24:7 With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them revolt against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
1 Samuel 24:8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.

lessons from our escapes

Both David and Saul see narrow escapes in chapters 23-24. David escaped because he learned of Saul’s pursuit in time for he and his men to get out of his way. Saul escaped because David chose not to kill him, but to merely cut off a corner of his robe, to show him that he could have, but did not. Saul appears to have learned his lesson, but we have heard him repent before. What shines through most vividly in this story is the difference in character in these two men.

LORD, you have helped us escape many times from harm that was coming to us. May we learn the lessons meant for us.

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Even Saul knew

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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Even Saul knew

1 Samuel 23:13-29 (JDV)

1 Samuel 23:13 So David and his men, numbering about six hundred, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition.
1 Samuel 23:14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.
1 Samuel 23:15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.
1 Samuel 23:16 Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God,
1 Samuel 23:17 saying, “Don’t be afraid, because my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”
1 Samuel 23:18 Then the two of them made a covenant in Yahveh’s presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
1 Samuel 23:19 Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon.
1 Samuel 23:20 Now, whenever your throat desires to come down, O king, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king.”
1 Samuel 23:21 “May you be blessed by Yahveh,” replied Saul, “for you have shown concern for me.
1 Samuel 23:22 Go and check again. Investigate where he goes and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning.
1 Samuel 23:23 Investigate all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I’ll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I’ll search for him among all the clans of Judah.”
1 Samuel 23:24 So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,
1 Samuel 23:25 and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the boulder and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and chased David there.
1 Samuel 23:26 Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul, and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
1 Samuel 23:27 Then a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!”
1 Samuel 23:28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Boulder of Separation.
1 Samuel 23:29 From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.

Even Saul knew

Even Saul knew that David was the rightful king of Israel, but it did not stop him from relentlessly pursuing his life. God was protecting David because he had a purpose for him. The enemy will pursue us as well, even though he is aware that God’s plan for us will be fulfilled. Evil defies logic. But evil will not have the last say.

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knowing the moves

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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knowing the moves

1 Samuel 23:6-12 (JDV)

1 Samuel 23:6 Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.
1 Samuel 23:7 When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.”
1 Samuel 23:8 Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
1 Samuel 23:9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod.”
1 Samuel 23:10 Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, your servant has reliable information that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.
1 Samuel 23:11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell your servant.” Yahveh answered, “He will come down.”
1 Samuel 23:12 Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” “They will,” Yahveh responded.

knowing the moves

Often when we believers encounter a challenge, we are tempted to use our prayers to give God instructions on what to do about our problems. It struck me as I read today’s passage that David was not in a hurry to do that. He was more concerned with knowing whether the rumor he heard was true, then he could act upon it. It was as if David and Saul were in a deadly chess game. David wanted to know Saul’s next move so that respond appropriately. Winning at chess requires the ability to know the next potential moves.

Perhaps we should learn to direct our prayers this way, too. Our appeals to God, when we are facing trouble, should be for his omniscience to help us know the next move our opponents will make so that we can avoid their intentions. As such, we are using God’s awareness to our advantage.

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praying again

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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praying again

1 Samuel 23:1-5 (JDV)

1 Samuel 23:1 It was reported to David: “Notice, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and raiding the threshing floors.”
1 Samuel 23:2 So David inquired of Yahveh: “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” Yahveh answered David, “Go and attack the Philistines and rescue Keilah.”
1 Samuel 23:3 But David’s men said to him, “Notice, we’re afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
1 Samuel 23:4 Once again, David inquired of Yahveh, and Yahveh answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.”
1 Samuel 23:5 Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So, David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.

praying again

David’s men were naturally concerned since they would be outnumbered and outsourced. David showed wisdom in listening to their concerns and taking them seriously. He prayed again — looking for confirmation from God. God gave him that confirmation, and that was enough to encourage his men. When faced with a challenge, and there is some question about which move is proper, it is always wise to pray again and seek a clear answer from the LORD.

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Doeg’s treachery

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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Doeg’s treachery

1 Samuel 22:6-23 (JDV)

1 Samuel 22:6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
1 Samuel 22:7 Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse’s son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?
1 Samuel 22:8 That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me when my own son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son. None of you cares about me or tells me that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.”
1 Samuel 22:9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who oversaw Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
1 Samuel 22:10 Ahimelech inquired of Yahveh for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
1 Samuel 22:11 The king sent messengers to summon the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests in Nob. All of them came to the king.
1 Samuel 22:12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!” “Notice me, my lord,” he said.
1 Samuel 22:13 Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.”
1 Samuel 22:14 Ahimelech replied to the king: “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house.
1 Samuel 22:15 Was today the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s family, for your servant didn’t have any idea about all this.”
1 Samuel 22:16 But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech — you and your father’s whole family!”
1 Samuel 22:17 Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of Yahveh because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of Yahveh.
1 Samuel 22:18 So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So, Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men who wore linen ephods.
1 Samuel 22:19 He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword– both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
1 Samuel 22:20 However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
1 Samuel 22:21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of Yahveh.
1 Samuel 22:22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I am responsible for the throats of everyone in your father’s family.
1 Samuel 22:23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my throat wants to take your throat. You will be safe with me.”

Doeg’s treachery

Read Psalm 52 in conjunction with today’s text because it reveals David’s thoughts about Doeg’s treachery. This was a horrible injustice for which David felt responsible because of his seeking help from Ahimelech, and the lies he told to procure that help. Psalm 52 shows David’s repentant attitude and the lessons he learned from his past failure.

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better times

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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better times

1 Samuel 22:1-5 (JDV)

1 Samuel 22:1 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there.
1 Samuel 22:2 Also, every man who was desperate, in debt, or had a bitter throat rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
1 Samuel 22:3 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God will do for me.”
1 Samuel 22:4 So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.
1 Samuel 22:5 Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Leave and return to the land of Judah.” So, David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

better times

After a pitiful chapter in which David kept acting according to the flesh, we finally see him acting more like the man of God that he was. It is embarrassing to have times when we fail the Lord and each other. We don’t like to remember such times. We would much rather remember the times when we stood up for the truth and protected others, led people faithfully, and were sensitive to the guidance of God’s servants. Such was the time described by today’s text. But the Sacred Scriptures reveal both sides of David’s character. They speak the truth, even when the truth embarrasses us.

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plan backfired

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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plan backfired

1 Samuel 21:10-15 (JDV)

1 Samuel 21:10 David fled that day from Saul’s presence and went to King Achish of Gath.
1 Samuel 21:11 But Achish’s servants said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Don’t they sing about him during their dances: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands?”
1 Samuel 21:12 David took this to heart and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath,
1 Samuel 21:13 so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them, scribbling on the doors of the city gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
1 Samuel 21:14 “Notice! You can see the man is crazy,” Achish said to his servants. “Why did you bring him to me?
1 Samuel 21:15 Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?”

plan backfired

David lies at the beginning of this story, and he keeps lying here by pretending to be insane. He is learning that even if he is a believer in God, he can get himself into a lot of trouble by relying upon his own devices. His escape plan backfired. Many of our plans will also backfire if we depend on the arm of flesh instead of seeking God’s deliverance.

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Why are you alone?

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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Why are you alone?

1 Samuel 21:1-9 (JDV)

1 Samuel 21:1 David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech was afraid to meet David, so he said to him, “Why are you alone and no one is with you?”
1 Samuel 21:2 David answered the priest Ahimelech, “The king gave me a mission, but he told me, ‘Don’t let anyone know anything about the mission I’m sending you on or what I have ordered you to do.’ I have stationed my boys at a certain place.
1 Samuel 21:3 Now what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever can be found.”
1 Samuel 21:4 The priest told him, “There is no ordinary bread on hand. However, there is consecrated bread, but the boys may eat it only if they have kept themselves from women.”
1 Samuel 21:5 David answered him, “I swear that women are being kept from us, as always when I go out to battle. The boys’ bodies are consecrated even on an ordinary mission, so of course their bodies are consecrated today.”
1 Samuel 21:6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, for there was no bread there except the Bread of the Presence that had been removed from the presence of Yahveh. When the bread was removed, it had been replaced with warm bread.
1 Samuel 21:7 One of Saul’s servants, detained before Yahveh, was there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul’s shepherds.
1 Samuel 21:8 David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was urgent.”
1 Samuel 21:9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah – notice — is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want to take it for yourself, then take it, for there isn’t another one here.” “There’s none like it!” David said. “Give it to me.”

Why are you alone?

Ahimelech was right to ask that question, and David’s answer was a lie. He should have told the truth and trusted God’s priest to help him anyway. But David will learn through experiences like those in this chapter that honesty is the best means of protection.

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time to leave

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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time to leave

1 Samuel 20:35-42 (JDV)

1 Samuel 20:35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the countryside for the appointed meeting with David. A young boy was with him.
1 Samuel 20:36 He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I’m shooting.” As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.
1 Samuel 20:37 He came to the location of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, but Jonathan called to him and said, “The arrow is beyond you, isn’t it?”
1 Samuel 20:38 Then Jonathan called to him, “Hurry up and don’t stop!” Jonathan’s boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.
1 Samuel 20:39 He did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.
1 Samuel 20:40 Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the boy who was with him and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”
1 Samuel 20:41 When the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone Ezel, fell facedown to the ground, and paid homage three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more.
1 Samuel 20:42 Jonathan then said to David, “Go in the assurance the two of us pledged in the name of Yahveh when we said: Yahveh will be a witness between you and me and between my offspring and your offspring forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan went into the city.

time to leave

David understood Jonathan’s signal. It was time for him to leave. For his own safety and to avoid the shame that his death at the hands of Saul would bring to Israel, David had to make himself scarce.

I may be writing this to a reader who feels that leaving is your only safe option. Don’t be ashamed of seeking safety if you are in danger. Don’t allow a toxic relationship to come to violence. There may be hope for restoration later, but if you must separate from a dangerous situation for you or your children, go with God.

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Jonathan was grieved

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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Jonathan was grieved

1 Samuel 20:24-34 (JDV)

1 Samuel 20:24 So David hid in the countryside. At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal.
1 Samuel 20:25 He sat at his usual place on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat facing him and Abner took his place beside Saul, but David’s place was empty.
1 Samuel 20:26 Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, “Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean — yes, that’s it, he is unclean.”
1 Samuel 20:27 However, the day after the New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why didn’t Jesse’s son come to the meal either yesterday or today?”
1 Samuel 20:28 Jonathan answered, “David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 20:29 He said, ‘Please let me go because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go so I can see my brothers.’ That’s why he didn’t come to the king’s table.”
1 Samuel 20:30 Then Saul became angry with Jonathan and shouted, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you are siding with Jesse’s son to your own shame and to the disgrace of your mother?
1 Samuel 20:31 Each day Jesse’s son lives in the land you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me — he must die!”
1 Samuel 20:32 Jonathan answered his father back: “Why is he to be killed? What has he done?”
1 Samuel 20:33 Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, so he knew that his father was determined to kill David.
1 Samuel 20:34 He got up from the table fiercely angry and did not eat any food that second day of the New Moon, for he was grieved because of his father’s shameful behavior toward David.

Jonathan was grieved

Before you take action, think about the consequences of your action for your children or other family members. Jonathan was grieved because of the shameful behavior of Saul toward his friend David. Some Christian parents live in regret because their behavior has turned their children away from the church and the Lord. Watch your life. Others are.

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