July 10– 1 Samuel 23:19-29

July 10– 1 Samuel 23:19-29

This reads as a suspense novel with the villain rapidly gaining on his prey.  But God!  Just as Saul was closing in on David, God distracted him saving David.  Prayfully we may never be involved as a victim in a physical hunt.  But, do not mistake your thinking.  Satan is continually prowling with hopes to distract our goal of loving, walking and serving  Christ.  How will we stay focused on Christ when the enemy attacks? How will distraction, fear and trouble effect us? I urge you to keep your eyes and heart on Christ and eternity.  What will your testimony be? 

¹⁹ Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon? ²⁰ Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand.” ²¹ 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. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. ²⁵ And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. ²⁶ Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, ²⁷ a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” ²⁸ So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. ^29] And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi.