1 Samuel 26:1-5 – In the safe hand of God

In the opening verses of 1 Samuel 26, we find the Ziphites, who betrayed David in 1 Samuel 23:19, did the same thing again. As with the first time, they came to Gibeah which was up north, a great distance from them, and reported to Saul, saying “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?” Remember David had already spared Saul’s life once in Engedi. In that incidence, recorded in 1 Samuel 24, David only sliced off a corner of the king’s garment while he was releasing himself in the cave and oblivious of David’s presence there. In that incidence, when Saul realized how David had spared him, wept and confessed that the latter was more righteous than he. He went on further in 1 Samuel 24:20 to acknowledge David’s future saying, “Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.” He even made David promise not to cut off his descendants or to destroy his father’s household. We would have thought that Saul would have repented since David had spared him at Engedi. But it was not to be. How do we know? His response to this second information provided by the Ziphites shows us that he had not changed. Once again Saul took with him three thousand men and went to the wilderness of Ziph, seeking David’s life again. As before, his force outnumbered David’s men five-times.

Saul and his men arrived and camped at the hill of Hachilah. Perhaps the information provided by the Zilphites was not as accurate this time. David was not found there, instead, he and his men were hiding in the wilderness. David then sent out spies to do a recce. It could also be he wanted to be sure of Saul’s purpose before he acted. When informed by his spies that Saul had indeed come to the wilderness seeking him, he knew at once that nothing had changed. It must have been a Déjà vu situation for him. Nothing had changed since his last encounter with Saul at Engedi. However, the scene was different this time. He had the advantage over Saul. It appears that from where he was, he could see Saul and his men clearly. So verse 5 tells us that  “David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. “And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.” It was the perfect moment to strike. What would David do now since Saul had not changed, not even a bit? He had tried reconciliation at Engedi. It had proven pointless. What should he do? Haven’t we been at crossroads like this? Haven’t we been to a Déjà vu situation and left wondering what we should do?  The best response is to stay calm and abandon oneself to the Lord. Psalm 27:4-6 urge us to:

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.