The Rock of Escape
One Year Bible (May 18)
I Samuel 22:1-23:29
The Rock of Escape
Is there anything worse than being betrayed by someone close to you? Someone that you loved, served, and were connected to by heart?
For David, it will get even worse. Everywhere he turns he will face betrayal. He is a man with a bounty on his head.
What does David do during this period of life where he is literally on the run, hiding in the wilderness and caves?
The first thing that stuck out to me is that David was alone, but that is no longer the case. He is now the captain of a “Motley Crew” of 400 men. (The Discontents). It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Secondly, he has “Inside Information”. The prophet, Gad tells David, “Leave the stronghold, and return to the land of Judah.”
Thirdly, at every step of the way David asks the Lord, “Should I go attack them?” “Will they betray me?”
Even at the lowest point of David’s journey, the provision of God can be seen in his life.
Perhaps, herein lies our greatest lesson. God does not fit in OUR BOX or operate according to OUR PLAN or TIMING. We can learn that lesson right here and now from David.
David had a long hard season of refining, running, and being rescued. He learned to depend on God as his STRONGHOLD so that when he was king, he would know God as his SAVIOR.
While David is being pursued by an evil king, he is also being pursued by the King of the Universe. Who else do you know that had a “running conversation” with THE KING OF KINGS on a daily basis?
“Lord, should I go here or there?” “Will they betray me”. “Will you deliver me in this battle?” “What shall I have for dinner tonight?” We chuckle at this one, but I bet he actually needed to ask that at times while trying to survive in a cave. God met ALL of David’s needs!
Yet, David struggled for survival running from an evil king. He had heard the words of the prophet that he would become the King of Israel, and yet it sure was a long time coming…
Listen to one of David’s prayers in Psalm 52: 1-7:
“Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying, ‘Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others'!”
David did not know, YET what God was going to do with his life, but he DID know that GOD ALONE was his refuge and strength.
The place where David camped was called, “The Rock of Escape”.
I don’t know about you, but I need this reminder that “God’s ways are not my ways”.
“His thoughts are not my thoughts.” (Isaiah 55: 8-9)
He is much higher, greater, and sovereign than we can possibly understand.
Perhaps, like me, you struggle with the Old Testament at times.
The killing of mamas and babies, along with entire nations.
Why doesn’t God rescue every single person from evil?
David often said, “Who am I” to become the son-in-law of the king. He said this about a no-good-evil-earthly-king. How much more do we find ourselves saying, “Who am I” to understand the ways of an “All-knowing, Just, Perfect God”?
Each day as I write, I pray this prayer, “Who am I?” The Word of God is so overwhelming and beyond our complete understanding.
I know that I could skip difficult passages, but if I struggle with them, I feel that I should share that struggle as I know others (perhaps even you) struggle as well.
I am not a Hebrew or Greek scholar. (I had one year of Greek. I can say verbally, in Greek, one verse for you, “The crowd hears a voice.” Why this has stuck after 40 years I have no clue!!
What I do know is that every single day God awakens me to ponder, pray, write, and I am filled with awe of His greatness and our smallness.
Like David, I will ask, “Where should I go”? “Should I say this?” “What about dinner?”
Our God waits for the humble, the broken, and the seeking…
Through His Holy Spirit, He prompts our hearts to seek refuge in, “The Rock of Escape”
