Scripture Daily

Context No. 3840 of 4322 · 1 Samuel

Context · Reflection

1 Samuel 23:19-23: in context

19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert? 20Now therefore, O king, come down. According to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.” 21Saul said, “You are blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me. 22Please go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he is very cunning. 23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself; and come again to me with certainty, and I will go with you. It shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”

David, on the run from Saul, has taken refuge in the wilderness of Ziph, but the local people, the Ziphites, betray his hiding place to the king, offering to hand him over. It is a bitter thing, to be sold out by those among whom you have sheltered, and Saul, delighted, presses them to track David's every movement.

Betrayed and hunted, David could easily have despaired. Yet it was in this very setting, as we learn elsewhere, that David turned to God and prayed, behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the one who upholds my life. When others betrayed him, he cast himself on the God who does not betray. There is comfort here for anyone who has been let down or sold out by people they trusted. Betrayal is a real and painful wound, one that even David and, supremely, our Lord endured. But when human loyalty fails, God remains a faithful helper. We can bring the sting of betrayal to him, and find in him the friend who never turns us over to our enemies.

When I am let down or betrayed by people I trusted, do I turn, as David did, to God my helper, casting myself on the One whose loyalty never fails?

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