1 Samuel 23:24-29: a reflection

24They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert. 25Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. 26Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them. 27But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!” 28So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth. 29David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

David is being hunted by Saul, and in this passage the pursuit comes desperately close. Saul and his men close in on one side of the mountain while David and his men flee on the other; David is hurrying to escape, and Saul's forces are surrounding him to take him. He is on the very edge of being captured. And then, at that moment, a messenger reaches Saul: the Philistines have raided the land. Saul must break off the pursuit to meet the threat, and David escapes. Rescue came at the last possible moment.

Notice the timing of David's deliverance. He was nearly caught; Saul's men were closing around him, and there seemed no way out. And at exactly that moment, not before, God brought a deliverance David could not have arranged, a Philistine raid that pulled Saul away just in time. God's rescue came at the last moment, when David's own efforts to escape had nearly run out.

That is often how God's help comes, at the moment of greatest need, when our own resources are nearly spent. We may find ourselves pressed to the very edge, with no way out that we can see, our own efforts almost exhausted; and it can seem that no rescue will come. But God is able to deliver at the last moment, in ways we could not arrange, just as he pulled Saul away from David in time. When you are pressed to the edge and can see no way out, do not give up hope; God's rescue often comes at the last moment, when our own strength has nearly failed. Trust the God who delivered David at the edge of capture to deliver you in his time, even when the pursuit has closed in and your own escape has nearly run out.

Lord, David was nearly caught by Saul, his men closing around him with no way out, when a Philistine raid pulled Saul away just in time and David escaped; your rescue came at the last possible moment. Teach me from that how your help often comes, at the moment of greatest need, when my own resources are nearly spent. I may find myself pressed to the very edge, with no way out that I can see, my own efforts almost exhausted; and it can seem that no rescue will come. But you are able to deliver at the last moment, in ways I could not arrange, just as you pulled Saul away from David in time. When I am pressed to the edge and can see no way out, keep me from giving up hope; your rescue often comes at the last moment, when my own strength has nearly failed. Help me trust you, who delivered David at the edge of capture, to deliver me in your time, even when the pursuit has closed in and my own escape has nearly run out. Be my deliverer, Lord.