"Hide and Seek"

Hide And Seek

1 Samuel 23:13-18 (NLT)

So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all.  14  David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him. 15  One day near Horesh, David received the news (learned) that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.  16  Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.  17  “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.”  18  So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the LORD. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.

Now, this seems a bit redundant. After all, what is new about the fact that Saul was out to take David’s life? It could be that what is being emphasized is that David had become aware that Saul was nearby. But there is yet another possibility.

The Hebrew word translated “learned” is similar to the word for “fear.” Some have suggested the author must have meant to say that David was “afraid.” In other words, what we are told here is that the full weight of Saul’s pursuit and its implications seems to bear down on David at this point. He has known of Saul’s jealousy and his desire to take his life, but at this point, the reality of things really comes home to David and he is discouraged. And he had plenty of reasons to be discouraged. First, Saul had killed all the priests and their families at Nob.

In chapter 22, we read of how Saul was told by Doeg, who was present that David stopped by Ahemilech house. So Saul went with his men to Nob to inquire about David’s where-a-bouts. Saul was so enraged that Ahemilech had helped David, that he ordered his men to kill all the priests. When the men refused, Saul ordered Doeg, who was not an Israelite, to kill them. Doeg not only killed the priests, but city of Nob.

1 Samuel 22:18-19 (NIV)

“The king then ordered Doeg, ‘You turn and strike down the priests.’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.”

One of Ahimelech’s sons, Abiathar, escaped and reported this to David. David responded by saying in verse 22: “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family,” So not only was David freshly confronted with the overwhelming rage of Saul toward him, but he knew Saul would stop at nothing, including killing innocent men, women, and children, to get at him. David felt personally responsible.

Second, David learned of the betrayal of those he had rescued.

In 1 Samuel 23:1-13, we are told how the Philistines had attacked the Israelite city of Keilah. David inquired of the Lord as to whether he should go and fight for them. The Lord told him to do so and David went and defeated them. David then inquired of the Lord again and asked “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” to which the Lord replied, “They will,” The number of David’s fighting men increased when he left Keilah, from 400 to 600. But, there is no doubt that the knowledge of the city’s betrayal unnerved David a bit. As grateful as he must have been for the additional 200 fighting men who had joined up with him, he was no doubt, grieved by those in Keilah who would betray him.

Third, David had been forsaken by those closest to him. In 1 Samuel 22:2, we are told that “All those who where in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.” There were around 400 men, besides their families with David at this time. Included in that group was his family. But David’s parents did not stay with the group. Instead, he got permission from the king of Moab for his parents to reside there. Why? I’m glad you asked.

Now, while we know that David was descended from Ruth, who was a Moabite, so it is possible that his family had relatives there in Moab. But there is another possibility.

“For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.” – Psalm 27:10 (ESV)

Here we read of David’s trust in God when even his own parents forsake him. It has been suggested that events of 1 Samuel 23 is the time to which David is referring. So when David’s family comes to the cave of Adullam, it’s to support him only because of the danger they find themselves in as members of David’s family. They are forced to go to him for safety, but when it is clear that this means hiding out in the most remote, inaccessible places, his parents demand that David find them a refuge that is not so inconvenient. So they go to Moab.

If this was indeed the case, then his parent’s rejection would have been just one more blow to David’s spirit. It is one thing to be rejected by your enemies, like the Philistines, or even Saul. It is another to be rejected by your fellow-countrymen. But to be rejected by your parents would be a devastating blow, indeed. David was truly a man that needed to hide. Thankfully, he had a friend in Jonathon, who was a friend that needed to seek. Let’s see what we can learn from the example of Jonathon about being a friend indeed, whenever we have a friend that is in need.

1 Samuel 23:16-18 (NLT)

Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.  17  “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.”  18  So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the LORD. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.

1. Jonathon came to David in his time of need – v. 16a At a time when everyone seemed to be abandoning him, Jonathon came to David and let him know of his friendship.

In his book “Rechurch,” Stephen Mansfield speaks of the Oswald factor. Referring to the famous picture of Jack Ruby killing Lee Harvey Oswald, Mansfield points out that the lawmen, whose job it was to defend Oswald, instinctively pull away from him as Ruby attacks. So it often can be the same feeling for you and me whenever we find ourselves going through tough times. Even those who you would think are in a position that suggest they would stand by us (like parents or folks for whom we have done favors), can instinctively pull away and sometimes do so. But a true friend shows himself to be true by coming to you when others are running from you or trying to run you down.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

Not all relationships are born for adversity. Adversity is like the heat that separates the fakeness of flattery from the gold of true friendship.

Illustration

The Shadow once said to the Body: “Who is a friend like me? I follow you wherever you go. In sunlight or in moonlight I never  forsake you.” “True,” answered the Body, “you go with me in sunlight and in moonlight. But where are you when neither sun nor moon shines upon me, when times get dark?”

Sometimes the best thing you can do for a friend is to just be there. A friend indeed comes to you in your hour of need.

2. Jonathon encouraged David in his time of need

 Vs.16b – He reminded David of God’s presence

 Vs.17 – He reminded David of God’s promises

Jonathon reminded David that our God is the One who is present to fulfill His promises. A friend “seeking” doesn’t try to give answers, but points their friend in “hiding” to the One who IS the answer.

3. Jonathon committed himself to David in his time of
need

 Vs.18a – Personally

 Vs.18b – Publicly

Part of the reason why David was encouraged by Jonathon was because of the example of courage that Jonathon set. Jonathon didn’t just commit himself to David privately, but publicly, where even his own father would notice. His commitment of friendship with David was on public display for all to see. That kind of courage is contagious. No wonder David was helped to “find strength in God.”

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”-  Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

We should all strive to be a friend “seeking” like Jonathon; and just as God sent Jonathon into David’s life right when he was “hiding”, we should be willing to let God send us into the lives of others to help in their time of “hiding.” Who in your life needs you to be that kind of friend to them?

You might be a person today who is “hiding.” Let me encourage you to open your eyes to see who God has placed in your life to be a friend “seeker” to you. Finally, I want to remind each of us how we should “seek” the Lord instead of or while we are “hiding.” Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

 He has come to where we are.

 He was God present with us to fulfill the ultimate promise—the promise of salvation for us.

 He has committed Himself to us publicly by dying on the cross, so that He might commit Himself to us personally when we open our lives up to receive Him by faith.