David’s Flight

Due to David’s outstanding performance in battle, his popularity grew, which aroused Saul’s jealousy of David. David gradually suffered persecution and even pursuit by Saul.

1） 1 Samuel 18:10-24: Saul twice tried to kill David by spearing him and plotted against him, so David fled to Ramah to see Samuel, and Saul pursued him there.

2）1 Samuel 21:1-9: David fled to Nob, where Ahimelech the priest gave him the consecrated bread and Goliath’s sword.

3）1 Samuel 21:10-15: David fled to Philistia, seeking refuge with Achish king of Gath.

4）1 Samuel 22:1-3: Fearing that the king of Gath would harm him, he fled to the Cave of Adullam. His family and others who were distressed joined him there.

5）1 Samuel 22:3-5: David took his parents to Mizpah of Moab.

6）1 Samuel 22:5: David returned from Moab to the land of Judah, entering the forest of Hereth.

7）1 Samuel 23:1-5: When the Philistines attacked Keilah, David went to rescue them.

8）1 Samuel 23:7-14: Saul planned to attack Keilah, so David fled to the Wilderness of Ziph.

9）1 Samuel 23:24-24:7: David fled from Saul’s pursuit, passing from the Wilderness of Ziph, through the Arabah and the Wilderness of Maon, to the strongholds of En Gedi. When Saul pursued him to a cave in the Wilderness of En Gedi to relieve himself, David only cut off a corner of Saul’s robe but did not kill him.

10）1 Samuel 27:3-6: David went to take refuge with Achish king of Gath in Philistia, and Achish gave him Ziklag.

11）1 Samuel 27:7: David went to Ziklag, where he lived for a year and four months.

The period of David’s flight from Saul’s pursuit was also a time of significant growth in his life and the gradual maturation of his character. David’s deception of Ahimelech indirectly led to the massacre of eighty-five priests by Saul (1 Samuel 22:22), exposing the deceitfulness of his flesh. During his fifteen years of flight, he transitioned from relying on people to relying on God. In the process of relying on God, he learned to wait on God. Because of Saul’s relentless pursuit, he was compelled to call upon God at every step, praying constantly and persistently, thereby gradually building an intimate relationship with God and becoming a man after God’s own heart.

His experience shows us that a person filled with the Spirit, like David, is not immune to failure. However, whenever illuminated and rebuked by God, their spirit can be revived. Thus, even in failure, they can confess their sins, repent, accept illumination, and learn lessons. Only then can they speak forth such accurate and illuminating words as those in Psalm 34, from their spirit.

It is easy for us to accept the status of being a king (or a child of God), but it is not easy to be brought into the reality of kingship (or to grow into the likeness of a child of God). A person who belongs to the Spirit, like David, needs to be continually pursued, broken down, and shattered by God, accepting God’s building, so that God’s good will can be fulfilled in us.