How long must David be on the run? Will it ever end? “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov 13:12).
In spite of his fair-sounding words, Saul’s obsession drives him to fight not just David but what he knows to be the will of God. For the second time, the Ziphites betray David’s location (see 1 Sam 23:19; 26:1). But David has his spies as well (26:4), and soon locates Saul’s camp. Night falls over the Judean hills, and he and his nephew Abishai slip noiselessly past the sleeping soldiers to where Saul lay. His commander, Abner, is at his side. We later discover that the Lord had anesthetized them all (v 12). Abishai asks permission to spear the king, but David again refuses. “His day shall come to die,” he said (v 10). Swiftly they remove Saul’s spear and water jug, and exit the camp. Then, from the darkness, the silence is broken. Abner, “Why…have you not guarded your lord the king?” (v 15). Saul, hearing the voice, recognizes David. Again David repeats his plea; again Saul makes empty promises. He even acknowledges what might well be his epitaph, “I have played the fool” (v 21). But as the sun rises, David’s heart sinks. Weary of the pursuit, in his heart he says, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines” (27:1). Christian, have you grown weary in some long battle, facing attacks from a merciless critic, or beaten down by a long temptation? Does the world seem a safer place to you than God’s people? Look what happened to David. He almost ended in the Philistine cause against Israel (28:1)! Better to find refuge in the psalm David wrote at this time. “Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength” (Ps 54:1). In His own time, He’ll provide both the victory and the vindication of His servant.