In our last article, we noted that David’s life had been turned upside down. Each morning he would awake with no notion of where he would sleep at the end of the day or if he would sleep at all. And the prospects of returning to a normal way of life must have seemed remote.
Light of the life
Before proceeding, we consider one more point from Psalm 56. In verse 13 we read, “For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?”
Since most living people walk in spiritual darkness, we do well to ask what David means by the phrase “the light of the living.” The RV margin renders it, “the light of the life” and this connects with an interesting reference in John 8:12 where Jesus says “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” In John, the definite article (“the”) is inserted in Rotherham’s translation and by other authorities — “the light of the life” — emphasizing that it is eternal life that Jesus is referring to and not this present order.
With this in mind, it would seem reasonable that David likewise was looking beyond his present situation. David’s immediate circumstances were secondary to his eternal welfare; to be a partaker of the divine nature was all his desire. He makes this clear during a very tense situation in the wilderness of Ziph (see comments in previous article on I Sam.23:14-26). In those circumstances he says, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psa. 17:15).
We must look to the future
During our own life our priorities should be the same as David’s. It is not this present life which will provide us with lasting satisfaction. It is simply not true that if our circumstances were just that little bit better it would make all the difference to our service before God. Jesus said, “Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” (Matt. 6:25). In speaking of “the” life and “the” body Jesus is referring to immortality and the divine nature. These should be our priorities. David could do nothing about his situation and neither can we. Nevertheless, by ensuring that his mind was focused on the future, he was better equipped to cope with the present
Over the past 35 years, we have observed a shift in emphasis within our community toward exhortation. Today the emphasis centers upon the way we live now and the vision of the kingdom of God is given little attention. While we agree that our manner of life is very important, we submit that if our mind is truly focused on the coming kingdom, our present way of life would, to a large extent, fall into place. Certainly, the apostle Paul’s eyes were focused on the future -”For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). Because of this, he could say, “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb. 13:14). The kingdom of God is not a continuation of this present order, it will replace it. We must nurture that vision for as certainly as day follows night, without it we will perish.
David and Jonathan
Psalm 54 is another psalm written during the fugitive years. According to the title, it records the event “when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us.” While the actual circumstances are described in I Samuel 23, many of the expressions found in the psalm originate from an earlier event, thus it will be helpful to examine a number of details before we review the psalm.
Although Jonathan was the legal heir to the throne, Saul knew full well that, as long as David was alive, his son would never rule Israel. This is evident from his words in I Samuel 20:31, “For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom.”
Their covenant
A deep bond of affection had developed between David and Jonathan. Unfortunately, however, Saul’s hatred for David made it impossible for him to continue at the palace, so David and Jonathan parted company. Before doing so, they entered into a covenant, the substance of which is recorded in I Samuel 20:12-16. The following summary displays the spiritual qualities of Jonathan.
Verse 13, The phrase “the LORD be with thee” indicates Jonathan’s commitment to God’s purpose.
Verses 14-15, Jonathan requests mercy upon himself and his father’s house acknowledging David was the first of a dynasty that would reign for many years — “And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever.”
Verse 15, Jonathan acknowledges that Yahweh will cut off David’s enemies – “when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.”
Verse 16 Jonathan cautions David to allow Yahweh to be the Judge – “Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”
The humility displayed by Jonathan on this occasion is quite moving. Saul was David’s enemy, yet Jonathan was prepared to accept the divine will against his father. He himself stood to lose the throne but he recognized in David, God’s choice. The Proverb declares that “there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24) and this was certainly true of the relationship between Jonathan and David. Jonathan proved to be an invaluable friend and this covenant, couched in loving, tender terms, was to be remembered by David all his days.
Saul’s pursuit at its peak
Returning to I Samuel 23, we find that Saul’s eagerness to capture David had reached a feverish level as “Saul sought him every day” (v.14). Yet despite the loyalty of men such as Doeg, he was unable to find David because God prevented him; “God delivered him not into his hand” (v.14).
David was situated in the wilderness of Judah, that area which extends from the mountains of Judah to the Dead Sea. He was camped at Horesh, in the hill of Hachilah about four miles from Ziph. In all probability, Jonathan would have been among those that Saul sent to capture David, providing him with a golden opportunity to seek out his friend without arousing any suspicion. Thus “Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God” (I Sam. 23:16). It was a timely visit, full of tenderness and encouragement — “And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house” (vs. 17-18).
Psalm 54
Psalm 54 illustrates the value of positive exhortation and the humility with which it should not only be given but also received. The opening verses describe David’s circumstances at the time: “Save me, 0 God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, 0 God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them” (vs. 1-3).
“Strangers” does not necessarily describe someone unknown to David. It carries the idea of someone who has turned aside from another because he considers him to be loathsome; thus Job was “estranged” by his friends (Job 19:13). This is how Saul viewed David, like a loathsome, leprous disease which needed to be cut out of Israel’s life. There were many who were prepared to help Saul carry out his intent. On this occasion it was the Ziphites, David’s fellow tribesmen, who betrayed his location to Saul.
Associate with the chosen of God
One of the sad features of ecclesial life today is that the circumstances described in this section are evident among ourselves. Brethren are unwilling to associate with brethren, treating them as “strangers.” We forget that it is God who chooses the sinner to become a saint, not ourselves. In pursuing the many trivial and petty differences that divide us, we overlook the fact that it is God’s standard that we ought to uphold, not our own. Sadly, Saul believed he was doing the Lord’s work for he comments, “God hath delivered him into my hand” (I Sam. 23:7 cf. v.21). Let us take heed lest we be overcome with the same false thinking. There is a disproportionate amount of time spent on negative issues; there is an unreasonable amount of energy used for isolating rather than healing. The Ziphites threw their lot in with Saul because he appeared stronger — he was head and shoulders above his fellows, but they failed to appreciate that strength is not always concentrated in those who stand out in the community: “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isa. 66:2).
By contrast, Jonathan, who appreciated that any contact with David would bring the same loathsome condition upon himself, was prepared to risk all in order to strengthen his brother. David recognized this for in Psalm 54:4 he says, “The Lord is with them that uphold my soul” — surely a reference to Jonathan’s visit. Let us ensure that our associations in the Truth are not formed through popularity or partisanship but through a genuine desire for the furtherance of the Truth.
Psalm 15, while probably written after David became king, has some appropriate thoughts for this period. David asks, “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (v.1). The answer is, “He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.” This was Jonathan; he had made a covenant with David “before the LORD” which was to affect him personally; yet, regardless of the consequences, he did not deviate from his word.
Leaving judgment to God
In I Samuel 20:16, Jonathan had counseled David that it was Yahweh’s responsibility to judge his enemies. In Psalm 54:5, it is evident that the exhortation had not gone unheeded. David says, “He [God] shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.” David’s demeanor under such trying circumstances is an example to us all. It is easy to take the law into our own hands, particularly when the circumstances appear favorable to the natural mind.
“Into thy hand I commit my spirit”
David’s willingness to allow God to address the problem in His good time resulted from the conviction that God is in control. He comments, “For he hath [past tense] delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies” (Psa. 54:7). David had many years ahead of him before God would fulfill His word. Nevertheless, the phrase “all” trouble indicates that, as far as he was concerned, it was as good as accomplished.
Psalm 31 confirms the point. While the title of the Psalm does not indicate the time of writing, there are numerous hints suggesting it was written during the fugitive years and possibly this very period. Consider this evidence:
Verse 8: “And has not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room” connects with Saul’s statement, “for he is shut in, by entering into a town” (I Sam. 23:7).
Verse 11: “I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance” refers to both the men of Keilah and the Ziphites (I Sam. 23:11,19).
Verse 20: “Thou shalt hide them [those that fear God, v. 19] in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues” — describing how God prevented Saul from finding David (I Sam. 23:14).
Verse 21: “Blessed be the LORD: for he hath showed me his marvelous kindness in a strong city” — a description fitting Keilah, “that hath gates and bars” (I Sam. 23:7).
Psalm 31 highlights David’s circumstances, “For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing…I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel…For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life” (vs. 10,12,13).
Outcast from his people, under sentence of death, nevertheless he had not given up on God: “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, 0 LORD God of truth” (v.5). God was in control, Saul could only do as much as God would allow him and because of this, David could with confidence say, “My times are in thy hand” (v.15). Let us rejoice with David, “0 love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD” (vs. 23-24).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One