I Samuel 23:27
‘But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have launched an attack against the land!”’
Saul was closing in on David and his men. He was almost in his grasp when this messenger arrived. This saved them. This falls under the category of God is never late. It got a little too close for comfort. God's goodness will be with us also. We may get right up to a deadline and then deliverance comes.
These rescues can come in ways we don't expect. I can recall being overwhelmed with a difficult situation. I thought this one means of escape was explored and closed. But after talking to a friend, a brand new option availed itself. One day I was discouraged without hope and the next day the problem was completely out of my hands. What was unexpected is that this problem was to with me for at least another six months. This way of escape took it completely out of my hands immediately.
There were some other aspects that were troubling to David. He had just rescued a town from the Philistines and was residing there. He heard that Saul was on the move. He prayed and asked God if the people of that town would turn him over. God said, "Yes". That had to be tough. He didn't show any signs of bitterness, but he had to be a little disappointed. Granted, Saul may have destroyed that town. But still a little disappointing.
To follow up on that point, it's best not to focus on how people let us down. Hebrews 12:2 says, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Another odd point in this story is that Saul was in a constant pity party. When he got the information of David's whereabouts he was sharing his joy that people were looking out for him. What's backwards about this is that he was seeking to kill innocent people to prop up his kingdom. He had just ordered the killing of a group of priests and their families. These were horrible injustices and he's not feeling cared for. He was a mad man. This had to put some worry in David. Saul was willing to go to great lengths to hunt him.
This paints David's situation even darker. Will Saul ever stop? What other government resources will he use to pursue him? Which makes God's deliverance even more wonderful. Saul was closing in on him and his men. Just a hill apart. It appears that the Lord stirred the Philistines to attack Israel. They had been repelled by David and were probably feeling beaten. They wanted revenge. God used those feelings to move them.
God's amazing power is evident here. The Philistines had no idea that their attack was prompted by God. Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." The Lord wished for the Philistines to go against Israel. That would have been the only thing to deterred Saul from his pursuit.
Years ago I had a boss that had it in for me. It was uncomfortable. Yet his boss bragged about me. It was sweet. My boss had to leave me alone. I wonder if he thought that God rescued me from his evil pursuit. He was a Napoleon who was put in his place by God.
Lord, thank You for Your wonderful deliverance. You delivered David on multiple occasions. You've delivered me from the two shared in this entry and probably many more that I'm not aware of. Thank You, God.