1 Samuel – Psalm 54, 63, 7 “Band On The Run”

“Well, the night was falling, As the desert world began to settle down In the town they're searching for us everywhere, but we never will be found. Band on the run, band on the run And the county judge, who held a grudge, will search for ever more. For the band on the run…” Paul McCartney

1 One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah (Khirbet Qila) stealing grain from the threshing floors. 1 Samuel 23:1

2 David asked YaHWeH, “Should I go and attack them?” “Yes, go and save Keilah,” YaHWeH told him. 3 But David’s men said, “We’re afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don’t want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!” 4 So David asked YaHWeH again, and again YaHWeH replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 23:2-4

The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth. 1 Samuel 22:5 (NASB95)

5 So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah. 6 Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod with him. 1 Samuel 23:5-6

20 Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David. 21 When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of YaHWeH, 22 David exclaimed, “I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family. 23 Stay here with me, and don’t be afraid. I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both.” 1 Samuel 22:20–23 (NLT)

Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. “Good!” he exclaimed. “We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!” 1 Samuel 23:7

“Not every opportunity is sent from God. We may want something so much that we assume any opportunity to obtain it is of divine origin. An opportunity to do something against God’s will can never be from God because God does not tempt us. When opportunities come your way, double-check your motives. Make sure you are following God’s desires, and not just your own.” Life Application Bible

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:13–15 (NKJV)

But David learned of Saul’s plan and told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod and ask YaHWeH what he should do. 1 Samuel 23:9

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. 1 Samuel 23:14

Wilderness of Ziph This was an essential time for God's work in David's life. He became a man after God's heart in the shepherd's fields but he became a king in the wilderness.” David Guzik

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 YaHWeH. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh. 1 Samuel 23:15-18

Psalm 54 “For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “We know where David is hiding.” To be accompanied by stringed instruments”.

"He is now looking at God. First he was looking at his enemies and these supposed friends of his, but now he sees them through God. If you begin with God, your enemies grow small. If you begin with the enemy, you may never reach God." Redpath – Vs. 4

Wilderness of Judeah

A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. Psalm 63

Hebron from Dead Sea

A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63

1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. 3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! 1 Samuel 24:1-3

Caves in Engedi

“These caves can still be seen today. Some are large enough to hold thousands of people. What are the chances? Saul must attend to his personal needs at the very moment he passes by the very cave where David hides. This was no coincidence but arranged by God to test David, to train David, and display David's godly heart.” David Guzik

“David moved stealthily to Saul’s location and used his weapon to “cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.” This act was far from meaningless because David’s confiscation of a portion of the royal robe signified the transfer of power from the house of Saul to the house of David.” Robert Bergen

5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “YaHWeH forbid that I should do this to my Lord the king. I shouldn’t attack YaHWeH’s anointed one, for YaHWeH himself has chosen him.” 1 Samuel 24:5-6

“David decided to spare Saul because he knew that God's promise said, "You will inherit the throne of Israel." He knew that Saul was in the way of that promise. But he also knew it was disobedient of him to kill Saul, because God put Saul in a position of authority and it was God's job to take care of Saul not David's. David wanted the promise to be fulfilled but he refused to try and fulfill God's promise through his own disobedience.” David Guzik

“Although Saul was sinning and rebelling against God, David still respected the position he held as God’s anointed king. David knew he would one day be king, and he also knew it was not right to strike down the man God had placed on the throne. If he assassinated Saul, he would be setting a precedent for his own opponents to remove him some day. Life Application Bible

After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8 David came out and shouted after him, “My Lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. 9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 1 Samuel 24:7-9

A psalm of David, which he sang to YaHWeH concerning Cush of the tribe of Benjamin. 1 I come to you for protection, O Y A HW E H my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!... 3 O Y A HW E H my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice, 4 if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause, 5 then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude Psalm 7

11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. 12 “May YaHWeH judge between us. Perhaps YaHWeH will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 1 Samuel 24:11-12

27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe. 28 And Samuel said to him, “YaHWeH has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you. 29 And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” 1 Samuel 15:27–29 (NLT)

May YaHWeH reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. 20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21 Now swear to me by YaHWeH that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!” 22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. 1 Samuel 24:19-22

“Saul’s remorse was evidently genuine, but David had learned that it would probably be only temporary. Consequently when Saul departed and returned to Gibeah, David again sought protection in “the stronghold,” probably one of the refuges near Engedi.” Tom Constable

Judean Wilderness Canyons

Engedi Canyons

"What a miserable picture Saul is! What is the use of saying, 'I have played the fool,' if he goes on playing the fool? What use are his tears and confession before David if he doesn't act upon his remorse?" In fact, it is worse to have this kind of emotional response if it doesn't result in true repentance… Redpath

"If a man is emotionally upset, as Saul was, and awakens to his condition, but only weeps about it and still doesn't obey God, his second state is a thousand times worse than the first. Emotion that does not lead to action only leads deeper into sin and rebellion." Redpath