1 Samuel 23:19

1 Samuel 23:19 says, Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?  The Ziphites came to Saul when David aas hiding out in their woods.  They asked Saul if he knew that.  These were some of David’s kinsmen, and he certainly had done them no harm, but they were more interested in ingratiating themselves to Saul then in helping Davd.  We should not be surprised if people that we think are friends, or maybe are even family, would betray us if they thought it would help them.  Verse twenty adds,  Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.  They invited Saul to come down and said they would deliver David into his hand.  These were some of God's people, but they weren't asking God for guidance.  As Christians we must always seek God's will first, even in matters relating to the government.   Verse twenty-one states, And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.  Saul was still going through the motions of being a man of God who was doing God's bidding.  He pronounced God's blessing on them, even while he was no longer blessed by God, but was rejected instead.  People still attempt to control God's blessings while they refuse to obey His directions.  Verse twenty-two adds, Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.  Saul basically told them to go and find out for sure where David was, because he said he had been told that David dealt very subtilly.   Of course, the real reason Saul was having difficulty finding and killing David was because God was protecting him.  God is still protecting us as followers of Christ today.  Verse twenty-three continues, See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.  Saul told them to go and find all of David's hiding places and then return and tell him.  Saul said he would then go and search David out from all the thousands of people in Judah.  He was confident that he could get around God's protection of David.  People may think that they can get around God's protection of Christians today, but we are forever secure by our faith and His power.  Verse twenty-four states, And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.  The men of Ziph returned ahead of Saul, but David had moved on to the plain south of Jeshimon.  I believe God was leading David in his moves, just as He should be leading us no matter what we are doing.  Verse twenty-five adds, Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.  David had moved because he heard Saul was coming after him, and Saul pursued him.  Verse twenty-six continues, And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.  David hurried to get away from Saul, but Saul and his men basically surrounded David and his men.  I still am not sure if David was afraid of Saul, or if he was afraid of having to kill him.  If David was still putting his faith God, he had no reason to fear Saul, and if we put our faith in God, we have no reason to fear anyone. Verse twenty-seven concludes, But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.  By attacking Israel, the Philistines also saved David, since when Saul heard that the Philistines were attacking, he left to fight them.  Verse twenty-eight says, Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.  At least Saul was still putting defending Israel against the Philistines ahead of his desire to kill David.  Sometimes,  non Christians fighting amongst themselves can be beneficial to Christians, even if this is not their intention.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.  David used this opportunity to leave where he was and to go to the strongholds at Engedi.  God had saved David again, though he may  or may not have acknowledged it.  God may save us from destruction many times as His followers today without our even realizing it.