1 Samuel 26:1

1 Samuel 26:1 says, And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?  The Ziphites once again came to Saul to tell him where David was.  They seemed to be intent on gaining favor with Saul, even though David had done nothing to harm them.  Matthew Henty says Saul might have been content to leave David alone if the Ziphites had not stirred his hatred of David up again.  Some people today are still willing to do all that they can to destroy Christians, even if Christians have never done anything to harm them.  They especially seem to be ready to do this if it will make them look better to those in power.  Verse two adds, Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. Once again, Saul took three thousand men in search of David in the wilderness of Ziph.  Saul seemed to have spent much of his time hunting David, who still had done nothing to attempt to harm him nor to replace him.  It seems that people of the world today spend a lot of time either trying to kill Christians or to at least limit their power, even if we have done nothing to harm them.  Verse three continues, And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.  Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, but David was in the wilderness and saw him coming.  It is hard to move three thousand men without being seen, especially if you aren't trying to hide their movements.  If we are spiritually alert, the Holy Spirit will keep anyone from ever sneaking up on us to destroy us, but we must always be alert spiritually.  Verse four states, David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.  David sent out spies to see if this force was really Saul and his army.  Matthew Henry says that David wanted proof that Saul had so quickly forgotten his repentance for trying to kill him.  We are always better off getting proof of the facts than we are if we just make assumptions.  Verse five adds, And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.  David came to where Saul was, and got close enough to see him and Abner the captain of Saul's band lying in a ditch, even though they were surrounded by troops.  I believe this was possible because God was with David.  God is still with us today, and at times will lead us to do what seems impossible.  Verse six says, Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.  David then asked Abimelech and Abishai who would go with him into Saul’s camp.  This could be a very dangerous thing to do, but Abishai said he would go.  We need to be ready to go into what may seem to be a dangerous situation to support our fellow Christians, as long as we know that God is behind what they are doing.  Fear for our own safety should never hold us back.  Verse seven adds, So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.  David and Abishai came into Saul’s camp at night, when Saul was asleep with his spear in the ground nearby.  Abner and the rest of Saul's troops were asleep, even though we would assume that someone should have been on guard.  Spiritually speaking, the enemies of God are always going to be sleeping, but we as followers of Christ must always be spiritually alert.