via Hideout
Every soldier needs a hideout, a secret place to go and not be found by his enemies. When we think of King David, more often than not our minds turn to his heroic display of courage against the nine-foot tall giant named Goliath. Or we think of Paul, standing in the synagogue of Psidian Antioch, teaching Hebrew history, and the story David. Paul said:
Acts 13:22
After He had removed him (king Saul), He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, “I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.”
Thousands of years before hand when King Saul was only 30 years old, the king assumed God’s will, made a battle-preparation sacrifice since Samuel the priest/prophet was late to the party, and went on to war. Because of this, Samuel speaks for God in 1 Samuel 13:13-14:
“You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
Until he became king, David hid in caves, on mountain tops, and low valleys, because he knew all the good places to hide. He was after all a shepherd well versed in the protection of his herd from thieves or wild animals. What is so interesting about David is his consistent reliance on God to provide all that he needed. Psalm 23 is perhaps one of the most sacred and memorized passages in the whole Bible describing God’s provision.
David however, was also a man of war. Most people don’t understand this. He was a king/soldier, as well as the shepherd boy. 2 Samuel 21 documents this pretty well. This passage also leads to a wonderfully descriptive song which David spoke the day Jehovah the Lord delivered him from his enemies and King Saul. Listen to just the first phrases and see if it doesn’t lead you to go read the whole thing.
2 Samuel 22:2-4
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”
David’s hideout was God. David described Him as Jehovah Roi – The Lord is my shepherd: Psalm 23:1. God provided David all he needed, a place to sleep safely, water, guidance, comfort, anointing oil, a future home, and the promise of dwelling together in perpetuity with his Lord. God was David’s hideout.
Where, or in whom, do you hide yourself for safety from your enemies?
As I was saying... 