DAVID’S WINDOW OF ESCAPE

Today we will ponder David’s window of escape. Last week we left David just as he was newly married to Saul’s daughter, Michal.  What an odd way of pledging to marry someone.  David fulfilled Saul’s request for the hand of Michal by bringing 200 Philistine foreskins to the King. 

A THOUGHT TO CONSIDER

Saul had only required 100 foreskins, so David proved himself doubly worthy.  The link which follows gives an interesting take on what these 200 foreskins actually represented.  https://www.katrinapearls.com/post/1-samuel-18-12-30-two-hundred-foreskins?srsltid=AfmBOopFyyuEgTg2UOBtMbGAgxMU3gDVEgP39iy75S66KlJ62PDKjigY. It is worth considering.  I’m still pondering it myself.  Could it be possible that David had actually converted these Philistines and persuaded them to be circumcised instead of killing 200 men? Not only would Saul have defeated 200 enemies, he would also have 200 new soldiers who wished to remain true to his causes.

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD

As I’ve said many times before; anything is possible with God. Even the hearts of uncircumcised Philistines can be changed. They can realize God’s truth and be converted just like you and me. The problem God had with them in the first place was the fact that they would not change their ways, repent, turn, and let God’s ways transform them.

Do you think David achieved this? The scriptures leave us with the answer to this question a bit foggy and unclear. Perhaps we can remember this though, when we are giving witness of God to others. The theory seems to fit David’s character to a tee. Only God knows, and perhaps we can ask him one day. If you are like me, you have a list of a thousands questions for Jesus whenever you get to physically sit at His feet. What a glorious day that will be.

At any rate, the marriage of David and Michal took place.

A FRIENDSHIP OF GREAT WORTH

All the while, David was now commanding 1000 of Saul’s men and having great success in battle.  He remained close friends with Jonathan.  It seemed that everything about David’s life was somehow connected to King Saul’s family and the royal palace.  Yet, Saul was very jealous and felt threatened by David.  He had even tried to kill him with a spear on two separate occasions.

As we come to 1 Samuel Chapter 19 we hear that Saul has commanded his son, Jonathan, and all of his attendants to kill David.  Of course, Jonathan warns David:

“My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you.  Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there.  I will go out go out and stand with my father in the field where you are.  I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”  (1 Samuel 19:2-3)

LOYAL TO THE END

So, the next morning, Jonathan went out to the field to speak to Saul.  Jonathan spoke well of David.  He said, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?” (1 Samuel 19:4-5)

Saul listened to Jonathan.  He even took an oath saying, “As surely as The Lord lives; David will not be put to death.”

A TEMPORARY SITUATION

After Jonathan was assured it was safe, Jonathan called David and brought him before Saul.  It seemed the relationship was healed, and David and Saul were together again as before.

Later war broke out again.  David went out and fought valiantly against the Philistines.  After the battle David was playing his lyre before Saul.  Again, an evil spirit came to Saul, and he tried to kill David.    

That was the night that David decided to make his escape.  Saul had David’s house guarded. He gave orders that David be killed.  Michal, Saul’s daughter who had married David, warned David that he must escape or lose his life.  She helped David escape from a rope in a window of their house.  I wonder how many blessed men have been saved by the discernment of a wife who cared enough for them to help them pursue God’s will.

David fled and escaped. 

ANOTHER PARALLEL STORY

This vision of Michal letting David down from the house reminded me of the story of Rahab.  We posted this story during our previous lessons.  Click this link if you wish to review:  https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/a-place-of-safety/.  Rahab was seeking safety, and she found it in God’s presence. 

David had the same characteristics we saw in Rahab.  He was willing to risk all in order to do God’s will. The Psalms David wrote are full of scriptures which point out this aspect of his character. If you need safety and protection, seeking God is the most important hope of all.  I wonder if David was thinking of this as he shimmied down that rope from the window and ran toward the place that God would show him next.

WINDOWS OPEN FOR A REASON

Many of us are just like David.  We are constantly living in a dangerous world that keeps us surrounded with plots from God’s enemies.  It is important for us to notice when God opens windows.  These are our exits from one place to another.  It could be about receiving safety, or promoting destiny, or achieving our purpose within God’s plan.  Whatever the reason, and we probably will not know in the moment, we have to hold on to that rope of escape (Jesus) and move forward into God’s will for our lives.

Such escapes require courage and brave, swift actions.  When you see the window opening, you have no time to wait. If you wish to follow God’s plan you must move as soon as He shows you the way.  You have to take the chance and climb through the open window. 

David had the faith to follow God’s plan, even when he didn’t know where it was leading.  So did Abraham and Sarah.  So did Moses and Joshua.  So did Ruth and Rahab.  We too, must have this much faith in our Great God.  He knows what we need and when we need it.  God alone sees the beginnings from the endings.  Faith is required to accept this without question and move on.

HESITATION BRINGS DEATH

Think about the alternative to following God’s will. That is what we will experience if we hesitate and decide not to continue walking through the windows that God opens for us.  If David had stayed, he would have died.  Michal, as a type of the Holy Spirit, encouraged David to follow God’s plan for his life.  She let go of him in order to save his life.  That is true love in action. 

The alternative would have helped no one.  Of course, God would have had to use someone else, but David was the first choice here.  He was the anointed King, the world had not yet noticed, but God knew.

When we refuse to move into our God-given destiny, we die a slow death.  We might seem to be alive, but not obeying God’s will quenches God’s Holy Spirit, and we lose what is most precious to our being.  This was exactly the state of Saul in today’s story.  He had quenched God’s Spirit, and it no longer worked in his life. 

Those who deliberately do this become like zombies; dead men walking.  No one wants to become a zombie, ruled by powers beyond their control, unable to think, act or move on their own.  All it takes is a little courage to keep going, no matter what. 

KEEP MOVING IN THE SPIRIT

Today, let me encourage you to be like David.  Keep moving into God’s will.  Take that exit through the window. Move into the next place that God is leading you.  There may be some hard lessons on the other side of that rope, but we will be more alive than ever before.  It is worth the risk. All it takes is the effort to remain faithful.

When we hear the scriptures speak of God’s Holy Spirit, it is said to be constantly moving.  The first cause of all Creation was the Spirit of Elohim moving over the face of the deep.  Since that time, God’s Spirit has been in constant motion, bringing about God’s will for planet earth. 

We, like David, must keep our minds, bodies, spirits and souls in sync with God’s Holy Spirit.  Our desire should always be to conform our ways to God’s ways. This is how the rhythm of life becomes balanced for us. Sometimes things happen which we do not or cannot understand.  True warriors will not question God’s plan, but they will keep moving through the windows and doors which God opens for them.