Deeper Reflection
WHEN THE ZIPHITES offered Saul their help to search for David, Saul gave them very specific instructions, being “acutely aware that finding David was a difficult challenge”¹. Note the “piling up of imperatives”² in Saul’s directing of the Ziphites to establish their information: “make more sure”, “investigate and see” (v.22), “look, and learn” and “return to me with certainty” (v.23). Note also the vital information that Saul wanted: “where David usually goes”, “who has seen him” (v.22) and “all the hiding places where he hides himself” (v.23). Here we see a Saul who was determined to track David down no matter where he goes and what it takes. And knowing that David was “very crafty” (v.22), “under no  circumstances will he permit the ‘crafty’ David to outwit him”³. He was all out to “search him out among all the thousands of Judah” (v.23). Such was Saul’s singleminded obsessive pursuing after David to destroy him. Let us not be naïve to suppose that no Christian will seek to destroy other people, including fellow-believers. Christians can “bite and devour one another” resulting in being “consumed by one another” (Gal 5:15). When we do not walk by the Spirit, we will walk in the flesh, and destructive “enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions and envying” will fill our hearts (Gal 5:19-20). But the way of Jesus is: “Whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matt 5:39). 

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¹ David G. Firth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Apollos Old Testament Commentary (Apollos, 2009), 252

² David G. Firth, 252

³ Ronald F. Youngblood, 1, 2 Samuel, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 3 (Zondervan, 1992), 742