To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him. (Psalm 59)
This the third in the al tashchet “Do Not Destroy” trilogy and, as is indicated in the introduction, it was inspired by David’s dramatic escape from Saul’s men who were sent to his house to kill him. Interestingly, this conclusion of the trilogy is based on events that happened at the beginning of Saul’s pursuit of David. It began when Saul was plagued by a distressing spirit, and David played music to soothe the king’s mood. In appreciation for his ministry, twice Saul tried to pin David to the wall with a spear, prompting David to flee to his home. And as the story unfolds, it is the daughter of Saul, David’s wife, who alerted him to the approaching danger and helped him to escape out of a window.
It is important to note that jealousy is what fueled Saul’s resentment of David. As it became painfully obvious to Saul that David was favored of the Lord and by the people as well, his rage provoked him to madness. When any other man would have been cornered and dispatched with relative ease, David (who was anointed of the Lord) always seemed to be one step ahead of his pursuers, always managing to escape their grasp. Of course, David is not the only person in the Bible who managed to evade their would be slayers. The apostle Paul also escaped similar danger; when certain men in Damascus conspired to kill him, Paul (who ironically was still being referred to as Saul at that time) eluded the conspirators by going out a window and being let down in a basket (Acts 9:23-25).
What can you and I glean from these accounts? Put simply, though we may be subjected to threats and even real danger at times, God will always make a way for us to escape in order to fulfill our mission. Not only will He make a way when there seems to be no way where literal danger is concerned, but He also makes a way when we face temptations. As Paul said, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can conclude, therefore, that when the enemy plots to destroy God’s people, or when circumstances arise whereby temptation seeks to overwhelm us, the Lord has determined that we shall not be destroyed. Let us take courage and have confidence in His goodness to us even when it seems that all men are against us. Amen.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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