It was a national manhunt. David was on the run and Saul and his military were set on finding him and killing him.
For awhile David was safe. David was on the run and Saul had backed off somewhat (1 Sam 23:13). He was now staying with his 600 men in the wilderness strongholds in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul was still searching for him but it was much harder to find him in the hill country with its many caves and similar terrain. You could hide anywhere and easily disappear.
All was well until the Ziphites who knew the land well, went and reported to Saul where David and his men were hiding. So much for Ziphite hospitality.
So Saul and the army picked up their weapons and began to pursue David. It was getting hairy.
“Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them” (1 Sam 23:26).
Death was in the air. But David put his trust in the Lord. And while the arrows were almost being launched a messenger came running to Saul.
“”Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!” So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines” (1 Sam 23:27).
They were separated only by a rock, but David was delivered by the miraculous intervention of the Lord.
It would happen again. The Ziphites would once again rat David out (1 Sam 26:1). Saul would muster 3000 of his troups and take off after David and his 600. And once again The Lord would deliver David.
It was then that he wrote this psalm:
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.
When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding among us?”
1 God, save me by Your name,
and vindicate me by Your might!
2 God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers rise up against me,
and violent men seek my life.
They have no regard for God.
4 God is my helper;
the Lord is the sustainer of my life.
5 He will repay my adversaries for their evil.
Because of Your faithfulness, annihilate them.
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You.
I will praise Your name, Yahweh,
because it is good.
7 For He has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked down on my enemies.
1) Save me God and hear my prayer
2) People are trying to kill me, men who have no regard for God.
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3) My God is my helper. He will repay my adversaries
4) Thank you Lord, for You have saved me from my troubles
