David Hunted in the Wilderness of Ziph
August 20, 2025
Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
1 Samuel 23:15-29
Introduction: When the Walls Close In
Life has a way of pressing us into corners where the walls seem to close in and the options run out. Maybe you’ve felt it financially, staring at bills that outweighed the numbers in your account. Maybe it’s been relational, when a marriage was hanging by a thread or a child seemed unreachable. For some, it’s physical—the doctor’s report that changes everything in a single phone call. In those moments, you can almost hear your heart whisper, “This is it. I’m finished.” That’s exactly where we find David in 1 Samuel 23. He’s betrayed by his own people, hunted down by Saul, and nearly trapped with nowhere to go. Yet it’s in that desperate, suffocating moment that God steps in—not with fireworks and thunderbolts, but with providence so precise it rewrites the ending. Tonight we’re going to see how God delivers David at the Rock of Escape, and how the same God is still writing rescues into our stories when all hope seems lost.
But God… Oh, don’t you love those two words? They change everything, especially in Scripture. All throughout Scripture, when the story seemed finished, those two words rewrote the ending.
• Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
• Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
• Ephesians 2:4 reminds us, “We were dead in our trespasses, but God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ.”
• And at the center of history, when Jesus hung on the Cross and darkness seemed to win, the enemy must have whispered, “This is it. It’s over.” But Acts 13:30 thunders back: “But God raised Him from the dead.” And friends, it doesn’t stop there.
That same God writes “But God” over the pages of our lives. When you were trapped in sin—but God saved you. When you were drowning in sorrow—but God comforted you. When you thought the story was over—but God stepped in with providence so precise it rewrote your ending.
Even when betrayal surrounds us, when trouble seems to have the upper hand, when enemies close in, when all circumstances seem hopeless, that is exactly the time God will do His work. God’s providence is never late. He shields His people, reroutes the enemy, and leads us to rocks of escape.
The Last Meeting of David and Jonathan (vv. 14–18)
And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. 15 David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” 18 And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home. (1 Samuel 23:14–18)
The truth is, God was revealing to David who He really was and who David really was in Him. The truth also is that God is still writes “But God” into your life as well. Not to give you heartburn and anxiety, but to teach you that you truth can cast all your cares upon Him. When you think the marriage was over—but God restores it. When you thought grief will crush you—but God carries you. When you think sin has the last word—but God saves you.
That’s where we pick up David’s story tonight. Verse 14 has already told us Saul sought him every day, “but God did not give him into his hand.” And it’s right there, in the wilderness, that Jonathan comes to David one last time to strengthen his hand in God. Before we get into the betrayal of the Ziphites, remember where we left off. David is in the wilderness of Ziph, and Saul is seeking him daily. Verse 14 says, “But God did not give him into his hand.”
Jonathan, Saul’s son, sneaks out to meet David. And what does he do? Verse 16 says, “Jonathan strengthened his hand in God.” He reminds David of God’s promises, reaffirms his loyalty, and renews their covenant friendship.
And then they part ways—never to see each other again. Jonathan returns to his father’s house, David remains in the wilderness, and their paths only cross again in memory after Jonathan’s death on the battlefield.
The Betrayal of Ziph (vv. 19–24)
Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon? 20 Now come down, O king, according to all your heart’s desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.” 21 And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have had compassion on me. 22 Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning. 23 See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.” 24 And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. (1 Samuel 23:19–24)
Verse 19 says, “Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, ‘Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh…?’”
The Ziphites were not Philistines or Amalekites—they were Israelites, David’s own countrymen from the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:55). In fact, Ziph was a small town located only a few miles southeast of Hebron, right in David’s own backyard. These were people who shared his bloodline, his covenant heritage, and his tribal identity. If anyone should have supported David in his flight from Saul, it should have been the people of Judah. After all, God had already revealed through Samuel that the king would rise from Judah (Gen. 49:10; 1 Sam. 16:1–13). Loyalty to David was more than family pride—it was aligning with God’s promise.
Yet instead of protecting him, they betrayed him. This wasn’t the first time Israel turned on its own. We saw it when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. We saw it when the people of Succoth and Peniel refused to help Gideon (Judg. 8:5–9). And tragically, it would reach its climax when Jesus, the Son of David, was betrayed not by Gentiles but by one of His own disciples.
The Ziphites chose survival over loyalty. They thought cozying up to Saul, the sitting king, would earn them favor. They saw David as a threat, not a deliverer. And that makes their betrayal sting even more deeply—because it wasn’t just treachery against David, it was treachery against God’s chosen plan.
Betrayal Hurts More When It’s Close to Home
• The Philistines attacking? Expected.
• Saul’s rage? Expected.
• But the Ziphites—his own tribe? That’s betrayal.
Some of you know that sting. The deepest wounds are not from strangers but from family, friends, church members.
The truth is, divided loyalties are a great source of conflict. The Ziphites chose survival over conviction. They knew David was the anointed king, but Saul still held the throne. And when forced to choose between siding with God’s promise or cozying up to earthly power, they chose power. They feared Saul more than they trusted God.
People have been doing that since Eden—fear outweighing faith, power outweighing principle. We saw it when Pilate knew Jesus was innocent but caved to the mob because keeping Caesar’s approval mattered more than keeping justice (John 19:12–16). We saw it when Peter, who loved Jesus, denied Him three times because the pressure of the crowd was greater than the pull of conviction (Luke 22:54–62).
And we’ve seen it in our own day. Think about the years of COVID. How many Christians and churches were torn apart by divided loyalties? Fear of government orders, fear of social rejection, fear of losing reputation or influence—often these outweighed loyalty to biblical principle. Some bowed to power structures rather than standing firm on the promises of God.
And that’s exactly what we see playing out here in Ziph. The people bowed to power rather than principle. Instead of aligning with God’s Word and His anointed servant, they cozied up to Saul because he still looked like the one holding the authority. And Saul, ever eager to exploit weak loyalties, cloaks their betrayal in pious language.
Saul’s Hypocrisy (v. 21)Saul replies, “May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.” He invokes God’s covenant name while chasing God’s anointed king.
Jesus warned of this in Matthew 15:8: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” During the Civil War, both the Union and Confederacy prayed to the same God, asking Him to bless their armies. Abraham Lincoln wisely said, “The question is not whether God is on our side, but whether we are on His side.” Saul was convinced God was blessing him—but he was actually fighting against God.
However, what we see is Saul’s false piety doesn’t ground him, it feeds paranoia and a feeling of a lack of control (vv. 22–23). He tells the Ziphites to get exact intelligence on David. He doesn’t just want to know the general location—he wants GPS coordinates. That’s paranoia. Sin makes you obsessive. Guilt eats you alive. Instead of resting in God’s providence, Saul tries to control every detail
God’s Shield in Maon (vv. 24b–26)
And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. 25 And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, (1 Samuel 23:24–26)
The Ziphites head out. Saul mobilizes his forces. David is now in the wilderness of Maon. Verse 26 paints a gripping picture: “Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them…”
It’s a cinematic moment. David is nearly trapped. The armies are converging. It looks like this is the end. But verse 27 interrupts: “But a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.’” Just when Saul is about to strike, news arrives—the Philistines have attacked. Saul has no choice but to break off pursuit. Providence, Not Coincidence. This isn’t luck. This is God’s providence.
Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.”
God doesn’t need lightning from heaven to deliver David. He just moves history at the right moment. Corrie Ten Boom, survivor of Ravensbrück concentration camp, wrote: “There is no panic in heaven, only plans.” David may have panicked, but God had a plan.
God Uses Enemies to Rescue His PeopleIsn’t it remarkable that the Philistines—the very people David has often fought—become the instrument of his deliverance? God can use anyone, even your enemy, to accomplish His purpose.
You may feel hemmed in—trapped in circumstances beyond your control. But God is never late. He may not part the sea every time, but He can send a “Philistine diversion” at the exact moment you need it.
The Rock of Escape (vv. 27–29)
a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi.
Because Saul has to leave, David escapes. And verse 28 says, “Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.”
Naming places of God’s deliverance is an old practice. Jacob at Bethel. Samuel raising the Ebenezer stone. Here, David calls it “The Rock of Escape.” Remember Your Rocks of Escape Do you have “spiritual landmarks” in your life? The moment God saved you. The prayer He answered when you were desperate.
The provision He sent when you were empty.
Spurgeon once said, “When you cannot trace His hand, you can trust His heart.” David couldn’t see God’s hand until afterward. Then he marked the spot. We must do the same. David doesn’t just keep it in his head—he names it. He makes it a public testimony. That’s what worship does. It says, “This is where God delivered me, and I won’t forget it.”
Even when betrayal surrounds us and enemies close in, God’s providence is never late. He shields His people, reroutes the enemy, and leads us to rocks of escape.
Trust God’s Timing. Some of you are waiting for deliverance right now. Remember: God’s delays are not His denials. He is never late.
Beware of Saul’s Religion. Don’t just say the right words—live them. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Build Memorials of Faith.
Write down God’s answers. Tell your children. Share your testimony. Name your “Rock of Escape.
Closing
David’s escape in Maon sets the stage for what comes next: En-gedi, where David will show mercy to Saul in the cave. But before mercy, there’s deliverance. Let me close with the words of the hymn Amazing Grace: “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.” God’s grace brought David to the Rock of Escape. And grace will bring you to yours.
