Crestwood Church Blog

So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever
since that time, the place where David was camped has been called
the Rock of Escape 1 Sam 23:27


When we were younger the fear of been caught by the class bully, was always a real fear for many of the guys at schools and may even have been true of some of the girls. In the chase when you are near capture someone or something happens that changes the situation, it may be a teacher or a parent or something else. But at that moment, you are assured of safety.
In this chapter of 1 Samuel, David is being chased by a king and his personal army. Capture would have led to certain death.

Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the
other side of the mountain.1 Samuel 23:26 NKJV

For David the place of safety was in the middle of a wilderness, but it was here that he won the battle.
So many times the battles of our Christian life are fought and won in the desert, it is here when we are open prey to the enemy, but it is here also where God can become so real.
When life is all rosy and going in the way we expect it, God can become less important, but in the wilderness, often we have only God to cry out to.

The rock was more than a rock, more like a mountain and it was this rock that he was able to hide behind. The enemy was still there, but shielded from view, a few 100 metres was all that separated David from Saul, but it was what was in between that made the difference.
When we realise what is in between, we can have assurance and confidence of a bright tomorrow.

Our rock of escape is not a physical mountain, more than that, it is a tangible God who has rescued us from the valley experiences of this world. No wonder David could sing “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.” Don’t forget to sing about our Rock; what a mighty God we serve.

Labels: David, protection, Rock, victory

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 6:7

When God wanted to choose a king after his own heart, he sent Samuel to Jesse's house. Jesse had many sons - some mature, some strong and mighty, some with all the outward looking characteristics of nobility, but each one God rejected. God wasn't after might or human power.

Perplexed, Samuel asked Jesse... "are these all of your sons?" He was convinced God had brought him to the right place.

David was in the field looking after his Father's flock. This was exactly what God wanted...David was anointed to be King.

God doesn't need our abilities, he can find and give us strengths that we wouldn't even know were there! What God requires is a heart that is fixed on the things of his kingdom: people who are willing to look after the Father's flock.

Who are the Father's flock? They are his people, whether that's a part of the church, prodigals or those that have never known him before. If you have a heart for people like this, then God will use you in his kingdom. He probably won't make you king, but he'll give you responsibility and entrust you to care for his flock in ways that you'd feel are beyond you.

A servant heart like David's was also a humble heart. A humble heart resulted in a thankful and praising heart. Don't let people judge you for what you have or haven't got naturally - let God decide and come to him with a heart wide open.

Labels: David, Gifts, Serving, Shepherd