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By R.A. Mathews

The army hurried along one side of the mountain. A pursuing army marched on the other side. The difference was that the first army had only 600 men — no match for the second with thousands of soldiers. This is a famous moment in Scripture. Here’s how it begins.

“Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul” (1 Samuel 23:26 NASB).

When King Saul’s army closed in, Saul had every intention of killing David, fearing David was after his throne. What happened?

The unexpected.

Saul’s army suddenly turned away from the pursuit. At the time, David probably stood baffled. I was, as well, when I first read this passage. With David in his grasp, why would Saul abruptly retreat? Here it is.

“As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.’ Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines” (1 Samuel 23:26-28 NASB). 

God intervened to give David time to move to a safe place. The interesting part of this story is that it begins with an incredible betrayal.

It seems the Philistines had attacked the city of Keilah, and David wanted to help them. He asked God for guidance and the Lord told him to attack. Here’s what happened.

“When David was told, ‘Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,’ he inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’

“The Lord answered him, ‘Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.’ 

“So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah” (1 Samuel 23:1-5 NASB).

When Saul learned what had happened at Keila and that David was living inside the city walls, Saul took his army to capture David.

Get this. As soon as David knew Saul was coming, he asked God if Keilah would surrender him to Saul, and God said, “They will.” Look at Keila’s disloyalty in the passage. It’s amazing.

“Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, ‘God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.’ 

“And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

“When David learned that Saul was plotting against him…  David said, ‘Lord, God…  Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him?’…  And the Lord said, ‘They will.’ 

“So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place…  and stayed…  in the hills of the Desert of Ziph” (1 Samuel 23:7-14 NASB).

But David couldn’t catch a break from the locals. When he retreated to the Desert of Ziph, the Ziphites hurried to tell Saul. 

“The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, ‘Is not David hiding among us . . . and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands.’

“So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon…  When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David” (1 Samuel 23:19-25 NASB).

This is where King Saul caught up with David. The king’s massive army traveled along one side of the mountain, and David hurriedly moved on the other. It was a desperate situation until God abruptly intervened.

The Lord knows your struggle just as he knew David’s. It may be your health, your finances, or your relationship. It may be a child or parent in need.

God wants to help you. 

Pray to Him. David sang prayers to God seven times a day: 

Psalm 69, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul… ” 

Psalm 86, “Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” 

But also remember to thank God. My old friend Preston Boutwell always said, “You have no idea how much God does for you every day.” In countless hidden moments, He has already intervened to save you, just as he did with David in the Desert of Moan.

Contact the Rev. Mathews at RAMathews.com where you can read her biography and sample her books. Copyright © 2025 R.A. Mathews. All rights reserved.