Meanwhile, David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the desert south of Jeshimon. Saul and his men arrived and began their search. When David heard of it, he went south to Rock Mountain, camping out in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard where he was and set off for the wilderness of Maon in pursuit. Saul was on one side of the mountain, David and his men on the other. David was in full retreat, running, with Saul and his men closing in, about to get him. Just then a messenger came to Saul and said, “Hurry! Come back! The Philistines have just attacked the country!” So Saul called off his pursuit of David and went back to deal with the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth [Rock of Escape; Narrow Escape]. – 1 Samuel 23: 24-28 (MSG, NIV)
No matter how valiant and skillful in war we are, there comes a time in our lives when we find ourselves surrounded, surrounded by our adversaries, and/or surrounded by troubles in life. Not only are we surrounded but we find ourselves at the verge of being overcome. Then, out of no where just in the nick of time, we witness the hand of God as He strategizes our deliverance.
This was David’s situation detailed in 1 Samuel 23. Saul had been pursuing David for some time, with the intent to end his life. It seemed that today Saul’s pursuit would come to an end because, by day’s end, David would be in his grasp. What Saul did not know was that, although there was no visible evidence of it, God was working on David’s behalf. At the last minute, Saul got a message that brought David’s deliverance.
When I read this passage of Scripture and got to the end – That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth [Rock of Escape] – I had to pause and thank God for the many Sela Hammahlekoth moments in my life; moments where I narrowly escaped being extinguished; I narrowly escaped fainting; I narrowly escaped capture by the enemy of my soul. I paused …. I stopped and began writing this prayer in my journal:
Dear Lord, Thank You for being my present help in the time of trouble. Thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning and for Your grace that is available to me in our time of need. Thank You for the sufficiency that lies in Your grace. Thank You for the strength, Your strength, that is available to me through Your grace.
Thank You Lord for every “Sela Hammahlekoth” moment that You have wrought in my life. Thank You for providing a Rock of Escape and also making a way to escape every temptation so that I may be able to bear it. Holy Spirit, please go with me today and cause us to be aware of the traps/snares of the enemy. When the enemy closes in, when he comes in like a flood, Holy Spirit please raise up a standard against him. Command victories for me this day and cause rocks of escape to be positioned in every area of my life. AMEN!!