Day 1203: Hands made strong. - 1 Samuel 23 vs 15 - 24

15 David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16-17 And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 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.

19-20 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? 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.” And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have had compassion on me.

22-23 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. 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 23:15-24 English Standard Version

David was still on the run from Saul and was a fugitive in the land. But what role did Jonathan play yet again that caused David to have hope. (vs 16-17)

Much like Barnabas in the New Testament, whose name meant 'son of encouragement', we read that Jonathan 'strengthened David's hand in God'. He did this by going to where David was, at risk to himself, to renew the covenant they had made. And he urged David to not be afraid of his father's hand.

What a ministry there is to be someone who strengthens the hands of others in the Lord!

It was said of Job that he had “taught many, and had given strength to weak hands. His words had helped him stand who would have fallen, and he had given strength to weak knees.” (Job 4:3-4) Isaiah 50:4 says “The Lord God gives me the right words to encourage the weary.” So Jonathan assured David that he would yet be the King of Israel, and added that Saul knew this to be true. Davids hand was strengthened in God.

But David still had many enemies. The Ziphites, who lived in the region where he’d taken refuge, told Saul, and they offered to hand David over to him. But Saul has grown careful, and was aware of how elusive David had become. He thanks the Ziphites 'for their compassion', but asks them to make doubly sure they knew where David was.

His own determination to catch David is seen from his words in vs 22-23. He says: “Go and check again to be sure of where he is staying and who has seen him there, for I know that he is very crafty. Discover his hiding places, and come back when you are sure. Then I’ll go with you. And if he is in the area at all, I’ll track him down, even if I have to search every hiding place in Judah!” (New Living Translation)

We're told that Psalm 54 was written “when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, ‘Is not David hiding among us?’” In vs 1-4 of the Psalm, David says: ”Save me, O God, by your name. Vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God, listen to the words of my mouth. Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me - people without regard for God. Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.”

That's what it means to have our hand strengthened in God. It means we can call out to Him with confidence, and know that He hears our prayer. It's to know that God is our help, and that He is the one who sustains us when our enemies are many. As Psalm 46:1 reminds us: “God is our refuge and strength - a very present help in trouble.”