1 Samuel: God's Invisible Hand

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 23:1-14 We see in this story of David's flight from Saul an interesting and very significant dynamic. David was doing everything humanly possible to elude King Saul, who was bent on putting an end to David's life. He hid in the wilderness and in the hills (1 Sam 23:14) . . . he received information from Saul's son, Jonathan (1 Sam 23:16,17) . . . his men were carefully monitoring Saul's movements (1 Sam 23:24,25). The human means for David's safety are clearly displayed in this story. But above these human means there was an invisible hand that ensured David's security . . . the hand of a sovereign God. The last sentence in 1 Samuel 23:14 draws back the curtain shrouding God's movement in this circumstance, so we can see what is going on beyond the characters in the story. "And Saul sought him [David] every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand." The Bible reveals a mysterious interaction between human actions and divine sovereignty. Men are responsible for their lives and the decisions they make and God governs His universe for His purposes. "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps" (Prov 16:9). "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but the counsel of the LORD, it will stand" (Prov 19:21). ". . . work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil 2:12,13). Let us pray and plan and work diligently in our lives, all the while seeking the Lord . . . knowing that our Father is the One who works all things after the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11).