Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Samuel 23:14 (New Living Translation)

14 David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.

David is fleeing Saul. Saul has resources. Saul is searching. It is inevitable that Saul will find David. Saul, however, didn’t find David.

God didn’t let Saul find him.

That’s pretty simple. Everything in the physical realm says Saul will find David and kill him. Saul failed because God didn’t let him succeed. God intervened in the physical affairs of people. World events changed because God changed them.

We sit here in the 21st century and smile a little when reading such a story from 3,000 years ago and all that. It’s the stuff of fairy tales and dragons and knights in shining armor or something like that. Okay, God did something in ancient times that baffled the people. We are too sophisticated and smart and knowledgeable of history and all that. We understand how things work.

We deny the power and influence of God.

Pity us. How could we become so smart as to be foolish? Please God, help me in my unbelief.