Just the other day in my daily bible reading, I came across an amazing story in the life of David that can be found in I Sam. 23:28: The Rock Of Escape!
In the early years of his life, prior to his becoming the king of Israel, he was first chosen by the Lord, through Samuel the prophet at a time when he was a shepherd boy. (See I Sam. 16:1-13) Amongst all of his brothers, David being the youngest in his family [who was not present when the prophet arrived at his house with a horn of oil to anoint the next king in Israel] becomes the very one God chooses to become Israel’s next king! The Scriptures are quite clear in this story, that Saul was the peoples choice [and not God’s choice] that eventually, because of his disobedience, Saul gets rejected by God [as king] to be replaced by God’s choice [David] to become king!
As you can imagine this did not go well for Saul. Once the removal process had begun, Saul [being tormented by an evil spirit sent by God] becomes a jealous rival of David. Because of his popularity and success as an armory barrier of the king, it had become obvious to Saul that the Lord was with David, granting him much favor and success in all that he did. (See I Sam.16:18) David now becomes an enemy of Saul who was leading Israel’s troops to victory over the Philistines. (See I Sam.18:7) Time and time again, the Lord led David through some very trying times and troubling waters in his relationship with Saul. And that time and time again David would not extend his hand against the Lord’s anointed. (See I Sam. 26:11)
In one of these trying moments in his life, the Lord leads David to a place called the Rock Of Escape! (See I Sam.23:28) From that day onward, this concept of “The Rock of Escape” – a safe place, a place of refuge, a place of projection, a place of victory – becomes one of the major themes throughout David’s life as the Lord becomes his stronghold, … a rock of habitation, a tower of strength; a place of refuge from his enemies and from the storms of life!
Beloved. Jesus is that place “The Rock Of Escape” in our lives and we must find our place “In Him”. Jesus is the Rock of our salvation is not just from our sin but also in the circumstances of life!
~ Dan Ecker
