Background

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to literally run for your life?  I have, and I tell you, it is no joke.  I had to run to safety.  I was right in the middle of going through a divorce, and there was an issue that came up for visitation to be ceased for a few days.  Unfortunately, the order was ignored.  My daughter and I continued to get call after call, and doorbell ring after doorbell ring.  I told her to stay away from the door as both of our nervous systems went into hypervigilant mode.  There is more on the hypervigilant mode of trauma here.  And if you have been through any type of PTSD/trauma, you know this moment is like fear on steroids X 100 with you watching and waiting for when and where something will happen.

My dear friend called me while this was taking place.  I was supposed to be attending a Divorce Support Group that night.  There was no way that I was going to leave my daughter at home to deal with this situation.  I texted two members of the group, telling them to have fun, and that I had serious situation going on at the homefront.  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the fear. My system was jacked up with adrenaline, anxiety, and fear.  That’s when my friend advised that I spend the night at her house.  She said that I could have trouble on my hands all night if I didn’t.  At this point, I was tired of getting the police involved.

The Flight

I packed up our night clothes, my important papers, and clothes for the next day.  I also had to call my son and get an okay for him to spend a night at a friend’s home.  I told him that he was not to return home for any reason.

My friend pulled up to the garage, and my daughter and I ran to get into her jeep, and as she sped off, the three of us quickly glanced to the right, noticing a figure hanging over pretending as if it were limp.

We didn’t get much sleep that night because we were in hypervigilant mode, waking up every 20 minutes or so, having to both shut our phones down from the incessant ringing.

Biblical Analysis

Like myself, David was on the run for his life.  Saul’s jealousy turned into anger, and his anger turned into madness: “And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” 9And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David. “1 Samuel 18: 8-9

Once David found out that Saul was going to kill him, he fled, having the king of Moab to house his parents, as I had to house my son overnight: From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.” 4So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.… 1 Samuel 22:3-4, BSB

However, David wasn’t able to stay there long.  He was advised to leave, running from place to place, cave to cave for safety, but God was with him: Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.…1 Samuel 22:5, BSB

1 Samuel 23:7-14 King James Version (KJV)

⁷ And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

⁸ And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

⁹ And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

¹⁰ Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

 

¹¹ Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.

¹² Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.

¹³ Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

¹⁴ And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

Even when we are at our lowest point, and in the depths of fear, God is with us.

 

Dear God,

We thank you for being our refuge when there is nowhere else to go.  We pray that during times of crises, we would seek you like never before, knowing that you have an angel of armies running with us.

In your name we pray,

 

Amen

 

Have a blessed night all!

 

Katina