QT 13 Nov 13, Pray -- work -- give thanks

1 Sam 23:25-28 (ESV) … And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land." 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

NOTE: David is doing his very best to escape Saul's pursuit. He is putting prayer (if the Psalms are any indication of how David viewed difficulties) and effort into the situation. He is not sitting by idly waiting for God to change the circumstances. But at the point where David can do no more, then God intervenes. Or maybe God intervened earlier such that the Philistine raid would occur at that moment. Either way it does not matter. God saved David and his men. The final point that is also clearly illustrated throughout the Psalms of David is that David would give thanks to God. He prayed for deliverance, he worked, and he expressed thankfulness. This pattern is repeated often in David's life. Sometimes repentance is thrown in at that beginning or his real feelings and struggles. These are all good examples for us / me to follow.