Gospel Reflections #994: To have the eyes that God sees with.

1 Samuel 24:2 ‘When Saul returned from driving out the Philistines, someone told him that David was in the wilderness of En Gedi.’

This passage reflects King Saul’s obsession at the time and the harsh circumstances in which David found himself.

Saul’s Obsession and Overwhelming Military Might

Saul mobilised ‘3,000 elite troops’ for the sake of David alone.

This figure demonstrates just how much of a threat Saul perceived David to be, and how determined he was to eliminate him at any cost.

Meanwhile, David’s men are said to have numbered around 600, making the disparity in military strength overwhelming.

The wilderness of En Gedi is a place of sheer cliffs that only wild goats (ibex) can climb, suggesting just how cornered David was and the harsh conditions under which he lived as a fugitive.

In the scene that follows this verse, a dramatic reversal of roles awaits, as Saul unwittingly enters the cave where David was hiding, all by himself.

The narrative, in which Saul—despite leading an army of 3,000 men—finds himself in a defenseless state and nearly falls into David’s hands, suggests that God’s invisible protection (David) prevails over human military might (Saul). 

In desperate situations, we may be unable to make sound judgements or rely on God’s wisdom.

Likewise, when our sense of crisis fades and we become a little complacent, we may similarly fail to make sound judgements or rely on God’s wisdom.

What matters is how we perceive the situations God has prepared for us.

I feel that God’s plan is not so much directed at the people we are dealing with, but rather guides us in who we look up to, what we think, and what we do in such situations; and in what we feel when we see the actions resulting from our choices, and how we respond to them.

We should always seek to have the eyes that God sees with.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.