God's Sabbath

D AVID ’ S D ELIVERANCE

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“While Satan and his host were busy helping the adversaries of God and of Israel to plan against a king who had forsaken God, the angels of the Lord were working to deliver David from the peril into which he had fallen. Heavenly messengers moved upon the Philistine princes to protest against the presence of David and his force with the army in the approaching conflict.” Patriarchs and Prophets 690.2. As a result “Achish called David and said to him, ‘As surely as the L ORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until now, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. Turn back and go in peace; do nothing to dis please the Philistine rulers.... Achish answered, ‘I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; never theless, the Philistine commanders have said, “He must not go up with us into battle.” Now get up early, along with your mas ter’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morn ing as soon as it is light.’ So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.” 1Samuel 29:6–7, 9–10. Although Achish’s reply was a great relief for David, it must have been at the same time a bitter reproach for him, sending a thrill of shame and remorse through his heart. How unworthy he must have felt of such high esteem from the king who was so ignorant of how he had been deceived. What a perfect Problem Solver is our God! One moment Da vid was entrapped by seemingly insuperable mountains of diffi culties, the next he was released from his entanglement and set free. The words of our Saviour had come true again: “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20.

Our Deliverance

In His dealings with David, our heavenly Father reveals the perfection of His ways. In studying these we see a demonstra tion of how He will untangle the worst difficulties, provided the