The Spirit took me in rapid succession from one place of David’s hide-outs to another, filling me with empathy for David the fugitive and cave dweller.

Had not Samuel anointed him to be king? Yet here he was, running for his life from Saul who was still king of Israel. More and more men joined David, many of them outlaws as well, others out of distress or discontentment, but also out of admiration for David, and others yet who believed in him and G-d’s calling on his life. Even members of David’s own family joined up with him⁸⁹.

Yet many people thought David was pursuing a mirage, being the captive of a delusion, following on a bunny-trail. Most remained with Saul out of loyalty to their king, while others - out of a perverse pleasure of seeing David being constantly on the run - would disclose to Saul David’s hide-out. And some would betray David for the sake of a reward from Saul.

Hardly had he and his men made a cave livable (such as the cave of Adullam which became their stronghold⁹⁰) so that during the hot, humid summers a breeze would blow through and cool them; and in the cold, rainy winters the clammy wetness would be kept out and they would not all get sick from it. It was difficult to keep a fire going without any smoke giving away their where abouts.

He and his men watched over other men’s property in exchange for food and drink; they defended people from raiders and thieves in exchange for much needed supplies⁹¹. He was forced to live and act like a rogue, and he hated every moment of it. 

But – he drew closer to G-d, more even than he did when he was keeping the sheep. He learned to utterly depend on and trust in Him, having his every step guided by him, his every decision. G-d was in everything for David, and apart from Him life was simply unbearable and not worth living. 

It was during this time, and these moods of total desperation and hopelessness when he encouraged himself in the Lord, in hope believing against hope, that David wrote his most beautiful Psalms, which have been like soothing balm and medicine in the lives of countless people who have felt as desperate and hopeless as David did at times.

Was David pursuing a bunny-trail? No! 

G-d was training him in the art of leadership under the most adverse circumstances; he was preparing him to become Israel’s greatest and most beloved king ever. He was training this young man, who had killed the bear and the lion bare-handed, and slain the giant Philistine champion Goliath with a mere stone from a slingshot, to know his G-d at all times and in all circumstances; not ever looking to man or leaning on the arm of flesh; not entrusting himself to any man no matter how wise, but lean on G-d alone. 

Leading such a rough, tough flock of six hundred men⁹² from every imaginable background required much skill, else quarrels leading to fighting and even killing would be a frequent occurrence. It was not quite the same as leading a flock of senseless sheep who don’t know their way unless their shepherd guides them.

David learned to maneuver between all those different personalities and developed great diplomatic skills and the art of negotiating. He learned the warfare of a raid⁹³ as well as doing battle in war, such as he did when still serving Saul. He learned to adapt quickly to changing needs, circumstances and environments, and always stayed one step ahead of Saul until – he and his six hundred men ran out of caves and forest coves to hide in. They had no more safe place to go in all of Israel⁹⁴. 
 

For if there was one man in Israel who did not for one moment consider David following on a bunny-trail – this man was King Saul. He was absolutely certain that one day David would be king and the kingdom of Israel would be established in his hand⁹⁵.

The day came when David had no choice but to go over to the much hated, perpetual enemy of Israel – the Philistines. 

He had gone there once before when he sought refuge by King Achish of Gath, when he was still alone, without his camp of men. He so feared Achish might kill him when it became known to the king that he was David the Israelite whose fame had spread abroad on account of having killed more Philistines than Saul ever did. He resorted to acting completely insane in order to escape alive. 

Never would he forget that time and how degraded, how totally loathsome he had felt when forced to behave like a madman in the presence of - of all people - the hated Philistines⁹⁶.

“Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul,” David pondered. “I have no other option but to escape into the land of the Philistines.”⁹⁷

“O Lord my G-d, how much lower must I stoop?” he lamented. 

“How much more must I demean myself? I am already a flea of a man, like a lonesome partridge on a tree top, despised by all men⁹⁸, hated and in constant danger for my life. Why did you send Samuel to anoint me as king?” he now cried, at a real ebb of his faith and hope.

“Look, I am an outlaw! I am a fugitive! And now I have no choice but to go over to our worst enemy and humble myself before him. Why, O Lord? My soul is utterly cast down within me! Deliver me and help me, O my G-d, for you alone are my stay!” David pleaded with loud cries, a little apart from his men who nevertheless heard their leader implore G-d.

This was the worst day so far in David’s life. He felt utterly crushed.