Pursued, Protected, & A Promise

David is being PURSUED by the enemy day and night. He literally can not rest because Saul is determined to find David.
Have you ever been chased by a dog? A scene in the movie “The Sandlot” just keeps coming to my mind. Benny the “Jet”, a 12 year old boy, is being chased “The Beast” who is a very large and intimidating dog. The whole scene shows Benny running from this beast throughout his 1960’s hometown. And in the background we can hear the dogs feet, his dog tags rattling, and the heavy panting dog breath that is only seconds away from attacking Benny.
Spoiler Alert: Now in the movie-the dog ends up wanting to befriend Benny, and the whole Sandlot team befriends the dog.
I just want you all to imagine this entire scene in chapter 23. David doesn’t get a break. He is on the run and escaping death multiple times. He can “hear” the panting of the breath of the enemy, the jingling of the dog tags, and the steps just seconds behind him. The enemy is so very close.
But God…PROVIDES a way of escape at every single turn. Saul can’t be far from David. If you look at map, you can see that the chase was happening in a very small portion of land. He doesn’t have many ways of escape or many places to hide.
Now one of my favorite parts of the Sandlot is Benny’s baseball team. This group of neighborhood boys followed the whole chase and were cheering Benny on to victory throughout this scene. And in the middle of David’s run from the enemy-God PROVIDED a moment of time and an exchange with his best friend. Right in the middle of the battle, Jonathan shows up and has something for David that is more powerful than an army of men to protect him-Jonathan offers him the Word of God’s covenant PROMISE that he Is and Will Be the anointed King of Israel. He gets a spoiler alert right in the middle of the mess. And this moment with his selfless and loving best friend, this PROMISE sustains David and he is driven to a new place…the stronghold of Ein Geddi.
Ein Geddi is an oasis in the middle of nowhere in Israel. The picture I am sharing is when I went to Israel and experienced the beauty of this Oasis. Many of the Psalms were written here.

I have a spoiler alert for you. Those of you who are being pursued by the enemy, can you see how God is pursuing you at an even greater measure? Block out the sounds of the enemy and tune in to the sounds of a Savior who is wooing you to an Oasis that gives and breathes life into your very soul. Your battle belongs to God and He is providing a way of escape for you at every turn. Do you need an Oasis? A Word to sustain you? God may have given you a Promise 20 years ago. Dig it up. Go to your Godly friends who are willing to speak only the Promises of God to your Spirit. The place God is taking you is an oasis in the middle of nowhere that will fill your soul with truth and confidence and delight.
Spoiler Alert:
Fill in the word Israel with your name.

Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. Joshua 21:45.

Dwellers. He Wins. He Pursues. He Provides. He fulfills His Promises.