Daily Devotional

“And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand” (1 Samuel 23:14). 

It’s called the River of No Return for more than one reason. The Salmon River in Idaho is famous for white-water rafting because of its powerful current. It also flows through one of the most thinly populated areas in 

the lower forty-eight states in the United States. The Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness is a protected wilderness area of 2.4 million acres, making it the largest contiguous federally managed wilderness outside of Alaska. 

David, the future king of Israel, would have enjoyed getting lost in the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. Hunted by King Saul like a wild animal, he escaped into the strongholds of the wilderness. The rocks and mountain caves became home for him and his men. More than once, David could have ended the life of the irrational and bitter king. 

When Saul tracked David in the Wilderness of Engedi, David was hiding with his men in a cave. Saul came into that very cavern, unaware that the man he pursued was there. When he left, David stepped out and called to him, bowed down, and showed great respect for the king. He could have killed the mad ruler but did not. David said to Saul, “This day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you” (1 Samuel 24:10). 

Saul’s response is what we could all say to Christ. He told David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil” (verse 17). Just as Saul sought to destroy David, our sins eventually killed Jesus, God’s anointed, who loved us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). Christ is truly more righteous than us. 

Lord, what unfathomable love You have for me, giving up Your own life so that I might be set free!