THE ZIPHITES
Key Verse: “For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies” (v.7).
Key Theme: Ziphites tell Saul where David is located and he is surrounded.
Key Descriptive of God: My Helper
We have another Psalm where we know the accompanying storyline. This is during the time Saul is chasing David trying to kill him for the “sin” of being more popular than him. The heading in this chapter tells us that “the Ziphites” had come and told Saul that David was among them. For 7 verses David addresses the situation beginning with, “Come with power, O God and rescue me! Defend me with your might” (v.1). Now some backstory.
THE ZIPHITES
The Ziphites were inhabitants of Ziph, appropriately enough. What is not revealed in that, is that Ziph was in Judah, David’s own tribe. In the rapid progression of David’s story, in 1 Samuel 16 David is suddenly and surprisingly called out of the sheep-shed of obscurity and anointed King by the prophet Samuel. Immediately it says “the spirit of the Lord came upon him” (1 Sam.16:13). The very next verse it also says, “and the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul” and then it further states “and a distressing spirit of the Lord came upon Saul”. Amazing how that works. In Saul’s “distress” ironically David gets brought in because of his harp talent to calm Saul from this distressing spirit. It goes on to say that David loved Saul and became his armor-bearer as well (1 Sam. 16:21). In the very next chapter (1 Sam. 17) Goliath shows up and Saul and Israel shake with fear for 40 days until David showed up, not as a warrior but bringing bread and cheese to his brothers and the captains. A case of “Superman” bringing snacks to the cowards. Of course, before the day is over history has been made as unknown David easily takes out Goliath, and the whole nation exults. What is often missed, is how Saul seems to have no idea who David is even though he has served him as armor-bearer and musician extraordinaire. Even after David dispatches with Goliath, Saul asks of David “whose son is this? Who is he?” (1 Sam. 17:56). Talk about being overlooked! But Saul learns to celebrate David and even as part of his agreement gives him his daughter Micah as wife. Remember that — Saul is David’s father-in-law. By 1 Sam. 18, Saul no longer cares for David as the women are singing “Saul has killed his 1000’s and David his 10,000’s” and that won’t work for his ego. Before the end of the chapter, he has thrown his spear at David trying to pin him to the wall. He misses. For the next several chapters Saul will chase David with 3000 chosen men trying to kill him— for being more anointed. David has 400 mainly in-trouble men who come out to hang with him. Then it grows to 600. It is great to have the support but much harder to stay under the radar from Saul. A frequent place of staying safe is in the wilderness of Ziph as he is in his own beloved tribe Judah where David is the toast of the town. What makes this story and this Psalm particularly painful is that it is one of those huge betrayal things as well. People from his very own tribe turn him in. As you read the 1 Sam. 23 account you see that David actually gets sieged by Saul and his men— apparently near a precipice. This is where Psalm 54 is written. Context.
GOD IS MY HELPER
In verse 3, David tells the Lord, “Violent people are trying to kill me”. Interestingly enough his next line is “They care nothing for God” (NLT). In David’s own mind he imagines that the people— and especially HIS people have to see that God has anointed him in a special way. Likely, all in his tribe have to know that Samuel the prophet has already anointed him King. The “violent people” are Saul and his “chosen men”— ironically those who shook before Goliath for 40 days. Did they think David had gotten lucky with his sling as it relates to Goliath? Did they not realize THEY were in immensely more danger now than they were back in chapter 17? Nevertheless, we see this eternal trait of David— dependence on God, despite being “Superman” and now supported by those who would become known as “David’s mighty men”. In verse 4, “BUT GOD is my helper. THE LORD keeps me alive!” David only fights battles the Lord anoints him for and he has not been anointed to battle Saul. Therefore God will take care of him, even if surrounded and at a precipice.
PLANS OF ENEMY TURNED AGAINST HIM
“May the evil plans of the enemies be turned against them. Do as You promised and put an end to them” (v.5). What the Psalm doesn’t tell you, but 1 Samuel 23 does, is that right when it seems Saul has David trapped “for Saul and his men were encircling David” (1 Sam. 23:26) that suddenly a messenger comes running to Saul and tells him that the Philistines are attacking. Saul is forced to abandon his pursuit of David to go attend to the Philistines. God had in fact quickly helped David in his time of need by sending other enemies against his enemies. David “escaped” Saul by God having Saul attacked by Philistines. This too seems to be a signature operation of God— turning enemies of God against each other. Now in our own day, I think we are going to see more of this dynamic with “the swamp” turning against themselves at key moments.
YOU HELPED ME TO TRIUMPH
In the last two verses, David is clearly out of danger, and as is his custom he is going to credit God and offer Him the praises due His name. His Psalm began with, “Come with great power, O God” and it ends with “For You have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to TRIUMPH over my enemies” (v.7). I am reminded when in March of 2016 the Lord showed me that Donald Trump would be president. In a vision, I saw him on a TRIUMPH motorcycle at the top of a mountain, after having won a race — and making a lot of noise with his motorcycle and wearing a red, white and blue bandanna. God gives TRIUMPHS. So many insights for us today and so many ways to apply it. Maybe you remember when a prophet released an anointing on your life. Maybe everything didn’t suddenly go just perfectly. Maybe you have a Saul you served well— but he didn’t even see you. Maybe he finally did see you and celebrated you but then suddenly your light was brighter than his and he wanted you gone. Maybe you have had Ziphites in your life. Maybe those who should have celebrated you the most instead turned on you. Of course, if by chance YOU were the Saul or the Ziphites, it is a good year and a good time to repent of that. We are in fact quite prone to switching between David and Saul— as insecurities arise. In your 2020 reset go ahead and delete the Saul app and make David your new search engine. Our God is for Davids.
Written by: Johnny Enlow
Featured Image by chris ganser on Unsplash
67 DAY COUNTDOWN SERIES
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The 67 Day Countdown Series is brought to you by Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow, founders of Restore7 ministry, as well as international speakers and best-selling authors. Among Johnny’s books are The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, Rainbow God, The Seven Mountain Renaissance, Becoming A Superhero, and RISE. Elizabeth serves as CEO and penned Rainbow God: The Seven Colors of Love and God in Every Season.
