After Saul’s atrocious slaughter of the priests of the Lord, ‘one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord’s priests. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.’

“Still hunted by the king, David found no place of rest or security. At Keilah his brave band saved the town from capture by the Philistines, but they were not safe, even among the people whom they had delivered. From Keilah they repaired to the wilderness of Ziph.

“At this time, when there were so few bright spots in the path of David, he was rejoiced to receive an unexpected visit from Jonathan, who had learned the place of his refuge. Precious were the moments which these two friends passed in each other’s society. They related their varied experiences, and Jonathan strengthened the heart of David, saying, ‘Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.’ As they talked of the wonderful dealings of God with David, the hunted fugitive was greatly encouraged. ‘And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.’

“After the visit of Jonathan, David encouraged his soul with songs of praise, accompanying his voice with his harp as he sang:

‘In the Lord put I my trust:

How say ye to my soul,

Flee as a bird to your mountain?

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow upon the string,

That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

If the foundations be destroyed,

What can the righteous do?

The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord’s throne is in heaven:

His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.

The Lord trieth the righteous:

But the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul  hateth.’

Psalm 11:1–5

Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 660–661

Ellen G. White