now threatened David was greater than any previously or afterwards. On learning it he marched still further

southeast, where "the Jeshimon," or desert, shelves down into the Arabah, or low table -land.214 Maon itself

is about two hours south-east from Ziph; and amidst the mountains between Maon and the Dead Sea on the

west, we must follow the track of David's further flight and adventures. But meantime the pla n which Saul

had suggested was being only too faithfully carried out. Slowly and surely the men of Saul, guided by the

Ziphites, were reaching David, and drawing the net around him closer and closer. Informed of his danger,

David hastily "came down the rock,"  215 - perhaps the round mountain -top near Maon. It was high time, for

already Saul and his men had reached and occupied one side of it, while David and his men retreated to the

The object of the king now was to surround David, when he must have s uccumbed to superior numbers. We

are told that "David was anxiously endeavoring to go away from before Saul; and Saul and his men were

surrounding David and his men to seize them."  216 Almost had they succeeded - but that "almost," which as

so often in the history of God's people, calls out earnest faith and prayer, only proves the real impotence of

this world's might as against the Lord. How David in this danger cried unto the Lord, we learn from Psalm

How God "delivered him out of all trouble," appears from the sacred narrative. Once more all is in the natural

succession of events; but surely it was in the wonder-working Providence of God that, just when David

seemed in the power of his enemies, tidings of an incursion by the Philistines reached Saul, which obliged

him hastily to turn against them. And ever afterwards, as David or others passed through that "wilderness,"

and looked up the face of that cliff, they would remember that God is "the Helper" of His people - for to all

time it bore the name " Cliff of Escape." And so we also may in our wanderings have our "cliff of escape," to

which ever afterwards we attach this precious remembrance, "Behold, God is thine Helper."