Don't Listen to the Ziphites

1 Samuel 23:19-20, NIV

The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands.”

1 Samuel 26:1-2, NIV

The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?” So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David.

After David spared Saul’s life in the cave, which occurred in the first instance above, Saul relented from pursuing him for a time—until the Ziphites got involved…again.

We don’t know for sure what motivated the Ziphites to betray David to Saul, but we do know that Israel as a whole knew of God’s call upon David’s life to be the next king. We also know that the Ziphites were of David’s own tribe, so David probably felt he was safe to be hiding out in their vicinity. 

If you, like David, have been betrayed by people you thought you could trust, then see what David wrote during this time in Psalm 54:

Psalm 54:1-2, ESV

O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

When we've been betrayed, we have to go to God, not people—so that we will grow better, not bitter. God sees, God hears, and God vindicates. 

But if you’re like Saul, and the Ziphites have your ear, don’t listen to them. And don’t give them your ear any longer. 

We don't know if it was fear, self-preservation, greed, envy—or all of the above—but whatever it was that motivated the Ziphites, it was rebellion against the will of God.

And the same thing is true today.

When a person is repeatedly speaking and acting in ways that cause division between the people of God, rebellion to the will of God is at the source. This is why Paul says, “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,” (Titus 3:10, ESV).

May we, as the people of God, have the discernment to know when we’re in the presence of a Ziphite, and may we have the wisdom to close our ears to them. And, by the grace of God, may we not become them.