The feeling that someone is trying to ruin your life can be unsettling because it is a personal attack. David not only knew that Saul wanted to kill him, he knew why Saul wanted to kill him. Saul was upset because people were crediting David with slaying ten thousands of Philistines while only crediting Saul with slaying thousands. (1 Samuel 18:7). In a moment of jealous rage, Saul proclaimed, “what can he have more but the kingdom” (1Samuel 18:8).

The psalms David wrote during the time period between when he was anointed to be king and when he fled from Saul indicate David believed God would protect him from Saul. The question that comes to mind then is why did David run? Saul had set his mind on getting rid of David and was determined to hold on to his kingdom. By leaving, David made it clear that he did not intend to take the kingdom away from Saul. David was willing to let God handle it and was confident that God was able to bring about the conclusion he desired.

David’s description of the LORD reveals the intimacy he experienced in his personal relationship with Jehovah, the self-existent, eternal, creator of the universe.

The LORD is in his holy temple,                                                                                                                                  The LORD’s throne is in heaven,                                                                                                                                  His eyes behold,                                                                                                                                                          His eyelids try, the children of men. (Psalm 11:4)

David believed the LORD could see everything that was going on and would justify his righteous servant.

Because of his faith in God, David was willing to wait to see what the outcome of his situation would be. David said, “Because of his strength will I wait upon him” (Psalm 59:9). The word translated wait, shâmar (shaw – mar´) means to hedge about or guard (8104). Shamar is also translated watchman, someone that is responsible for calling out when an attack is imminent. David was familiar with the role of the watchman and may have been referring to his anticipation of the LORD coming to his rescue. Waiting sometimes involves being on the look out for something that will change the situation. In David’s case, there was likely to be an attack from Saul and so David relied on God’s heavenly host to be a hedge of protection around him. David was waiting or watching for Saul so that he could call out for help and be rescued by God’s army.