He turned the desert into pools of water
Psalm 107:35-36
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
Two of the prominent sites along the western shore of the Dead Sea are associated with David when he was on the run from King Saul.
The first is Masada (meaning ‘stronghold’ in Hebrew). David stayed in “the stronghold” while avoiding Saul (1 Samuel 22:4-5, 24:22). A millennium later King Herod built a fortress on the traditional site with two luxurious palaces. Tourists today can hike the historic snake path or take the modern cable car. I’ve written more about this site in the past.
A few miles north of Masada is the oasis of En Gedi. While much of the Dead Sea region is rather desolate, freshwater springs around En Gedi make it a refreshing haven to weary travels. The cool waters there form a sharp contrast against the lifeless waters of the Dead Sea.
While I’ve been to both of these locations multiple times in the past, I appreciated having the time to have an extensive hike around En Gedi. The lower falls aren’t far, but there are rewards for hiking further up. For example, there’s a little cave that reminds me of David’s time there. While hiding in a cave at En Gedi, David’s time seemed to run out when Saul and his army arrived (1 Samuel 24). Instead, it provided David the chance to prove himself. Rather than killing Saul, he let him go.
David knew God would give him the kingship; David didn’t need to take it by force. Just as God provided for David at places like En Gedi, God would provide for David during the rest of his life. Do you believe he’ll provide for you, too?
