Separation or Departure?

 Current devotions are in I Samuel 20.  David is in fear of his life from King Saul.  King Saul is so jealous he wants to kill the man who has "stole his thunder."  "Jealousy is as cruel as the grave." (SOS 8.8) 

So, David comes to a stone named "Ezel."  If one believes that in God's economy nothing is done without "purpose or plan," (Jer 29.11, Rom 8.28) then the meaning of this stone is significant in the life of every believer.

"Ezel" means separation or departure and also, the stone that sheweth the way. 

Are you at a "crossroads or turning point in your life?"  If you are not now, you soon will be.  It is the way in the life of every believer - like the ocean - every changing and moving. 

click on photo for explanation

The Stone of Ezel

“Jonathan said to David... "And when thou has stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself...and shalt remain by the 'stone Ezel.'" (I Sam 20.19)

Ezel means either separation or departure. Hence the stone of separation or the stone of departure. Ezel also signifies “The stone that sheweth the way.”

What this tells us is that David is now at a place where the decision is no longer his. He is waiting for his fate to be decided by another, or better yet, decided by God.

The story within this story is the stone! It’s the stone of destiny, because from this stone David was shown the way he was to go.

And that stone is Jesus Christ (Isa 28:16, 1 Pet 2:4, 1 Cor 10:4, Matt 7:24). Jesus as that stone shows us the way. He is our stone of destiny.

Like David, we really don’t know whether we’re coming or going half the time, and so we need to wait upon the Lord, and as we wait, He renews our strength (Isa 40:31). And while the circumstances we find ourselves in are out of our control, we place ourselves, we hide ourselves, in Jesus, and He will guide us in the good and right way.

So, let’s take our stand at the Empty Tomb and the Stone Rolled Away.

Ps 57.7, Amen