מדרש אויף תהילים 144:10

Another explanation: A meditation of David. Rabbi Tarfon says: David praised the Holy One, blessed be He, greatly for the miracles that He had performed for him. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to David: David, you sing before Me about the downfall of Saul; if you had been Saul and he had been David, I would have lost many Davids before him. And this is the meaning of "a meditation of David". He said before Him: Master of the Universe, did the Children of Israel not sing before You when You saved them from the sea? And even though Saul was pursuing me, I did not cease singing praises to You from my mouth. Why do I call upon You when he changes upon me at every moment and pursues me? Rabbi Yitzhak said: Just as David prayed that Saul would not fall into his hand, so did he pray that he himself would not fall into Saul's hand. As it says (Psalms 144:10), "Who gives salvation to kings; Who rescued David His servant from the deadly sword." This refers to David and Saul. And afterward, he spread out his servant David's fame, for he did not lay his hand on Saul. David said: I had many enemies, and all of them were great, but none stood before me except Saul. Therefore, it says (1 Samuel 22:18), "And on that day the Lord saved him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul." For he was equal to all his enemies.

"And He said, 'My mercy will be with you. Just as it is written, "And you shall love the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 6:5), which is translated as "and you shall have mercy". Another interpretation is that I will call you merciful and gracious. Another is that I will fill you with mercy for all creatures. Another is that I will love you for all your creatures.' Rabbi Nehemiah said in the name of Resh Lakish, 'David said something that applies to all: "The Lord is my rock and my fortress, my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."' My rock refers to His being manifest. My fortress is in Your name, for I ensnare evildoers in Your name. Why did David curse the rock when he experienced a miracle through it? As it is said, 'David hurried from Saul's presence and went to the cave at Adullam.' When David saw himself diminished by Saul's hand, he said, 'Did Samuel anoint me with oil for free, saying to me, "The Lord anoints you as king"? Where is that promise?' And how do we know he said this? As it is written, 'I said in my haste, "All men are liars."' Immediately, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, 'Samuel is not a liar.' I testify that he is faithful, as it is said, "All Israel shall know that your house has found favor with the Lord" (1 Samuel 2:35). Immediately, an angel came to Saul. Rabbi says that it was an angel from heaven, as it is said, 'He sent from on high, he took me' (Psalm 18:17). Rabbi Yudan says that it was a messenger angel. Rabbi Phinehas said to him, 'Was the messenger a counselor when he said, "Hurry, go up quickly"? Rather, he was an angel, as it is said, "Therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth" (1 Samuel 23:28). Why was it called Sela-hammahlekoth? Rabbi Samuel bar Nahmani said that the mighty men of Saul divided over David at that place, saying, "We will never turn him over to you." Some said, "The war with Israel comes first, but David is always with us." Rabbi Elazar says that the rock was split from here and from there, and Saul and his mighty men stood on one side while David and his mighty men stood on the other side. This is what David meant when he said: Therefore, it was called the "rock of divisions."