1 Samuel 23:1-14 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 23:1-14. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Samuel 23:1 (NIV)
1 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,”
On verse 1: The name Keilah probably means “fortress”. Yet the Philistines seemed to have no problem attacking and looting this Israelite city. This tells me 2 things. First, the only truly unbeatable fortress is God. Just as Keilah needed David’s help, all of us, no matter how strong we think we are, need the help of Jesus, the Son of David, to save us. Jesus alone is the true Keilah, the only impenetrable fortress.
Second, God has a heart for cities and towns, not just individuals or families. Just as God had a heart for the city of Keilah, so God has a heart for your city.
1 Samuel 23:2-14 (NIV)
2 he inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The LORD answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
4 Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.”
5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.
6 (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
7 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has handed him over to me, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
8 And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
10 David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me.
11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will.”
12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will.”
13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
14 David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
On verses 2-14: Here in this passage we see a major difference between David and Saul. First let’s look at David. After a season of making big decisions without praying about them and causing himself and others to suffer as a result (see 1 Samuel 21 and 22), David decides that he will now inquire of God before taking another step. So when the Philistines attack the Israelite city of Keilah (v1), the first thing David does is “inquire of the Lord” (v2). God tells David to go save Keilah, but when David’s men are afraid to go (v3), David “once again inquired of the Lord” (v4). God reassures David that he should go rescue Keilah and that he will be successful. David and his men go and succeed in their rescue operation (v5). Then when David learns that Saul is plotting to ambush him in Keilah (v9), David inquires of God again (v9-11). God seems to say that David should leave Keilah because the people of Keilah will surrender David to Saul. When David is unsure of the answer he is getting from the Lord, he inquires of the Lord a fourth time and gets reassurance from God as to what he should do (v12). Based on that reassurance, David and his 600 men leave Keilah, moving from place to place and hiding in the wilderness and in the desert of Ziph (v13-14).
Here in this short passage we see David on four separate occasions inquiring of God and seeking His guidance (v. 2, 4, 9-11, 12). Each time David wasn’t sure about the answer he was getting from God, he would go back to God and ask Him again.
What can we learn from this? Before you make any big decision that is going to affect your life and the lives of others, inquire of God. Seek His guidance.
God is not here to confuse or mislead you. Sometimes the reason we ourselves are unsure of God’s answer is because we are set in our ways, or we are discouraged by the circumstances we see or affected by the opinions we hear. Like David, when you’re not sure of the answer you’re getting, ask God again and trust that He will surely guide you in the best way.
Contrast this to Saul. Whereas David was building the habit of inquiring of God for help and waiting for His response, Saul would simply look at his circumstances and presume that he already knew what God wanted him to do. Often he was wrong. For example, in verse 7 Saul concludes that God has delivered David into his hands simply on the basis that David is in Keilah, a town with gates and bars. Saul was wrong. God was not delivering David into Saul’s hands; in fact, the opposite was taking place, God was protecting David such that “day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.” (v14)
What can we learn from this? There is a right way and a wrong way to discern God’s will. The immature Christian tries to discern God’s will by focusing exclusively on their external circumstances, just like Saul did in verses 7-8.
In contrast, the maturing Christian, like David, tries to discern God’s will not by focusing outwardly on the external circumstances, but by listening inwardly to God’s Word, seeking godly counsel, and waiting for God’s still, small voice to speak to their heart.
So when you’re trying to discern God’s will, do not just look at the external circumstances, which can be deceiving. Listen more for God’s Word speaking to your heart, as affirmed by Scripture and godly people you trust and respect.
Holy Spirit, like David I pray that I would learn the habit of inquiring of You whenever I need to make big decisions. May I not look for Your will simply by looking at my circumstances, but by listening for Your Word, Your still small voice. Thank You that when I’m not sure, I can ask You again and You will show me the way, just like You did with David. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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