Have you asked your Father what you should do?
I love how often David earnestly inquired of the Lord for direction etc... and God delighted to respond to David. I think he would have done even better than he did, had David inquired even more than he did, of course along with simply taking wise heed to God's true words. In 1 Samuel 23 we see more on how God guided and guarded David’s Life. God loves you too--so get right with Him, and let Jesus lead you in truth everyday!
The Philistines kept on attacking Israel. It was so important for humanity that David live on and reign, for it was David who would deliver Israel, who would establish the kingdom in glory, and who would become the father of Jesus in the flesh (Rom. 1:3).
Satan basically used Saul to keep seeking to kill David and God allowed these trails to form David into a godly man. God was and is far too strong for the enemy. Lots of close calls, but David walked and sometimes ran free. As long as David inquired vertically (with God), as long as he sought the mind of the Lord, then God gave him protection and victory.
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| Father fishing by Les Anderson |
See 1 Samuel 23:1 - Then they told David, saying, behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
The people of God are under attack and are being ripped off. Have you been ripped off before? How did it make you feel? Did you pray about it?
This was an Israelite city back in the day.. and where? It's in the lowlands of Judah. Keilah was northwest of the city called Hebron. Who were these attackers? They were the perpetual enemies of the people of the Jews. The Philistines were robbing the food supply of the people of Keilah.
1 Samuel 23:2 - Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
I like David. He does what we get to do. He asked the Lord if he should go to battle on behalf of his countrymen. And the Lord said, “Go.”
1 Samuel 23:3 - And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
Numbering six hundred at this time, David’s men said. “We’re being chased by Saul and his army. We’ve got big problems of our own. We can’t take on the burden or responsibility of fighting for the men of Keilah because we’re under attack ourselves.”
1 Samuel 23:4 - Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
David didn’t berate his men for their lack of faith or compassion. He simply inquired of the Lord once again, and the Lord reaffirmed that He wanted David to fight for the men of Keilah.
1 Samuel 23:5 - So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
David did what the Lord commanded him to do and God gave him victory.
1 Samuel 23:6 - And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
An ephod was the vest worn by the high priest. Attached to it were twelve stones representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel. This comprised the Urim and the Thummim, used by the high priest to determine God’s will.
1 Samuel 23:7 - And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
Because David was trapped in the city, Saul mistakenly assumed God was handing David over to him.
1 Samuel 23:8 - And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
As Saul gathered his troops to go to Keilah, ostensibly the men would think they were headed to war against the Philistines. But that wasn’t Saul’s plan.
1 Samuel 23:9 - And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
David called for the ephod in order to determine God’s will.
1 Samuel 23:10–12 - Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
When David got word that Saul knew his location, he once again prayed, “Lord, are the men of Keilah going to betray me and turn me over to Saul?” The Lord said, “Yes, that’s precisely what will happen. The very ones you helped, that you set free, that you risked your lives for are going to turn you over to your enemy.”
Here, David had risked his own life and the lives of his men to liberate the people of Keilah. Yet the men of Keilah were the very ones who were going to hand him over to Saul. I wish I could tell you that the men of Keilah were an anomaly, that no one will betray you, that the people you help will be appreciative all your days. But that would be untrue. The reality is, it’s often the people you care most about who will let you down the greatest. Why, then, help people at all?
Three Reasons To Be Used Of God In Helping Flawed People:
1.) The first reason to obey the Lord in biblically helping those people that He directs you towards is present satisfaction.
Blessed are those who not only hear the word but wisely go do it!Don't be so shocked and surprised that they're so SO flawed. Jesus wasn't. When depraved people don’t appreciate what you’ve done to help em don't become surprised. Some believers might not appreciate you either. No shock or surprise, not even when you’ve been betrayed by them. Please don’t have a cow (am thinking of those cattle in the text - 1 Samuel 23:5).
Don’t say, “This is an “udder” disgrace. Don’t “milk it” for pity and all it’s worth. Don’t do it, have a cow kick someone like a bovine! Instead, have a steak and enjoy your relationship with the Lord like David did. You see, as we read the story of David’s men, we see they were often hungry. God met all their needs. They were on the run, supplies were often scant but God came through for them all. But on this day, because they fought for the men of Keilah, they walked away with steaks (v. 5). Even though the men of Keilah threatened to do them in, David’s men basically enjoyed steaks and had victory.Jesus told us whatever measure we give out will be given back to us (see Luke 6:38). Haven’t you found this to be true? When I share with someone else, my own faith grows. When I pray for someone else, my own prayers become passionate and real again.Jesus modeled this principle in John 4…Tired and hungry, He sat at the edge of a well while His disciples went into the city to get food for themselves and for Him. While they were gone, a woman came to the well. Jesus began to talk to her. She listened to Him and was so excited that she left her water pots to go to the city to tell everyone about Him. Meanwhile, the disciples returned with food, but Jesus didn’t eat it. “Aren’t You hungry?” they asked.I can see a big smile on His face as He answered, “I have food you know not of. My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me. I was hungry. But then I had the opportunity to share with someone else—and I’m hungry no more.”2.) The second reason to obey God and help people as He directs (people who might turn around betray us instead of thank us) is eternal remuneration.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:11, 12In other words, if you’re put down or betrayed for doing right, Jesus would say, “You’re going to have a great reward some day. You’re in good company. People did the same thing to the prophets.”3.) The third reason to obey the Lord in helping some people is our own personal blunders and sorry situations speak to us. We too are sinners.
We all need to repent when we sin and freely receive God's forgiveness. Saved-sinners need to repent at times. We are to forgive others and ourselves. Perhaps the reason there is no mention in our text of David being angry at these flakey fools, or disappointed in their disloyalty, or upset with the men of Keilah is because in the verses preceding this very Bible story, David had blown it. He'd dropped the ball himself when he lied to Ahimelech. Man, it's so easy for us to forget about all the people we have betrayed, all the people we’ve let down. What does the phrase there "but for the grace of God go I" even mean? If you or others are talking about someone who is in a bad situation due to their sins, and you comment: 'But for the grace of God go I', then you typically mean that you too are depraved and in need of God's mercy and forgiveness. You might be a saved sinner but you could be in the same situation as them, so you feel sympathy for them and pray for them (yes, even if they're a destructive sort of Democrat or Rino). I am not better than them or any, but in Christ I am better off.
"Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.." Rom. 5:9-11Therefore, because we ourselves are all desperately in need of God's mercy, so the only logical choice we have is to extend God's kind of very gracious mercy and love towards other sinners. A freely forgiven people need to be a freely forgiving people!
"THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTANCE, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; OF WHOM I AM CHIEF." 1 TIMOTHY 1:15
1 Samuel 23:13, 14a - Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day..
Ziph literally means “refining place.” What a great place for David to go—to a place where God will refine him. In the refining process, a smelter would heat ore to the point that it became liquid, with all of the impurities burned away. The smelter would know the process was complete when he could look in the pot of liquid ore and see his own face. The Lord says, “I’m going to allow the heat to be turned up a bit, to burn out the impurities so that people might see something of Me in your life.”
Mr. Charles Spurgeon stated that.. "Affliction is the tuner of the harp and the sanctifier of the son."
So how did David have such intimacy with the Lord in prayer, have such passion for the Lord, have such insight and understanding of the Lord. I mean so that He could write the psalms that he penned?
His passion, wisdom, insight, and spiritual understanding came from the Spirit while he was in challenging places like Ziph and Keilah—where people were ungrateful, disloyal, and chasing him down. David prayed earnestly and rightly addressed this where he was betrayed by people he had expressed love towards and helped out.. right in that spot where he would feel forsaken, hurt and alone.. right where God could deal with Him in order to develop godly character (training for future reigning though he was already king).
How long does the process of affliction or refining go on? Longer than you might think. It takes a while for the impurities to be burnt off, for the reflection of His face to be seen from my life or yours.
A.) God gave David victory at Keilah, but those people were disloyal of heart and so flakey (vv. 1–13).
The attacking enemies (the Philistines) really sought to kill Israel and David of course. They chose to stay the enemy of all Israel, so it was only right for David to fight them. He loved protecting God’s people -- we too should seek to protect innocent people under enemy attack.
The men of Keilah had backwards thinking (sin makes people stupid). They tried to help evil Saul, but did not protect their deliverer; rather, they tried to turn him over to Saul! How wicked is the human heart untouched by the grace of God!
Sup with snitching or being a snitch? Is snitching good or bad?
Who.. what? Well, a snitch is a person who informs an authority (such as a parent, a pastor, a school teacher, or a police officer) of bad behavior. A boy may call his little sister a snitch if she tells his parents he stole a cookie. In a more serious context, a gang member may be called a snitch if he informs the police of an upcoming drug deal. In popular culture, a snitch is almost always presented as a bad person,
The Bible, while never using the word snitch, records the accounts of several informers. Sometimes the informers acted evilly; other times, nobly. Examples of evil informers include the Ziphites, who betrayed David into Saul’s hand twice (1 Samuel 23:19–20; 26:1; cf. Psalm 54); Doeg the Edomite, who “snitched” on those who helped David, resulting in a massacre (1 Samuel 21:7; 22:9–19); the Persian satraps who “snitched” on Daniel (Daniel 6:10–13); and, of course, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord (Matthew 26:14–16). Examples of noble informers include Mordecai, who informed the king of a plot to assassinate him (Esther 2:21–23). The difference between “good” snitching and “bad” snitching seems to be its effect on innocent people. It was wrong for Saul to seek to murder David, and the “snitches” who furthered Saul’s plan were complicit in attempted murder. But, if passing along information can uphold justice or thwart an evil, then “snitching” can be good.
The Bible recommends first that we do not enter into confidences with evil people (1 Corinthians 15:33; Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 13:20). Spending time with people who do illegal things will eventually result in participation in those illegal activities or, at the very least, companionship that expects loyalty. This is a dangerous situation. A former criminal accomplice who comes clean to the authorities will get labeled a “snitch” and will be in jeopardy. It is better not to go down that road at all.
God rewards those who protect the innocent (Exodus 1:15–21). And we have a responsibility to act for good when we have the power to do so (Proverbs 3:27).What is the significance of Keilah in the Bible?
What is the importance of Shechem in the Bible?
What is the significance of Gibeah in the Bible?
Lots of places in the Bible to learn about.
David would get frustrated. I like how David poured out his heart in psalms.
1 Samuel 23:14b - ..but God delivered him not into his hand. Love that, “But God..”
How I like this two word phrase that appears throughout Scripture. Saul is after David. But God was there for him. And the same thing is true for you. Satan seeks to devour you as a roaring lion, but God is with you. And greater is He that is in you than the one who comes against you (see 1 John 4:4).
The greedy Philistines hated David and they hated Israel, they wanted to destroy them and plunder all.
1 Samuel 23:13-14 nlt - "So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all. David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him."
Got some spiritual opposition today from "inside God's camp" or from outside, yet you simply long for a peaceful refuge, for God and His victory?
"Stronghold” appears approx fifty times in the Bible (depending upon the translation) a.k.a. a fortress with a difficult access (see Judges 6:2; I Sam. 23:14).
"Strongholds” (plural) is found only once in the New Testament. It’s used metaphorically by Paul as a description of the Christian’s spiritual battle:
“Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses [strongholds]” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4, NASB).
LISTEN, WHEN THE WITNESSING CHILD OF GOD IS IN THE WILL OF GOD WISELY APPLYING THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, HE OR SHE WILL NOT LACK THE PROVISION, GUIDANCE, PROTECTION, OR POWER OF GOD -- HE OR SHE CAN EXPECT THE HELP OF GOD.
So intense was Saul’s hatred that he did not thank God for David’s victory over their enemy, but instead came out to fight the victor himself. And the men of Keilah (and of Ziph) did not protect their deliverer; rather, they tried to turn David over to evil Saul! David was in jeopardy of being totally betrayed by men. How wicked and depraved is the human heart that’s untouched by the good grace of God! No matter what others do to you in this lawless world that seems to be growing more loveless and lawless.. please stay kind, loyal and wise anyways.
1 Samuel 23:15, 16 - And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
B.) God gave David victory out in the wilderness!
He’s out there on the run, out in the middle of nowhere. David is waiting on God to help him and God’s people. What patience David had, to be able to go on and on.. to endure daily danger and persecution (see vv. 14–16)! David had learned how to act as a master military strategist through all this, and a couple times he could have smote or tricked Saul into total defeat, but he preferred to do God’s will in God’s way and in His time. Yes, David chose to wait on God to give him the victory and throne.
Why should David become self-seeking in taking matters into his own hands.. regardless of how other leaders (normal, self-seeking, or anyone for that matter) viewed him? He lived for the applause of One! I challenge you to daily do that.
How uplifting, edifying and moving it was when Prince Jonathan met him out in the wilderness (at the risk of his own life even) to simply reassure David and encourage him. What a blessing, what a decent friend he was. Sad to say, Jonathan was never allowed to reign with David, for he was slain in battle with his sinful father. Rebellion and arrogance can hurt or destroy far more than just you, so never be like Saul. Walk by faith in obedience. The righteous often suffer because of the sins of others. Many people suffer due to their own sinning, but sometimes the innocent people suffer due to stubbornly corrupt leaders. That's the story of many an unjust war that egotistical leaders start.
Do you see Jonathan wringing his hands in anxiety? Nope, but he goes to strength David’s hand in God. Lots of people will worry with you if you let them do that. Why worry at all? Worry-warts aren’t the people you need close to you. You need spiritual Bible-loyal people of grace who will build you up, who will strengthen your hand in in the Lord, who will say to you, “Trust in the Lord. Put away your sorrows. Put away your fears, because God is right here with you. He loves you and has a good plan. The Lord will see you through all this.”
We tend to complain or look for sympathy—at least I do sometimes. But the Lord knows that’s not what (you or) I need ultimately. His grace is enough for me (yep, for you too. Thanks for the bloodshed on the cross Jesus, thanks for dying and coming out of that tomb)! What I need is for a red-hot, spiritual believer to come along side me and strengthen my hand in God as I fight His battles. That’s what we all need. Jonathan was that kind of friend.
1 Samuel 23:17–20 - And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.
Not only was David nearly betrayed by the men of Keilah, but here he is in jeopardy of being betrayed again.
C.) God gave David victory among the Ziphites -- they were disloyal fools as well (see vv. 19–29).
When you selflessly help people they might not be appreciative of all that.. or of any of that. Some heartless flakey people might even turn on you after rescuing them.
Ziph was a place in Judah and its inhabitants should have been loyal to David DUH!. They instead betrayed their rightful king ..to creepy Saul. Read that psalm to see David’s prayer to God for His deliverance.
“For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “We know where David is hiding.” To be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!
Defend me with your might.
2 Listen to my prayer, O God.
Pay attention to my plea.
3 For strangers are attacking me;
violent people are trying to kill me.
They care nothing for God. Interlude.4 But God is my helper.
The Lord keeps me alive!
5 May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.
Do as you promised and put an end to them.6 I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
7 For you have rescued me from my troubles
and helped me to triumph over my enemies.” Ps. 54 nlt
Now remember that big ole rock that stood between David and Saul (1 Sam. 23:26). Yep, it was there just as the cloud stood between Israel and those enemy Egyptians. It seemed that Saul would finally capture his man, but an invasion from the Philistines forced Saul to return home. Certainly God is in control of the circumstances around us believers, and He delivers His own at just the right time. Yes, with precise timing.
1 Samuel 23:21 - And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
Saul knows how to speak the language of piety and spirituality—but it’s not based in reality. Rather than walking with the Lord, Saul simply knows how to talk about Him.
1 Samuel 23:22 - Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
“Go track David down,” Saul said while believing lies. “And don’t take your eye off him because he’s very sneaky.”
1 Samuel 23:23–26 - See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
Backed up against a mountain range and surrounded on both sides, the situation doesn’t look good for David.
1 Samuel 23:27 - But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
“Saul! Get back home! The Philistines are mounting an attack against us!” cried a messenger. God has a way of moving in and protecting us even—or especially—when there seems to be no way out.
1 Samuel 23:28 - Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
Sela-hammahlekoth means “rock of protection.” David had no place to go. He was hemmed in, surrounded by the enemy. But there was a rock of protection between him and Saul. Likewise, our Rock, the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ, has never let me down, never dropped the ball. So many times I’ve thought, “I just can’t figure this out. I don’t know how this is going to work,” but the Lord has always come through for me. And He’ll always come through for you. Even when we are faithless, He is faithful still because He cannot deny Himself (see 2 Timothy 2:13).
Without striking a blow, shooting an arrow, or hurling a spear, David was delivered. Sometimes when we try to take things into our hands, we only make matters worse. God would say, “Let the Rock be your protection. Watch and see what I’ll do as you trust in Me.”
1 Samuel 23:29 - And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.
En-gedi means “the mount of the kid” because, as it is even today, it was a place where mountain goats hung out. This isn’t surprising, for En-gedi remains a beautiful spot in the desert area surrounding the Dead Sea, an oasis in an otherwise barren region.
AFTER DEALING WITH THE PHILISTINES, SAUL MAKES HIS WAY SOUTH NEAR THE DEAD SEA TO RESUME HIS HUNT FOR DAVID. HE CAN’T SEEM TO KEEP HIS WORD, BUT IT'LL ALL CATCHES UP TO HIM. NO KARMA, BUT HE'LL REAP WHAT HE HAS SOWED.
"TRUTH STANDS THE TEST OF TIME; LIES ARE SOON EXPOSED." PROVERBS 12:19
Did you notice..
1.) David primarily goes to the Lord to inquire and get guidance. He listens-up well and then He wisely takes heed to God’s word. Bible inspiration leads not to frustration, but to wise application. A gifted leader like David might have been tempted to depend on his experience; instead, he turned to the Lord for the guidance he needed. Even the counsel of his men did not sway him once he knew the mind of the Lord.
2.) Treachery can come from people you’ve tried to help or really have helped. Trust the Lord ultimately. Be kind and help others anyways for the glory of God. David rescued the citizens of Keilah, yet they planned to turn him and his men over to Saul! Do not expect everybody you help to appreciate what you have done. Do you appreciate what others have done for you?
3.) A real friend consistently stands by you and loves you. The Bible says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). Although Jonathan’s religious fickle father was repeatedly out to kill David, Jonathan was brave enough to visit David to strengthen and encourage him. That is what friendship is all about (Prov. 17:17). How tragic that Jonathan’s hopes for the future were destroyed by his father’s sins, but at least Jonathan was willing to be second man.
4.) It’s wise to live grateful upwards and outwards. Yes, and to express that like in praise to God for His providence. He will rescue you again and again as the need arises. He did that for David and God loves you just as much as him. Ziph belonged to Judah (Josh. 15:24), so the citizens should have been loyal to David. He was loyal to them. They were obviously trying to curry favor with Saul, and they did not believe that David was their future king. God used an invasion of the Philistines to rescue David when it looked as if Saul’s forces had encircled David and would kill him. No matter what men may do, God will win. He works out His good purposes, and His providence does not fail. He never fails or changes. kurtwVs.medium.com
The battle is raging, but the war’s already won!
The King is on the move, the Father’s in control, and the fallen-angel-scum is on the run. They all know their days are numbered--their time here is limited. For a time via murderous religious Saul, the devil (scum) and his mob sure ran after king David (for 10 years), but then Saul ended his own miserable story. David won, and did it God’s way! He inquired of the Lord and waited upon Him for direction. In love God responded to him over and over. He then promoted David high in Israel. You know the Son of David (Jesus the Son of God) also suffered. He gain the victory for you on the cross. He won for us, and was also given a Kingly throne, the highest throne of all!
Do you yet know the Lord in a personal sort of way? You can right here and now?
What does it mean that Jesus is the son of David?
Who are the sons of David mentioned in the Bible?
What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of Man?
Who was David in the Bible? — what does it mean that Jesus is the Son of God?
