Pam Padgett ... teacher
David heard that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah. He
asked God whether he and his men should go fight against the Philistines. David was led by God to fight the Philistines and God
delivered the Philistines into his hands, saving Keilah ...
1 Samuel 23:1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the
Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. 2
Therefore David enquired 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. 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? 4 Then David enquired 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. 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.
After Keilah was saved from the Philistines, Saul heard that David was at Keilah and planned to come against David and his men there ...
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. 8 And Saul called all
the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and
his men.
Having saved the people of Keilah from the Philistines, it might seem reasonable to assume that David and his men would be safe at
Keilah, that the inhabitants of Keilah would try to keep them safe from
Saul.
But David turned to God and inquired
about the matter ... whether Saul was planning to go to Keilah as David
had heard, and whether the men of Keilah would turn David over to Saul
if he came ....
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.
10 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. 11 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. 12 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 heard what God said would happen, he believed what God said
and took action based on this, leaving Keilah with his men ...
1 Samuel 23:13 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.
David's trust was in God. He turned to God to find out what would
happen, and he believed what God said, taking action according to the
word God gave.
A report we've heard may, or may not, be true. There may be reason for concern, or we could be concerned for no
reason. And what may appear in our minds to be "safe" may not be safe at
all.
But God knows all things.
We are so fortunate as the New
Testament church that we can turn to God directly in prayer, making our
concerns and requests known to Him. And we can safely trust in what we
hear from God about the matter, and take action based on that. Unlike
what we may hear from other people or reason with our minds, what God
tells us by the Holy Spirit will not fail.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he
shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord,
and depart from evil.