1 Samuel 23
David at Keilah
1) David
had been told by God through Gad to return to
2) Saul had neglected public safety and the Philistines where invading Keilah
3) When David heard of Keilah’s trouble he asked God if he should get involved.
4) David could have had the same attitude as his men because he was already in over his head with trouble from Saul, his nation and now the Philistines. Instead David saw a wrong and wanted to know if God wanted him to get involved. Instead of complaining, whining, and preserving himself David considered others above himself.
5) David asked for wisdom. James 1: 5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” God will not leave the searching soul in the dark.
6) David’s men said no. They where rightfully afraid because there would be no one to help deliver them from the Philistines (like, their nation, their king, their family, their tribes, etc.). If they followed David they were truly on their own. Oh, and of course, God was on their side!
7) Failure occurs when we act independently of God. Acting independently of men may be required for us to depend on God and follow him. David had 600 men say “no” and 1 Yahweh say “yes”.
Saul and Keilah
1) Saul should have seen David’s actions as being a sign of his faithfulness to:
a. The
tribe of
b. The people of his nation
c. The king and his battles
d. To God and his purpose
But, instead Saul continued to see David as a threat even as David fought for God, nation and the king. (Plus, David has taken 600 men who were problem citizens of Saul’s and organized them into a military division that is doing border patrol.
2) David did not trust Saul nor the people of Keilah. They both turned on David. But, David did not strike out in revenge by burning Keilah to the ground and marching out to destroy Saul. Instead, David trusted God and continued to do what was right.
3) David
knew the city of
23:1
The Threshing Floors were where they would store their grain after the harvest.
The Philistines were crossing the border and taking the Israelite’s possessions
23:2
Inquire of the Lord by using the Ephod worn by the High Priest Abiathar.
The ephod was holy but was being used by David in the wilderness for guidance.
Similar to us today with the Holy Scriptures being used to guide the common man.
God has guided people in a variety of ways through out history.
In our day in the church age he will guide us by these methods:
1) When we reflect on the scriptures for application into our lives as in 2 Timothy 2:7
2) When we understand what God’s will is and live in righteousness. Our next step will not be so far away. Ephesians 5:17
3) The presence of the Holy Spirit leading us John 14:17; 16:13
23:3
Afraid in
David on the Run (23:13-15)
Jonathan and David (23:16-18)
- David had enemies and unfaithful people, but David had some close friends like Jonathan.
- This covenant was made identifying their new relationship that consisted of David being the King and Jonathan being directly under him as second in the kingdom
The Ziphites
- Psalm 54:1-7
Saul’s Failure to Capture David nor Defend against the Invading Philistines (26-29)
En Gedi
Even though there are many springs
around the
Josephus
praised En Gedi for its palm trees and balsam, and the writer of Ecclesiasticus
spoke of wisdom that was exalted like a palm tree in En Gedi"
(24:14). One day, the prophet Ezekiel predicted, fishermen would line the
shores of the