I Samuel 23
Thursday, 10th August 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
When David humbled himself, God exalted him, people came to him, even the priest the the prophet came to him. David was running away from Saul, he fled from his own country, but when the people saw God was with him, they were seeking to go with him. We don’t need to worry if God is with us or not, when we live under the fragrance of the Tree of Life, then the presence of God will be with us.
V1-5 ‘Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.”Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.’ The people following David was afraid, David must be afraid too, but he chose to seek God. This is how David was different to Saul, David didn’t listen to the people but to seek God first. Furthermore, he took the action when God spoke. When we hear God’s Word, do we take actions right away? Or do we fear and stay in our comfort zone?
V6 ‘Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand.’ Even though Abiathar had ran away from Israel, but he didn’t forget about his identity as the priest. He knew he was the servant of God, and no matter he was he must perform the duty as the priest because it’s his God given identity.
V7-8 ‘And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.’ David went to save the people of Keilah and exposed himself to Saul. But this time, David didn’t seek help of people or his own strength, he knew what he had to do was to rely on God and let God fight for him.
V9-12 ‘When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”’ David sought God and fully relied on God. He humbled himself and admitted he was the servant of God. He no relied on people or on himself. God told David that the men of Keilah would deliver him to Saul so David must not rely on them.
V13 ‘So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition.’ Now the followers of David increased from 400 to 600 men. When we walk in the way of God, He will bring people to us without us seeking helping by ourselves. When David heard God’s Word, he departed and went to the wilderness. Many people of God experienced God’s trials in the wilderness, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and even Jesus.
V16-18 ‘Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.’ David did not seek God when Jonathan came and made a covenant with him. David loved Jonathan but he forgot that he should seek God first. We may do many things and say many things that we thought are good, but are they really from God? We must not make covenant with others by our own will. There are many people around us that may take us away from God’s Will. Otherwise we may fall into temptation, we may see people more than we see God!