(Read 1 Samuel 23:1-12)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” While David was in Judah he received word that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors and basically terrorizing the Israelites there. David asked the LORD, “Should I go and attack them?” It’s obvious that this time on the run had forced David to build a heavy dependency on the Lord. The Lord said, “Yes, go and save Keilah.” But David’s men said, “We’re afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don’t want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!” So what did David do next? He had instructions from God, but his men were afraid. So went back and asked the Lord again, and the Lord replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.”
David convinced his men and they took off to Keilah. With the Lord’s help David and his men slaughtered the Philistines, took all their livestock, and rescued the people of Keilah. But Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. Saul was excited and said, “We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!” Look at the contrast. David knew he was hearing from God, but Saul thought God was doing things for him. David was destined and anointed to be the king, but he was waiting on God to make a way for him to take the throne. Saul was in the position, but he was already fired and he did not even know it. Why didn’t he know it? Because he had no relationship with God for himself. Saul relied on priests and prophets. David appreciated the priests and prophets, but he sought the Lord for himself.
Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men. David learned of Saul’s plan and told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod (a priestly robe) to him so he could ask the LORD what to do. Then David prayed, “O LORD, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come and destroy Keilah because I am here. Will the leaders of Keilah betray me to him? And will Saul actually come as I have heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell me.” And the LORD said, “He will come.” Again David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?” And the LORD replied, “Yes, they will betray you.” Wow! David risked his life to save the people of Keilah and they were going to betray him to Saul. Excuse the common vernacular, but folk will do you like that. Thankfully, God is faithful and He will never let us down.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. It is critical that you develop and personal and intimate relationship with the Father. While David was all alone in the fields, facing the dangers of wolves, lions, and bears, he had to learn to depend on God for himself. When David was in the cave, at rock-bottom, on the run, tired and hungry, he once again had to learn to rely on God directly. David did not have a priest or a prophet he could rely on, so he talked to God for himself. The relationship David had with God, and his ability to talk to God for himself, proved critical at countless moments in his life and the same will prove critical for you. While you should appreciate your Pastor and the other spiritual mentors the Father has blessed you with, you MUST learn to hear from God for yourself. You MUST develop a personal and intimate relationship with the Father, because it is this relationship that will see you through the hard challenges when they come… for they will come!
2. You can be in the center of God’s will and still face opposition. David was right where God told him to be and he still faced opposition. All David did was exactly what God told him to do and Saul’s army was on his way to fight him and the people of Keilah, who he had just rescued, were postured to betray him. The point is this: don’t think that you are outside of the will of God, just because you are facing challenges. Opposition is not always an indication that you are outside of the will of God. Sometimes it is proof-positive that you are in the center of His will.
3. God is faithful. The people David had just rescued were ready to hand him over to Saul. Isn’t that sad? It’s sad, but true. Some folk are fickle, phony, fragile, or flat-out fake, but God is always faithful. God will never leave you, nor forsake. God will never let you down.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for wanting to have a relationship with me. The God of the universe cares about me and that is amazing to me. You think about me, You made plans for me before the foundations of the world, You pursued me when I wanted nothing to do with You, and You now willingly take time to commune with me. For that Father, I will never cease to give You praise. I will not neglect my relationship with You. I cherish the time we spend together. I am thankful for my Pastors and all the spiritual mentors You have blessed me with, but nothing can replace my direct relationship with You Father, through Your Son Jesus the Christ, empowered by Your precious Holy Spirit who lives in me. I hear from You directly and I must. I have to be able to hear directly from You and You incline Your ear to me when I call. Thank You Father for answering my prayers, for giving me direction, and for speaking to me when I need it. My relationship with You is my most coveted prize. It is because of this relationship that I am able to know when I am in Your will. This helps me face challenges. When I face a challenge and You tell me I am outside of Your will, I quickly repent and make a course correction. However, when I face a challenge and You assure me that I am IN Your will, then I face the challenge head-on, knowing that You are with me every step of the way. Others may turn on me, but You never will. You said in Your Word, “I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down nor relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!” Thank You Father for Your commitment to me. You are more faithful to me, than I am to myself. I enter this day with fearless confidence, because my confidence is in YOU! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
