Be A Man Who Looks to the Lord!
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1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
14 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, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16 And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17 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.
18 And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19 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?
20 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.
21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord; for ye have compassion on me.
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.
23 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.
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; Put not thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; leave me not, Neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, And lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed To see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord.
As we pick up the story of David, we find David at one of the lowest points of his life. In 1 Samuel 22:5
5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
The prophet advised David to leave the shelter of the cave in Adullum. David heeds his advice and leaves the cave behind. Now, David seeks refuge in the “forest of Hareth.” He is now living the life of fugitive constantly moving from place to place throughout the rough terrain of the forest and mountains. Remember that David has no idea of the great future that awaits him. The only thing he knows at this very moment is adversity, discouragement, and constant weariness. Yet, we know as we have the ability to see the entire life of David God was using this time to prepare and train David for those moments when he would sit upon the throne of Israel.
It is in this time of his life that David penned threes Psalms or songs. They are Psalm 27, 31, and 54. Each of them reflect the conflict that was going on in his heart. For example, note these verses from each song.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed To see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: My strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, But especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: They that did see me without fled from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
3 For strangers are risen up against me, And oppressors seek after my soul: They have not set God before them. Selah.
Truly David was feeling the weight of his circumstances. I imagine that there are many of you sitting here this morning who felt the same weight at times. It might be that you are feeling it this morning. Please know that all of us have been there.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
As we turn back to David’s life, 1 Samuel 23 starts with David and his men seeing some success. They finally are back in battle and once again enjoy a great victory of God’s enemies, the Philistines.
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.
However, that feeling of success soon turned as he faced treachery from his friend in the late half of this chapter.
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.
As we know from the story, news came to David that the Philistines were about to attack the border town of Keilah. It was the end of the harvest and the farmers were filling up their barns with its bounty. The Philistines knew this and were prepared to raid this village taking all that was harvested. King Saul, who was too consumed with chasing David, was no where to be found. Consequently, David and his men, being in reach of the village, responded to their cry for help. They defeat the Philistines and recover all that was plundered. Upon their return to the village, they were welcomed by the men of Keilah and offered a place to live within the village as reward.
It would seem that finally a small ray of sunshine was making it way back into David’s life. He was back to fighting and experiencing victory of God’s enemies. He was still in exile, but the taste of victory was a welcome relief to the constant losing he experienced.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.
Yet, amidst this small ray of sunshine, there was still a lingering shadow of uncertainty and gloom. In one moment, David was experiencing great gladness and joy.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: For thou hast considered my trouble; Thou hast known my soul in adversities;
However, in the next moment, he sinks back into despair.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Yet, in the end, his faith in God triumphs.
15 My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Note the phrase “My times are in thy hand.” David understood the declaration of Romans 8:28 long before it was written in the New Testament.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
David did not have all the answers to his questions, but he did know that God was sovereign and his simple duty was follow God. In fact, following God has the additional assurance that we are in His hands and no enemy can overcome God. Thus, David’s gloom begins to fade and his fear departs. Now we see a man who is no longer looking at his circumstances, but, instead, he is now looking at the God in control of all things.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; Which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee Before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Now we see a man capable of great joy. He experienced the tunnel of adversity in the wilderness. However, David makes a confession.
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
The word “haste” can also mean “agitation.” David admitted when he was agitated he would lose sight of the Lord. Gentlemen, it is important for us to remember that when we are agitated we must carefully watch we say to the Lord as well as others. It is far better to heed the advice found in James.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
We must careful that we do not take our eyes off the Lord. When we do, we become snared in a spiral that leads us into sin and relational death. One of our biggest challenges is our flesh. Anytime we give into the flesh it will lead you away from God. The flesh cares for nothing but its own desires. Often the flesh, if left unchecked, will leave a path of destruction in its wake as it seeks its own. However, when we do things God’s way through obedience to Him and His Word, we find ourselves in a position of encouragement to others which in turn brings a sense of confidence and satisfaction knowing we are pleasing the Lord.
David knew that feeling early in his life. As a young boy, he lived for pleasing the Lord. We see this in his confrontation with Goliath. David was not timid or afraid that big ogre. What was that? It was due to his confidence in the Lord. Remember how surprised David was to find out how afraid God’s people were of one man. Yet, later, Saul turns against him and David, for a period of time, loses his spiritual focus. He begins trusting in himself and not the Lord. As such, his life is fulled with agitation.