2024-09-15 1 Samuel 23 (3)

09-15-2024 1 Samuel 23

INTRO to Chapter 23

We really see this chapter broken down into 2 parts with four main ideas: Guidance, Treachery, Love and Providence. Almost sounds like a movie?

Guidance. A gifted leader like David might have been tempted to depend on his experience; instead, he turned to the Lord for the guidance he needed. Even the counsel of his men did not sway him once he knew the mind of the Lord.

Treachery. David rescued the citizens of Keilah, yet they planned to turn him and his men over to Saul! Do not expect everybody you help to appreciate what you have done. Do you appreciate what others have done for you?

Love. Although his father was out to kill David, Jonathan was brave enough to visit David and encourage him. That is what friendship is all about (Prov. 17:17). How tragic that Jonathan’s hopes for the future were destroyed by his father’s sins, but at least Jonathan was willing to be second man.

Providence. Ziph belonged to Judah (Josh. 15:24), so the citizens should have been loyal to David. They were obviously trying to curry favor with Saul, and they did not believe that David was their future king. God used an invasion of the Philistines to rescue David when it looked as if Saul’s forces would win. No matter what men may do, God works out His purposes, and His providence does not fail.

Wiersbe, Warren W.. With the Word: The Chapter-by-Chapter Bible Handbook (p. 389). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

Just because someone attached the name of God to something doesn't mean its true.

Saul didn’t stop to pray about this matter.

Be Successful 1. David Delivers Keilah from the Philistines. (1 Sam. 23:1–6)

Saul was not only willing to slaughter the priests of Nob, but he would have destroyed his own people in the city of Keilah just to lay hands on David. People who are controlled by malice and hatred quickly lose their perspective and begin to abuse their authority.

9 When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”

David on the other hand, he unlike Saul, stopped and prayed about this.

Be Successful 1. David Delivers Keilah from the Philistines. (1 Sam. 23:1–6)

Once Abiathar arrived with the ephod, David had him inquire of the Lord when there were important decisions to make (v. 9; 25:32; 26:11, 23).

DAVID HAS A CONVERSATION WITH GOD!

10 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.

11 QUESTIONS: 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.”

ANSWER: And the Lord said, “He will come down.”

12 Then David said,

QUESTIONS: “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”

ANSWER: And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”

13 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.

14 And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

15 So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest.

The Moody Bible Commentary b. The Unfaithful People of Keilah (23:6–14)

From the time Saul looked at David with suspicion until the day of Saul’s death, God’s protection of David is one of the major themes of 1 Samuel.