1 Samuel 23:1 – 18 “Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.” So David inquired of the LORD, “Should 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 if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah. (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”
“He will,” said the LORD. So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?”
“They will,” said the LORD.
Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.
And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.
While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”
So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.”
The men of Keilah are certainly very foolish! The Philistines are attacking Keilah and looting the threshing floors, leaving no grain behind. If someone does not intervene, the people of Keilah will be starving in a few months, assuming they are not murdered by the Philistines. Moving in the Spirit of God, David goes to Keilah and defeats the Philistines, delivering Keilah. Are the men of Keilah grateful? Are you kidding? Even though David has delivered Keilah from the Philistines, the men of Keilah now seek favor from Saul by plotting to hand David and his men over to Saul.
Having escaped the slaughter of the priests at Nob, Abiathar has brought the ephod with the Urim and Thummim with him. Now David prays and consults the Lord and the Lord advises him to leave Keilah. David realizes that he and his men are far safer in open country than they are in a town where they can be locked up. David moves his army to Horesh in a wilderness area south of Hebron. The name “Horesh” means a wooded area. Somehow, despite the fact that Saul has elected not to pursue David, Jonathan finds David at Horesh and encourages him. Such encouragement would be incredibly precious, coming at a time when it seems that everything and everyone is against David. Sadly, only part of Jonathan’s prediction will eventually come true; Jonathan will never serve under David; instead, Jonathan will meet his death on the same day as his father Saul.
APPLICATION: CAN YOU TRUST GOD TO PROTECT YOU? For the citizens of Ukraine right now, that question is certainly uppermost in their minds. There are amazing stories of God’s protection coming out of Ukraine; however, there are also stories of destruction as well. Why are some people being spared but not others? Does God play favorites?
If you are familiar with the story of David, Saul, and Jonathan, you know that eventually Saul and Jonathan both die in battle. There is nothing in the story to indicate that Jonathan is wicked; why does he die while David lives?
One of the most difficult questions we face is the question of why good people are allowed to suffer. Edith Schaeffer has written a book entitled Affliction. In that book Mrs. Schaeffer contends that at the end of time, we will see that God’s grace has been sufficient for every occasion. There are those who are miraculously healed, proving that God can heal. There are those who are not healed miraculously or who have to endure other forms of suffering; however, God gives them the grace to endure triumphantly, proving that once again, God’s grace is sufficient for those problems as well. In Ukraine, there are those who have been delivered miraculously and who have made it to other countries. On the other hand, there are those who have died while trying to provide medical services and other forms of humanitarian assistance.
Several years ago, we served in a Catholic hospital with Sister/Dr. Veronica Rackova, a nun from the SSPS sisters. Veronica was a vibrant Christian whose faith and positive outlook was evident to all. Eventually, Veronica wound up in Southern Sudan. Seven years ago this month, Veronica was returning from having sent a patient to a nearby hospital when drunken soldiers decided to target her speeding pickup truck for their entertainment. Sadly, Veronica was badly injured and only lived four days before dying and joining the Lord whom she had served for so long. Veronica was a highly experienced and compassionate doctor; why did she have to die? We don’t know; however, we do know that God’s grace was sufficient for that situation.
Five months ago, we lost one of my brothers with COVID pneumonia. My brother was a loving husband and father, a man of great faith who had taught Bible studies of all kinds for years. At the time my brother died, he was leading online Bible studies regularly and was the mainstay of his aging mother – in – law. We cannot understand why my brother died when he did; however, we can trust that a loving God knows more than we do.
We limit God when we insist that the only form of protection He offers is physical protection. Spiritual protection is far more important; after all, if we turn away from God, we will lose for eternity.
God’s protection and a friend’s encouragement – these are the two themes of this passage. Romans 8:31 tells us, “ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” and Romans 8:37 -39 assures us, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Yes, there are believers suffering and dying in Ukraine and in other places. Yes, dear Dr. Veronica was murdered while helping the defenseless. Yes, my brother died, adding one more number to the COVID statistics. But in all these things, the believers of Ukraine, Dr. Veronica, and my brother have been MORE than conquerors! Their suffering and their deaths have not been in vain! No matter what has happened, nothing has been able to separate them from “the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not? Let us pray.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to earth, for living as a man, for dying a cruel death on the cross, and for defeating death and the grave when you rose again. Lord, many of us want to believe, but we have doubts and fears. Cast out those doubts and fears and help us to truly trust you to deliver us out of our sinful messes. Thank you that you are eager to help us. We pray to the praise and glory of your holy Name. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment