1 Samuel 23 vs 1-29

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 1 – 2

·    Keilah is in the southeastern area of the West Bank. The name Keilah literally means, “Citadel,” but today it’s known as Khirbet Qeila and its not inhabited any longer but just a ruin. The last time we left David he was in the forest of Hereth which most scholars believe is near Kharas, a village close to Keilah. This is probably why those that were there with David knew about the Philistines fighting against Keilah.

·    “Robbing the threshing floors,” means that the Philistines were plundering the homes. Some suggest that the news came to David but it was rightfully meant for Saul. Saul was the king. It was his responsibility to protect and defend Keilah, but Saul is entirely too consumed in his own interests to care about his people…

·    “Therefore, David inquired of the Lord,” is a theme that we are going to see over and over and over again with David. David faces some mighty challenges in the days and years to come and we will see him, (extremely wise), first go to the Lord for direction. And the cool, amazing, awesome thing…, in the scriptures we see God answering him just as commonly as I would answer you or you would answer me!

·    No thundering, no signs, no “if/then” statements, just David talking to God and God talking to David. If that is something that is foreign to you, let me help you. SPEND TIME IN THE WORD! Not only will God speak to you directly and indirectly through His Word, spending time in His Word and studying the Bible actually tunes your ear to the voice of God in your life!

·    “And the Lord said to David.” Was this an audible voice? Doesn’t say. How about you? I know with me I can tell you when the Lord has spoken to me and just like He can read my thoughts and see the innermost part of my heart of hearts, that’s typically where He speaks. Just plunks His voice right into the innards (went a little southern on you there)!

·    How do you know it’s the Lord? Lines up with the Word of God…, AND, aligns completely with the mission of the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus and honor the Father. If it doesn’t do that, it’s not the voice of the Lord. How do I know what glorifies Jesus and honors the Father? The Word of God teaches me! Ephesians 5:8-9 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord!”

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 3 – 5

·    I love these verses perhaps because they speak to me very specifically. Here’s the scene. God clearly tells David what he and his men are to do. David takes is to his men. David listens to his men compassionately. David goes back to God. God listens to David compassionately. God gives more detail in His direction. David (implied here) reassures his team, and they win…

·    Very different than my default. My default emotion would be discouragement or frustration because those around me aren’t with me, not believing in me or trusting my walk with God. I would be frustrated for disobeying God. I would probably do it alone… I want to be more like David. He is a better leader than me…

·    And this shows you and us that if God does tell us to do something, gives us direction, and yet that direction immediately is met with some sort of problem, God is fine with you and I going back to Him… That’s not disobedience, although to me it feels that way…, a lack of faith at best is how it feels, but God is compassionate, patient…, He knew the barrier was going to be there when He gave the word…

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verse 6

·    An ephod was a sacred vestment/robe worn by the high priest…

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 7 – 10

·    Here is the depravity of self-consummation. Saul should have been saving the city of Keilah from the Philistines but instead he is destroying the city in pursuit of David. Saul has become the enemy of his own people!! Saul wouldn’t go there to save the people but he would now go there to save himself…

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 11 – 13

·    It could be that God is answering David through the Urim and the Thummim which were essentially priestly dice that were stored in the Ephod. These questions are essentially “yes” or “no” questions so it would make sense that they are…

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 14 – 15

·    Ziph was a city just south of the Dead Sea and the mountains of the wilderness of Ziph was a tough place. “Ziph” means to refine… There’s a lot of rocky terrain there, a lot of dry deserts there, it was uncomfortable for David but it was safe for him and his men and this is where God was leading him.

·    David became a man after God’s own heart in the sheep fields, but this is where he became a king. Seeking the Lord in the season of difficulty. Faith growing, not failing, when God was leading him where he most likely would not have led himself. But this is what it would take to bring the king in David forward…

·    He wrote many of the Psalms during this period of his life. One of them being Psalm 63, “A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are My God; Early I will seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You. In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So, I have looked for you in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus, I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.”

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 16 – 18

·    A good friend is one who strengthens your hand in the Lord… Tragically this is the last time David will see Jonathan as he will be killed in a battle…

·    Notice they make a covenant, but they had already done that. Renewing or reinforcing a covenant does not make the first one void. It makes it better. Reinforce overtly that which you are committed to. It serves the Lord, it serves others and it serves yourself. It is a good thing!

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 19 - 21

·    So the Ziphites totally sell him out… David saves them, they are still in their homes because of him, still together as a family because of him, living in safety because of him, and they turn on him. Every life will have those that are Jonathans and those that are Ziphites. God give us the wisdom to know and spot the different and God give us the strength of character to not care!

·    Saul speaks all the Christianeese. “Oh, blessed are you of the Lord!” He presents as if he is walking with the Lord himself, and the crazy part is that he may even believe that he is… But he is not. His fixation on self-interest, his actions, even the words and ways he speaks most of the time, they tell the story of his heart…

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 22 - 23

·    David writes Psalm 54 at this time, “To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?” Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah.  Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth. I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me out of all trouble; and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.”

1 Samuel Chapter 23 Verses 24 – 29

·    So, the shepherd is on the lam. I know, I’m hilarious! And he finds his way to En Gedi… Which is a sanctuary right next to the Dead Sea where there is fresh water. It’s one of our normal stops when we visit Israel because God delivered Saul into David’s hand here but David did something unexpected… Which we will look at next time!!!