1Samuel 23

The Chase

The life of faith in God, is one of spiritual warfare. Often the battles are in our daily lives. In battle, we must hear the voice of God. Others may need our help even as we need help from God's people. There are battles within battles, although we are in battle, the victory is the LORD'S. Obey the voice of God and you shall be in his will and He will go before you in your battles.

1 Sam 23:1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

David and his men were in the forest of Hareth. A messenger was sent saying the Philistines were fighting at Keilah. God was using David to protect his people.

1 Sam 23:2 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.

David inquired of the Lord before doing anything. This should be the way for all who trust the LORD. The LORD said go. We must be open to hear and obey the LORD, and when he says go, we to do it, without delay.

1 Sam 23:3 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?

The men already were full of fear, how could they go and do the LORD'S work where more courage is required? When we are burdened down with worries and fear, how can we serve the LORD? Simply by trusting and obeying him we will find new life and strength. Satan will always oppose you, we are in a spiritual battle and yes he sometimes uses people to come against us. We must fear God and serve him. He will direct our lives and tell us what to do. Even in our constant battles we will see God's victories.

1 Sam 23:4 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.

The LORD promised to deliver the Philistines into David's hand.

Exo 23:22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Exo 23:27 I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.

1 Sam 23:5 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.

David and his men heard from God and this is very important; he obeyed God. If we hear and do not obey, why would God use us? To obey God is to serve God, We are called to be servants. Saul was not protecting his people, he was more interested in keeping David from being king. The focus had turned to self, how can I keep my own things, my own power. So God sent David and he had a great victory with his army of rejects. If we serve God and are accepted by him, we are the chosen, the mighty army of God.

Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

1 Sam 23:6 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.
1 Sam 23:7 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.
1 Sam 23:8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

Abiathar, the last remaining priest, comes to David as a refuge, with his priestly things. Saul claimed that God had delivered David into his hand. God would do nothing for Saul, for Saul had no respect for God or his holy priests. He destroyed all but one priest and left the Ark of the covenant alone in a distant place. He thought surely David is trapped within the gates and wall of the city. Saul calls his army to Keilah, to destroy David and his men. Saul served his god, the destroyer, the god of this world who is satan. Incidentally this is the god of Jihad, the Islamic god of destruction.

1 Sam 23:9 And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
1 Sam 23:10 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.
1 Sam 23:11 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.

David consulted God through Abiathar the priest, who used the priestly Urim and Thummim, a white or a black stone was drawn from a container for a yes or a no answer. The answer was yes, Saul would destroy the city to get to David, as he destroyed the priests and families in the city of Nob.

1 Sam 23:12 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.

The people who you saved from the Philistines, will deliver you up to save their own lives from an even greater enemy, their own king Saul.

1 Sam 23:13 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.

David's men, who had increased to 600 men, were scattered as they all departed out of the city. Saul wanted David, the men together would be easy to find, apart they could hide. Another thing that satan does is to divide and scatter God's people. Saul was no longer God's choice as king. He ruled by force and was a danger to those he was accountable to.

John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

1 Sam 23:14 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.

David was in the rugged wilderness of Ziph, at the bottom of the dead sea, a difficult place to walk in and to survive. But God was shaping David in these experiences to be his chosen king. Saul was obsessed with killing David, nothing else mattered to him. His reputation, his character, his sanity was all lost in his quest to find David.

Let us think on our own lives. Do we spend much time and effort on things that are not pleasing to God? Why do we do this? We should be seeking and obeying the Lord's will. No matter what Saul did, God delivered David from his hand.

Psa 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

1 Sam 23:15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
1 Sam 23:16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
1 Sam 23:17 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.

How beautiful, God brought Jonathan to David to comfort him. His father Saul, was not able to find David. How often I have seen God bring people to me on the Internet, who were looking for someone or something, and God supplied their need. Sisters reunited, salvation, direction given from God to those needing hope. His Spirit is active in those who are his children. We are to strengthen one another, Jonathan strengthened his hand in God. Praise our God who holds us and leads his children to refuge and shelter.

Jesus spoke to Peter a duty, it is a word for us too.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

We are to pray for one another and give encouragement to others

Jonathan encouraged David with God's promises. We should do this too. He spoke these promises:

Saul shall not find you.

You shall be king over Israel.

*I shall serve next under you.

1 Sam 23:18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

Their covenant of friendship was renewed, although this would be the last time that David and Jonathan would be together on earth, before the resurrection.

1 Sam 23:19 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?
1 Sam 23:20 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.
1 Sam 23:21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
1 Sam 23:22 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 subtly.
1 Sam 23:23 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.

The Ziphims were eager to betray David. Saul so corrupt in heart says, "Blessed be ye of the LORD." He knows not the LORD, yet piously gives a blessing to these betrayers.

David writes Psalm 54, at this time.

Psa 54:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Psa 54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Psa 54:3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
Psa 54:4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
Psa 54:5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.
Psa 54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.
Psa 54:7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

1 Sam 23:24 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.
1 Sam 23:25 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.
1 Sam 23:26 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.

They were about to encircle David and his men, and snare him.

1 Sam 23:27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
1 Sam 23:28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
1 Sam 23:29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

God had delivered David by sending the Philistines into the land. David named this place Selahammahlekoth, the Rock of Escape, as a memorial. David departed into strongholds at Engedi. Saul could not destroy God's anointed.

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