Day 1199: God's guidance - 1 Samuel 23 vs 1 - 14

1 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2-3 Therefore David enquired of the Lord, “Shall 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, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4-5 Then David enquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand.

7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9-11 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” Then said David, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” 12 And the Lord said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.”

13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. 1 Samuel 32:1-14 English Standard Version

David, having heard of the distress of the people of Keilah, a town in Judah, went to their aid, and God enabled him to defeat the Philistines. Saul heard of it and assumes that David would stay in the city, and would therefore be trapped. But David doesn't stay in the city. Following God's guidance, he and the 600 men flee to the wilderness, so Saul gives up on his attempt to capture him. But what two things did David do that Saul was not doing?

Firstly, he sought God's will for whatever he did. (vs 2-3) God told him to go and fight the Philistines. When his men were uncertain about that course of action, he asked God again, and God assured him that He would give them victory. (vs 4-5) We don't read of Saul asking God for His will in his pursuit of David.

Secondly, David relied on God's answers to his enquiries. We read that when Abiathar fled to David, he had come with an ephod in his hand. The ephod was originally a colourful apron adorned with onyx and gemstones, and worn by the high priest. In the days of the Judges of Israel, the ephod became some sacred object. In Judges 8:26-27 we read how Gideon took gold from items brought to him, and 'made them into an ephod'. Sadly, we're told that Israel worshipped the ephod, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. But the ephod was an item still associated with the Lord, and with seeking His will.

Christians are sometimes faced with big decisions in which they'd love to know God's will, and we no longer have ephods to discern it. Instead, we have a loving heavenly Father who is ready to give us the help we need. Jesus said: “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” James 1:5 echoes this, and says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Our reading closed by saying that Saul sought David every day, but God did not give him into his hand. God's guidance will always ensure our greatest security.