2020.11.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Samuel 23:1–13

Read 1 Samuel 23:1–13

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom did people tell when the Philistines were attacking and robbing Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1)? Whom did David ask about it (1 Samuel 23:2)? What did He answer? Who answered differently (1 Samuel 23:3)? On what grounds? What does David then do (1 Samuel 23:4)? What additional info does he receive in the second response? What does David do in 1 Samuel 23:5? How do 1 Samuel 23:2 and 1 Samuel 23:5 summarize what he did? What does 1 Samuel 23:6 now mention about 1 Samuel 22:20? What does Saul think is the reason/result of David going to Keilah (1 Samuel 23:7)? What does Saul now do—that he hadn’t done when Keilah was being attacked and robbed by Philistines(!) (1 Samuel 23:8)? For what does David ask in 1 Samuel 23:9? What does he use it to ask in 1 Samuel 23:10-11? What is Yahweh’s answer? What does he ask in 1 Samuel 23:12? What does Yahweh answer? What does David to in 1 Samuel 23:13, with what result?

The crown doesn’t matter at all, by comparison to the presence and blessing of Yahweh. David has a ragtag group that is now up to six hundred men (1 Samuel 23:13), but the people are still coming to him to help Keilah instead of coming to Saul (1 Samuel 23:1).

Part of the reason is that it is Yahweh, ultimately, who saves. And David inquires of Him (1 Samuel 23:2a), and Yahweh answers him (verse 2b). 

By comparison, Saul has been abandoned by the Word of Yahweh, instead asking anyone and everyone for intel on David, and rarely getting any useful response. As far as the text lets us know, the first he hears of the situation in Keilah is when news of David’s saving them arrives in 1 Samuel 23:7.

The Lord is with David, and He is patient with David. When David balks at the reaction of his men in 1 Samuel 23:3, even after being told by the Lord what to do in 1 Samuel 23:2, the Lord not only repeats the command but attaches a promise to it: “I will deliver the Philistines into your hand” (1 Samuel 23:4).

David is under siege from Saul (1 Samuel 23:11), and escapes the treachery of those whom he just saved only by the Lord’s forewarning him (1 Samuel 23:12). But the Lord is with him, not only to save him, but to make David useful in the Lord’s saving others.

Dear believer, you have the Word of the Lord. And not just a priest with an official ephod (1 Samuel 23:6), but your Great High Priest on the throne of heaven. Whoever attacks you, whoever betrays you, you can trust in this Lord and be useful in His work.

Who is attacking you? Who has let you down? What comforts do you have? Whom is the Lord using you to help? 

Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH23A “The Lord’s My Shepherd”