1 Samuel 23:1-29
Q.1. Where was Keilah? Was David wise to try to help Keilah? What made his men reluctant to get involved? How did he gain their support? What advantage did Abiathar give David? – (1 Sam.23:1-6)
Keilah was in the foothills of Judea, about twenty-five kilometres south west of Jerusalem. David would have been familiar with this region. After consulting the Lord, David was urged to save these people from the scourge of the Philistines, who were plundering their harvests (1 Sam.23:1-2). However, David’s men tried to dissuade him from adding Philistine opposition to that of Saul’s (1 Sam.23:3). David did not ignore their pleas and checked with the Lord again. The Lord repeated His earlier promise of triumph (1 Sam.23:4). David’s dependence on God, his respect for the fears of his men, and his humility in admitting he could be wrong, explains why he was such an inspirational leader. It is recorded that David and his men struck the Philistines, with great slaughter (1 Sam.23:5). The prophet Gad was a wonderful support for David. However, Abiathar was able to consult the Lord with the Urim and Thummim and gain clear direction from God (1 Sam.23:6 c.f. 1 Sam.22:5 & 20). Today we have the principles of God’s Word (2 Pet.1:3-4, 19-21).
Q.2. Why did King Saul renew his attack on David? How did David know what Saul would do? Was the response of the people of Keilah surprising? How were Saul’s plans frustrated? – (1 Sam.23:6-14)
Initially, the people of Keilah welcomed David and his men in their barred city (1 Sam.23:7). Believing that David was trapped, Saul gathered his army to attack Keilah, and capture David and his men (1 Sam.23:8). David soon found out, and asked Abiathar to consult God for him (1 Sam.23:9). He was concerned that his presence was placing the people of Keilah under threat (1 Sam.23:10). He was given two warnings from God: (i) The men of Keilah would not protect him but would give David into Saul’s hand; (ii) Saul would attack them at Keilah (1 Sam.23:11-12). David and his men fled. They hid in various strongholds in the wilderness of Ziph. Consequently, Saul gave up his pursuit of David (1 Sam.23:13). However, the primary reason David was kept safe was that – God did not deliver him into his hand (1 Sam.23:14).
Q.3. How did Jonathan encourage David? Why did the Ziphites work against David? How far was Saul prepared to go to destroy David? How did David escape from the trap? – (1 Sam.23:15-29)
David could have easily lost the focus of his calling. However, he was encouraged by Jonathan, who assured him – Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also (1 Sam.23:17). Before Jonathan left, the two of them renewed their covenant to each other before the Lord (1 Sam.23:18). Both David and Jonathan were amazing leaders. We do not know exactly why the Ziphites, who were from David’s territory of Judah, would have turned against him (1 Sam.23:19-20). During that time David and his men acted as protectors of the landowners. However, there were six hundred men beside women and children, so as was Nabal’s response to them, they might have been unwilling to support such a crowd (c.f. 1 Sam.25:2-8). Saul saw the disclosure of the Ziphites as an act of faithfulness to him (1 Sam.23:21). He asked them for exact information (1 Sam.23:22-23). Saul pursued David relentlessly (1 Sam.23:24-25). He almost succeeded in surrounding and catching David with his army (1 Sam.23:26). Again, God intervened and sent him news of a Philistine raid in his territory (1 Sam.23:27). Therefore – Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines … they called that place the ‘Rock of Escape’ (1 Sam.23:28). David was delivered once more and escaped to Engedi (1 Sam.23:29).