David has taken his parents to Moab. He has returned to Judah and acquired a band of soldiers, and a priest who was left homeless when Saul destroyed a city that David had visited.
But, David still wanted to help his people. And God was going to give him a chance.
I Samuel 23:1-2- Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David enquired 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 had learned from his mistake at Nob, the city of the priests. From now on, David was going to get God's direction for everything. God told David to go save the people of Keilah from the Philistines.
I Samuel 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?
David's soldiers were afraid. They were not hardened men of battle. They were just men that were in debt and unaccepting of the current government. These scared men were going to have to be shaped slowly by God into something very special.
I Samuel 23:4-5- Then David enquired 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. 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 won the battle against the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.
I Samuel 23:6-8- 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. 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. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
Abiathar came to Keilah after the battle and brought his priest's ephod with him. But, Saul had heard that David was at Keilah and he went there, too.
I Samuel 23:9-12- And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. 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. 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. 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.
David saw that a war was coming. He wanted to know if the people of Keilah would allow him to stay or if they would give him to Saul to save themselves. So, he asked God. God told David that the people would give him to Saul.
Why do you think they would do that? David had just saved their homes and their families. Why would they give up their savior?
Because Saul sat on the throne. It doesn't matter who the savior in your life is, you are going to give all to whatever sits on the throne of your heart. The people of Keilah certainly were thankful to David for being their savior, but they had already given their allegiance to Saul.
I Samuel 23:13-14- 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. 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 quietly escaped out of Keilah with his men. He now had a band of soldiers that numbered about 600. He was slowly growing his army. God was going to turn these scared men into what would be known later as David's Mighty Men.
But, right now, David needed some encouragement. God knew this, and he sent some to David by a very missed friendly face.
I Samuel 23:15-18- And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 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. And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
Jonathan came out to encourage David. But, Jonathan, like the men of Keilah, had sworn his allegiance to Saul. Jonathan knew that he was suppose to be with David- he told David that he would be next to him once he took the throne. But, God wanted Jonathan with David now. Because Jonathan wouldn't obey God's will and leave his father, he would never get the opportunity to be next to David upon the throne. Jonathan would remain faithful to his father and it would cost him his life.
Everywhere David turned, it seemed someone was selling him out. He was only in his twenties and he was on the run for his life with a band of scared soldiers.
I Samuel 23:19-20- 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? 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.
I Samuel 23:24-29- 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. 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. 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. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
Even though Saul was going to chase David to the ends of Israel, God wouldn't allow Saul to catch him. God was watching out for David. He was turning David into the king that He wanted on the throne. David and his Mighty Men were being formed by the Lord.
