Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has put him in my power. David has trapped himself by going into a walled town with fortified gates.”
How quickly we declare what God is or is not doing when it corresponds to what we want! After years of this second guessing, I have learned to simply just do the next right thing that’s in front of me.
Saul called his troops to war, to march against Keilah and besiege David and his men.
Incredible. Saul is mobilizing all the resources of his country to do what only serves his own interests. Lord, may I always use whatever resources / gifts I have to serve the interests of others.
When David heard that Saul was planning to attack him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod here.” Then David said, “Lord, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come to Keilah and destroy it on account of me, your servant. Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to Saul? Will Saul really come, as I have heard? Lord, God of Israel, I beg you to answer me!”
The Lord answered, “Saul will come.”
“And will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul?” David asked again.
“They will,” the Lord answered.
All this exchange by throwing dice… (You’ve got to ask the right questions!) The people of Keilah have a short memory here as David had just saved them shortly before (v. 5). This is kind of reminiscent of the people that cried out “Hosanna in the highest” one day (Matthew 21:9) and “Barabbas” (Matthew 27:21) the next.
David stayed in hiding in the hill country, in the wilderness near Ziph.
A barricaded city might have appeared to be a sure refuge but not if you’ve been made to walk among the clouds (Habacuc 3:18-19).
Jonathan went to him there and encouraged him with assurances of God’s protection, saying to him, “Don’t be afraid. My father Saul won’t be able to harm you. He knows very well that you are the one who will be the king of Israel and that I will be next in rank to you.”
If only that could have been (Jonathan never made it)… May I recognize my place, Lord (John 3:29-30). May I be a true source of encouragement to others (Acts 4:36) like Jonathan here.