Day 55 – 1 Samuel 23:1-6

Scripture Review

1 Samuel 23:1-6

"Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors."

(1 Samuel 23:1)

The Philistines are robbing the threshingfloors." A threshingfloor was the place where harvested grain was separated and prepared after the hard work of gathering it in. It was tied directly to food, provision, and survival. This was an attack on the fruit of their labor and on the daily bread of the city. David is under pressure himself, but he still notices when others are being crushed at the point of their need.

"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."

(1 Samuel 23:2)

David does something that marks his life again and again, "David enquired of the LORD." He does not begin with instinct, emotion, or military skill. He begins by seeking God's will.

"Shall I go?" And the Lord's answer is just as plain: "Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah." The word "smite" Strike down the Philistines to deliver, rescue, and preserve Keilah from danger.

"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?"

(1 Samuel 23:3)

David's men are already afraid. Even being in their own land does

not feel safe right now. Then they say, "how much more then" if they go to Keilah against the Philistine armies. In other words, "If we are already afraid in the safer place, how much more should we fear the battlefield?" That is how I would respond. Even men who follow the Lord's anointed can still struggle with fear.

"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."

(1 Samuel 23:4)

I love the words "yet again." David does not shame his men for their fear. He does not push ahead in fleshly confidence. He goes back to the Lord. The Lord gives more than a command this time. He gives a promise: "I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand." That means the victory will not come from David's strength alone. It will come because God gives the enemy over. Repeated prayer is not unbelief, when it is done to strengthen obedience.

"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."

(1 Samuel 23:5)

"So David and his men went." God spoke, and they moved. Then God allows me to see what victory looked like. They "brought away their cattle" and "smote them with a great slaughter." The cattle were part of what the enemy had or had taken. Recovering them showed the Philistines were not just pushed back, but truly beaten. And "a great slaughter" means a strong and decisive defeat.

"So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah." David is acting like a shepherd of the people. Saul should have been doing this, but David is the one delivering the city.

"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."

(1 Samuel 23:6)

God provided not only victory, but continued guidance. Abiathar comes to David "with an ephod in his hand."The ephod was a priestly garment closely tied to the ministry of the priest before the Lord. In this setting, it matters because it was connected with seeking divine counsel. It means David now has with him the priestly means to continue inquiring of God in an appointed way. David did not only need strength to fight one battle. He needed guidance for the road ahead. And God provided that too.

David is becoming more than a fugitive. He is becoming a deliverer. He hears the cry from Keilah, seeks the Lord, steadies fearful men, obeys the command, and saves the city. Then God sends Abiathar with the ephod so that David will keep walking in divine guidance.