1 Samuel 23
1 Samuel 23 shows how David, while being pursued by Saul, relies on God and acts in the midst of hardship. This chapter can be divided into three main parts. First, David seeks God’s will to rescue Keilah, which has been attacked by the Philistines, and he moves accordingly (verses 1-6). Second, the people of Keilah whom David rescues want to hand David over to Saul, and David flees according to God’s guidance (verses 7-13). Finally, as David escapes in the wilderness of Ziph, the story unfolds of receiving comfort from Jonathan and barely managing to get away from Saul’s relentless pursuit (verses 14-29).
1verseDavid was told, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.”
2verseTherefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?” The LORD said to David, “Go strike the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
3verseDavid’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4verseThen David inquired of the LORD yet again. The LORD answered him, and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
5verseDavid and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their livestock, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6verseWhen Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7verseSaul was told that David had come to Keilah. Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars.”
8verseSaul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9verseDavid knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
10verseThen David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.
11verseWill the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant.” The LORD said, “He will come down.”
12verseThen David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The LORD said, “They will deliver you up.”
13verseThen David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah and went wherever they could go. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there.
14verseDavid stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand.
15verseDavid saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods.
16verseJonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.
17verseHe said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.”
18verseThey both made a covenant before the LORD. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went to his house.
19verseThen the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?
20verseNow therefore, O king, come down. According to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.”
21verseSaul said, “You are blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.
22versePlease go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he is very cunning.
23verseSee therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself; and come again to me with certainty, and I will go with you. It shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”
24verseThey arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.
25verseSaul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.
26verseSaul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.
27verseBut a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!”
28verseSo Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.
29verseDavid went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.
The Meaning and Message of the Content
This chapter repeatedly shows how David, in human danger, betrayal, and terrifying circumstances, seeks God’s will. In particular, with the appearance of Abiathar the priest who has the ephod, David asks and follows God’s will at every moment of war and escape. God, who reveals the possibility that the people of Keilah will betray David, and encouragement through Jonathan, all demonstrate that even in suffering there is God’s careful guidance. It also emphasizes again and again that Saul relentlessly pursues David, but ultimately God protects David.
Points for Personal Reflection
- Seeking God’s Will: David asked for God’s will rather than his own way when facing important decisions. We can also check our attitude toward asking God at the turning points of life.
- Betrayal Amid Faithfulness: David learns that the people of Keilah he helped will betray him. When faithfulness is misunderstood or met with betrayal, we can reflect on how we should respond.
- God’s Deliverance in Moments of Crisis: Even in a life-or-death crisis, through scenes showing God’s protection, we can consider God’s hand at work in the crises we experience in our own lives.
Applying It to Myself
- Do I pray at every moment of decision? When facing important decisions or times of crisis, I reflect on whether I live a life that seeks God’s will rather than habitually putting my own thoughts first.
- Believing that God Protects Me Even in Suffering: When I encounter unexpected difficulties, betrayal, and fear, I ask myself whether I can trust God’s protection and move forward.
- A Person Who Receives Comfort and Encouragement Around Them: Just as Jonathan comforts David, I think about how I receive those who bring comfort and encouragement into my life, and whether I, too, play such a role.
