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1SAMUEL
CHAPTER 23

1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. 2 Therefore David inquired 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. 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? 4 Then David inquired 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. 5 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.

While David & those who had joined him were hiding in the caves, they god word that the Philistines were warring against the people in Keilah. Keilah was about 18 miles SW of Jerusalem, not far from where David was hiding.
David "inquired of the Lord" - obviously through Abiathar the priest. (See 23:6-10)
David wanted to know if God wanted him to go and fight against the Philistines. Sometimes we will ask God, and when He says "yes," then we run into a conflict again (maybe from family or friends who tell us "you can't do that."). Because of this, we may doubt that we have discerned the answer of God correctly. David has this problem. His men felt like they would not be able to effectively war against the Philistines because of their fear.
So David went to God again. That's what we should do. Be SURE of God's direction!
God's answer to David was the same: "Go." David and his men went, and God gave them the victory.
We cannot effectively face spiritual conflict without God's help. But if God is truly directing us to go, we cannot remain silent - we must GO.

6 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. 7 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. 8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. 10 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. 11 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. 12 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.

There is a time to stand, and there is a time to run. Saul heard that David was in Keilah. Keilah was a fenced city which could be easily surrounded. So Saul devised an attack. But David heard about it.
What is very interesting is that David wanted to know God's will concerning the matter. Should he stay & fight? Or should he run?
So he called Abiathar the priest again. God answered that Saul WOULD come, and that the elders of Keilah would give David over to Saul in order to save their city. So David FLED.
I think what is important for us to see here is that God wants us to CONTINUE in the work He has given us. Therefore, if there is danger that we would be INCAPACITATED, then we should recede until a more appropriate time.

13 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. 14 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. 15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

When David left Keilah, Saul canceled his plans to go there. David began hiding in the woods of Ziph (a wilderness).
Here is an interesting point which continues through the life of Saul. He pursued David, always trying to catch him; and that for only one purpose - to KILL him.
Notice that verse 14 says it was GOD Who delivered David from this constant persecution.
While we are fighting for the Lord, He will protect us from those who would destroy us.

16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 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. 18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. 19 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?

Saul couldn't find David, but Jonathan did. Why? Saul was seeking David's destruction. But Jonathan was seeking David to help and encourage him.
They met in the woods, and this would be the last time they would see each other alive. There they renewed the covenant of a personal relationship.

19 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? 20 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. 21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. 22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly. 23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. 24 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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. 28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammah-lekoth. 29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

Another chapter in the "chase of David" is revealed here. Saul got word that David was hiding in the woods on the hill of Hachilah. And Saul sent men to find where David was hiding. But David had moved to Maon. Now Saul and his army came after David there.
Saul had so many men, the Bible says, he "compassed" David - or encircled him. But David evaded Saul by passing on one side of the mountain while Saul passed on the other.
Just as it seemed inevitable that Saul would capture David, a messenger came and told Saul the Philistines had invaded the land.
God, in His Providential Care, can use one evil against another and allow the good works to continue.

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