Posted in A Father's Love, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, wisdom, worship

I Samuel 23 Part 1–There’s Always Time to be Great

David was literally living moment to moment.  He lost his family, his position and was being hunted as a traitor to the king.  In the midst of that, the people in Keilah were under attack from the Philistines. Keilah was a city in Judah and part of Israel. Saul clearly did not have time to attend to it–he was busy looking to kill David. So, David went to the city and defeated and destroyed the Philistine army and saved the people.  Sadly, as he sought the Lord, the Lord warned him that the people he had just saved would turn him over to Saul in an instant! Certainly, they had an interesting way of saying thanks!
 
So, David raced off again to remain alive and fight another day. Saul found out where David was, but did not go there because he was informed David had already left.  David hid in the forests, the desert and wherever he could find safety. The most interesting thing was, however, that no matter the danger David stayed true to his call as king of Israel, and, he continued to seek the Lord in all his decisions.
 
We are also God’s chosen.  He has adopted us as His own. If we are willing to hold true to that call, God will do amazing things in and through our lives.  He never promised it would be easy, in fact, the opposite is true.  God does promise, however, He will never leave us nor forsake us.  He promises to make our paths straight–if we trust and follow Him. God brings meaning and purpose–especially when things seem difficult. We must cling to that truth in the days we feel abandoned and alone.  If we will, in the midst of those difficult days, God will give us opportunities to be great and use us in the lives of those who would otherwise be abandoned–like the folks from Keilah!
 
God Bless You 

 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Saul Pursues David

Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” 10 David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will.”

12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.”

13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

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This is an amazing Journey. I hope you will hear from the Lord, as you seek Him with your heart. Matthew 6:33

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