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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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. (1 Sam. 23:4-5, 10-12, 14)
Even as he ran from Saul and the armies of Israel, David trusted the LORD God to protect him. Though it put him at risk, and the leaders of the city would not protect him despite his help, David and his men stood against the Philistines which came against Keilah and were victorious. The men gave him up to save their city from the onslaught of Saul and his army but did not consult the Lord as David did. David and his men left and scattered before Saul arrived and Saul pursued them through the wilderness nearby but God protected them and saved them from Saul in the strongholds of Engedi.
No matter what we may face, we can and should trust that God will take care of His people as they serve Him and continue to do His will. We may experience difficulty and even attacks from those who disagree with us and those without who are lost and without Christ but we must not lose sight of where our strength and safety lies. God is our refuge and strength and a very present help in time of trouble. He will take care of us if we run to Him when tribulation and trouble arises. He will take care of His enemies and desires all who oppose Him to repent and turn to God in faith of Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary unto Salvation. Just as He protected David and delivered him from Saul even as He was preparing David to be the king of Israel, so He will protect and prepare His people for the day when we are revealed as children of the King and His servants will rule and reign with Him.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet