KING SAUL PURSUES DAVID

PROCLAMATION

“And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah … And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.”  1 Samuel 23:7-8 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  When David was told that the Philistines were attacking Keilah, he inquired of The Lord should he go and fight the Philistines to save Keilah.  The Lord told him yes, but his men were afraid to go.  So David again inquired of The Lord and He answered him saying that He would deliver the Philistines into his hands.  Then David and his men went and fought the Philistines.  They slaughtered them and captured their livestock, and saved the people of Keilah. (1 Samuel 23:1-6)  King Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he gathered his forces for battle to siege David and his men.  David learned that Saul was plotting against him.  The Lord told him that the people of Keilah would turn him over to Saul, so David and his men left Keilah and went into the wilderness in the hills of Ziph. (1 Samuel 23:7-14)  While he was there Jonathan came to him to encourage him and made another covenant with him.  However, some of the Ziphites went to Saul and told him that David was hiding in the hills of Ziph.  Saul told them to find out exactly where David was hiding and come back and report it to him.  Then he would go with them and capture David. (1 Samuel 23:15-23)  But Saul did not wait and set out in pursuit of David.  As he was closing in on him, a messenger came to Saul and told him that the Philistines were raiding his land.  Then Saul stopped chasing David and went to meet the Philistines.  David went up from there to the hills of En-Gedi. (1 Samuel 23:24-29)

 

APPLICATION

As believers we need to be aware of the fact that bad times will follow us wherever we go.  We can run from the devil, but we can’t hide from him.  We need to pray to God for guidance and direction.  “The steps of a good man are ordered by The Lord …” (Psalm 37:23)  The devil will always attack us.  However, in order for us to be able to withstand his attacks we need to put on the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11-17)  All of the devil’s attacks are not flesh and blood, some of them are spiritual.  We need God’s help to withstand his attacks.