1Sa 23:5 | KingComments | STEP | Keilah, a city in Israel, is besieged by the Philistines. This enemy plunders the threshing floors and robs the city of its food. The Philistines come to plunder what God’s people have brought in from the blessing of the land. We can apply this to ourselves as follows. If Philistine principles, if rituals for example, take hold of us, we will lose what we discovered in God’s Word about the Lord Jesus and His work. Instead of going to Saul, David is informed of the situation, although he was far from that place. The people seem to have more faith in David than in Saul. David wants to know what to do and asks the LORD. In the same way, we must assure ourselves of the will of God before we do anything. David gets an answer. David also has to deal with his men. When David communicates to his men the answer he has received, they say they are afraid. They are already afraid in Judah, where they are not sure of their lives because of Saul, and for the Philistines they are even more afraid. Where these enemies are, they do not want to go at all (cf. ). When his men express themselves like this, David bursts not out against them, nor blames them for a lack of trust. He gives them the room to speak about their fear to him. To meet them he inquires of the LORD again. After the assurance that the LORD will give him victory, his men are also convinced. They go with him to Keilah and he delivers the inhabitants of Keilah. David not only defeats the Philistines, but also leads away their livestock. He confiscates the enemy’s possessions and takes back more than they have robbed. Faith is always enriched by a battle. Every battle with victory gives us a new perspective on Christ. We learn to see a little more of Him again.

‏ 1 Samuel 23:5

David Delivers Keilah

Keilah, a city in Israel, is besieged by the Philistines. This enemy plunders the threshing floors and robs the city of its food. The Philistines come to plunder what God’s people have brought in from the blessing of the land. We can apply this to ourselves as follows. If Philistine principles, if rituals for example, take hold of us, we will lose what we discovered in God’s Word about the Lord Jesus and His work.

Instead of going to Saul, David is informed of the situation, although he was far from that place. The people seem to have more faith in David than in Saul. David wants to know what to do and asks the LORD. In the same way, we must assure ourselves of the will of God before we do anything. David gets an answer.

David also has to deal with his men. When David communicates to his men the answer he has received, they say they are afraid. They are already afraid in Judah, where they are not sure of their lives because of Saul, and for the Philistines they are even more afraid. Where these enemies are, they do not want to go at all (cf. Jn 11:7-8).

When his men express themselves like this, David bursts not out against them, nor blames them for a lack of trust. He gives them the room to speak about their fear to him. To meet them he inquires of the LORD again. After the assurance that the LORD will give him victory, his men are also convinced. They go with him to Keilah and he delivers the inhabitants of Keilah.

David not only defeats the Philistines, but also leads away their livestock. He confiscates the enemy’s possessions and takes back more than they have robbed. Faith is always enriched by a battle. Every battle with victory gives us a new perspective on Christ. We learn to see a little more of Him again.