This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo)) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 23, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 23 David goes to Keilah, where he delivers them from Philistine raids, but they later seek to betray him in return. It doesn’t seem fair.
David was someone who enquired of the Lord, and before helping the people of Keilah, he asks the Lord for help twice. After this occurs, Abiathar the priest arrives with the ephod, which was a method of enquiring of the Lord. David is someone who sought the Lord even without an ephod, such as we should do today. God is capable through many methods of making his mind known, we don’t need ephods or any object to aid us.
Having said that, the ephod was a tangible sign that God was with David. Saul who seemed to always skip enquiry of the Lord in previous chapters no longer had access to the ephod. But David who enquired of the Lord in all circumstances, now obtained access. This is the way of God... to those who have a heart to know God’s way and mind, he provides. This reminds us of why Christ spoke in parables, so that those who were not seekers would not know.
In the desert while in hiding Jonathan visited David. This was the last time Jonathan and David would see each other, but neither of them knew it. Jonathan expected to serve David when he was king in the future.
After this, Saul almost has David caught, but a messenger comes and Saul has to race away... The Lord always knows how to deliver as he does in this story. Some have questioned God saying “why didn’t he deliver David completely so he wasn’t being chased at all?” The truth is that God does this type of thing too, but for those who have been completely delivered in advance of their problems, they have no knowledge of it. Such is probably true of you who read this. God has delivered you from many things you know not of.
After his escape David hid at En Gedi, a great place to hide, but also a potential trap.
Sep 28, 2021 | Message by David Alley