1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23:1

4. Keilah’s Betrayal (Chap. 23)23:1-5 News came to David that the city of Keilah, south of Adullam, was under attack by the Philistines. Guided by the LORD, he fought against the enemy, saved the town, and captured a large amount of livestock. 23:6-12 When Saul heard that David was in Keilah, he decided to trap him there. But David found out about the plot and asked the LORD for guidance as to his next move. Would he be safe in Keilah? Would the inhabitants turn him over to Saul despite the favor he had shown them? Through the ephod which Abiathar had brought, and more particularly through the Urim and Thummim, God revealed that when Saul would come, the ungrateful people would indeed betray David. 23:13-18 So David and his men fled to the Wilderness of Ziph, southeast of Hebron. But even there they were relentlessly pursued. It was there that Jonathan found David and encouraged him in the Lord. What a needed ministry today! The church would greatly benefit if there were more encouragers around. Only those who have experienced the power of a strengthening word spoken in season know the blessing it brings to the soul. Jonathan’s love for David was self-abasing. He reassured David that God would fulfill His purpose for him, despite Saul. A man who has a friend like Jonathan is fortunate. Why he failed to stay with David, and always returned home, is an enigma. 23:19-29 The Ziphites also betrayed David, sending news to Saul as to his whereabouts and promising to deliver the fugitive into the king’s hand. When David heard that Saul was coming, he fled to the Wilderness of Maon with Saul in hot pursuit. Just when it seemed that he would be surrounded, the Philistines attacked Israel and Saul was forced to abandon the chase. Unwittingly, Israel’s enemy served as an ally to Israel’s rejected king. The son of Jesse then traveled to En Gedi, on the western shore of the Dead Sea.