7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. ~ 1 Samuel 23:7-8, 13-14
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” In other words, appearances can be very misleading. This is where King Saul found himself. David, his faithful servant and a man after God’s own heart, was anointed king in his place because God had rejected him (Saul) as king. Now, he wanted to kill David.
David heard that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah and he inquired of God whether he should go and fight against the Philistines and save Keilah or not. The LORD said go and he and his men went and dealt the Philistines a mighty blow and saved the city of Keilah. Then someone went and told Saul that David was in Keilah, a city with walls and gates so that he was trapped inside. Saul said to himself, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” So, Saul gathered his army around him and marched down to Keilah in order to besiege David and his men.
It looked as if God had indeed handed David over to Saul to be killed. The Scriptures never said that God did hand David over; Saul only assumed He had but never inquired. He went on looks alone, but looks can be deceiving.
David, on the other hand, consulted God again, this time about whether or not the people of Keilah would backstab him and hand him over to Saul and his army. God said that they would. So, David and his six hundred men departed and left Keilah and stayed in the strongholds in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph.
Saul looked at the circumstances and saw what appeared to be a good opportunity, but he did not consult the LORD; he only assumed because it lined up with what he wanted. It fit his plans. David, on the other hand, sought the guidance of the LORD and planned accordingly. The Scriptures say that God did not give David into Saul’s hand to be killed as Saul originally had thought.
Things aren’t always what they appear to be. So, the next time you see an opportunity and believe that it is from God, seek Him for confirmation. The Scriptures says in Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.
Heavenly Father, help me not to take things for granted, nor to go on feelings alone, nor to make decisions based on what it seems like only, but to ask, seek, and knock before I make decisions, even those that seem to be a no-brainer. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
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