“One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the Lord, “Should I go and attack them?” “Yes, go and save Keilah,” the Lord told him. But David’s men said, “We’re afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don’t want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!” So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.” So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah. Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod with him. Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. “Good!” he exclaimed. “We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!” So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men. But David learned of Saul’s plan and told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod and ask the Lord what he should do. Then David prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come and destroy Keilah because I am here. Will the leaders of Keilah betray me to him? And will Saul actually come as I have heard? O Lord, God of Israel, please tell me.” And the Lord said, “He will come.” Again David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord replied, “Yes, they will betray you.” So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all.”
1 Samuel 23:1-13 NLT
Human nature is on full display as we see God predict, for David, that the people of Keilah will give him up to protect himself. David, obviously, knew that this was a possibility. Being a military leader, he understood that helping those people might result in being cut off from the outside world, and he knew it was a risky proposition to help them. Yet, his heart was for the people, despite the possibilities. Even though we see that the people would attack him, we also see that David approached such a fate with the proper care. He asked God to tell him what should be done. First, he asked whether to attack, then what would happen in more detail. Notably, David, already having helped Keilah, could’ve turned on the would-be betrayers, but instead moves on, so as not to harm anyone. David didn’t display any bitterness at the idea that the leaders of that town wouldn’t show him loyalty, or that they would sell him out to Saul. He chose to leave, possibly without saying anything, sparing the town from having to make the choice. This ingratiated them to David, without hurting their reputation with Saul. When we are faced with the possibility of helping someone, we too should consider all these possibilities and go to God for guidance.
David’s Nature: David was a military leader who understood the risks of helping the people of Keilah but chose to do so anyway.
David’s Actions: David sought God’s guidance, considered the potential consequences, and chose to spare the town of Keilah by leaving.
Lesson for Us: We should consider the potential consequences of helping others and seek God’s guidance.
JOSH McGARY.COM 