1 Samuel 23:7-12
Verse 12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will.”
David had just given the people of Keilah a great gift, their town and lives back. David hasn’t seemed to do this out of selfish ambition. The only motive we see is that he didn’t want God’s people to be taken captive by their enemies. David and his men didn’t rescue and run, they likely stayed around for a day or so. They would have wanted to make sure that the Philistines that had escaped didn’t come back, maybe with reinforcements and they may have tried to help the villagers repair things that had been damaged.
It may have felt good to David and his men to be around others who were God followers, to see normal family life. To smell the aroma of a family meal being prepared or the sounds of laughter from children chasing each other around, once again feeling safe because their parents don’t seem as stressed as they did days ago. Oh the innocence of youth!
David knew that he may not feel free like that for years and his men likely were thinking the same thing. This running from pursuers was far from easy on the physical, mental and emotional being of a person. Sadly the enjoyment of this taste of normal life was going to come to an abrupt end. When David learned Saul was aware of David’s whereabouts and was on his way, David asked Abiathar to bring the priestly ephod so David can ask the Lord for guidance. Unfortunately the answer was not what David and his men wanted to hear. The people they had just rescued were not willing to return the favor.
David can’t believe they would be willing to turn him over to Saul and so he asks the Lord once more just to be sure. The Lord confirmed the people of Keilah were more committed to the king than to the people they had just been rescued by. That must have brought up mixed feelings for David. How could these people just turn their back on the men who have just given them back their life? Yet on the other hand David may have been able to respect the fact the people were being loyal to their king. This is something David was growing to know all too well himself. Things were starting to get real.
Making It Personal
Have you ever helped someone and then they turned on you? How hard was it to let go of the hurt? Have you ever turned on someone who helped you?
Making It Personal Kids
Have you ever helped a friend and then they wouldn’t help you? How did it make you feel? Have you ever had someone help you but you didn’t help them back?
Closing Prayer
Father, You are always helping us in so many ways and yet we don’t always stand up for You when we have the opportunity. Convict us when our loyalties waver from You to ourselves or others so that we will always be willing to make You known. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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