1 Samuel 22:4-6
Verse 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.
We talked yesterday about the fear David’s men were dealing with. These fears caused David to wonder if Abiathar had heard God correctly and so David asks the priest to ask for confirmation from the Lord. God confirmed and so the men agree to go. Those first few yards must have been pretty unnerving for the men who moments before had been afraid to leave the safety of their hiding place. But with fear or new found courage they followed David into battle.
The people of Keilah may have wondered with hope at the approach of David and his men. Were these more Philistines coming to further pillage them? Could it be help coming from the mountains? There must have been joy and great relief to find that it was friend not foe coming to them.
This fight seems to take a strange turn as the facts of the Philistine’s invasion are revealed. They hadn’t come in war to kill and rob these Israelites. No, these Philistines were coming in to take over. They had brought their livestock along when they come to town. This was about expanding their territory. We don’t know if these Philistines were from Gath or not but it may have been that they had heard about the rift between Saul and David and decided to take advantage of the situation and claim some of Judah for themselves.
David and his men inflicted heavy losses on the people of Philistia. Now we need to understand that if the Philistines were moving in on the people of Keilah, it wouldn’t have just been warriors. This wasn’t an invasion of war and that likely meant that there were women and children among the Philistines. David and his men take the spoils of livestock for themselves and seem to leave the people of the town to go back to life as normal.
We also need to remember that this wasn’t just about people coming in to live in their town, this would be people who stood in opposition to God coming in with their false gods to live among God’s holy people. This town of Keilah was among the towns given to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:44) and God had already decided that it was going to be from Judah that He was going to bring His kingly line. David was helping to protect the people of his own ancient tribe, not just physically but also spiritually.
Making It Personal
What are some ways the things of this world come into your life to steal your joy and sway you away from God? What do you do to ward off the invasions of things of the world in your life? Do you offer Spiritual protection or help for your friends?
Making It Personal Kids
Has anyone ever tried to get you to do something Jesus wouldn’t like? How do you know what Jesus wants you to do? Do you help your friends remember what Jesus would want them to do?
Closing Prayer
Father, our world seems to be going further and further from You. Help us to stand with each other in truth so that we will help each other grow more like You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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