Persecuted, yet Invincible

At this point in David’s life, he is a fugitive from Saul, the king of Israel. While David has been in hiding about four hundred men have joined him. (For more check out Choosing to Give Thanks and 1 Samuel 22) However, David is still God’s faithful servant, regardless of his status before the king of Israel.

Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.”

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
- 1 Samuel 23:1-2 NKJV

Inquiring of the LORD

David wants to do God’s will. David checks with God before making major decisions. Saul can’t do that because he killed all the priests, not that Saul showed signs of being too concerned with God’s will for his life at this point. Though David is being persecuted by Saul, he is willing to go and fight Saul’s enemies. David is not against Saul, David is for Israel, David is for God and His people. David is not playing political games and he is not about to stand by while Israelites are suffering at the hands of the Philistines. David is not about to go carelessly into war, he inquires of God, and he only goes into battle because God promised to deliver the Philistines into his hand. The reason David is so successful is not only due to his hard work and natural abilities, it is because God is giving him the victories. David is well aware of the source of his success.

When you read 1 Samuel 23 notice how much text is dedicated to describing David seeking God, communicating with God, and listening to God. You will notice that the writer is more focused on David’s relationship with God than on the details of the battles.

Mission

David had a clear mission in his life. David sought to do God’s will. David was willing to fight for God, to go where God sent him, and to what God asked of him. David could have reasoned that it was Saul’s duty to protect Israel from the attacks of the Philistines. David could have told God that at one point in his life he was a faithful servant of Saul, but since Saul now sought his life he would no longer fight Saul’s battles. However, David did not see this as doing Saul any favors but rather as being faithful to God and moving forward with his calling. David was being persecuted but he did not allow it to prevent him from doing what God was calling him to do. David also made sure that attacking the Philistines and defending Keilah was really God’s will. Once he was sure, David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and saved the inhabitants of Keilah (1 Samuel 23:3-5).

Persecuted

David was a hero. God used him in a mighty way and he experienced great military success. However, Saul still wanted to kill him, and the people he had just saved were going to hand him over to Saul. (1 Samuel 23:7-12) How frustrating it must have been for David to do everything right, to faithfully follow God and still be persecuted. David was helping Saul and yet Saul didn’t see it. David wanted to do what was best for Israel, yet the king of Israel sought his life.

But God…

And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.
-1 Samuel 23:14 NKJV (bold mine)

God’s plans for your life are what matter most. When you are faithfully living out God’s will no one can stop you. They can try, and it can be intimidating, but ultimately, if God is protecting you no one can touch you. Here we have David, apparently just a man, and yet the king of Israel is unable to lay a finger on him. When you seek God’s will and continually and consistently seek His will in every decision, you are bound to succeed, and no one can stop you, no even the king, the president, your boss, teacher, professor, etc.

Your main concern in life should be to seek and follow God’s will.

For more on this study, I strongly recommend you listen to the audio above. You can also listen to it wherever you listen to podcasts. Just search for Pr Marlon. You can check out some options here.