1st Samuel 23 (Monday)

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.

(1Sa 23:1-5)

Discover his hiding places, and come back when you are sure. Then I'll go with you. And if he is in the area at all, I'll track him down, even if I have to search every hiding place in Judah!"

(1Sa 23:23)

Look at the contrast between both of these men. The one thing they have in common is commitment, but all similarities end there. David is COMMITTED to doing the Lord’s will… Saul is committed to destroying David. David’s commitment guaranteed success, Saul’s commitment guaranteed failure.

When David went to do something, he first sought the Lord. David was committed to honoring the Lord and accomplishing His will. He hears that the Philistines are ripping off the people of Keilah, and he isn’t happy about. But rather than just “serving up some sweet justice”, David takes the matter to the Lord. The Lord says, “Save these people, I hate this kind of oppression, you have MY HELP”. This is all that David needed to hear, The Lord was on his side. David and His men WRECK the philistines… the result can only be described as a slaughter. It was complete and total victory, won only because they were doing the will of the Lord.

Saul was another story. The Lord had already told him that the kingdom was no longer his; but he was fighting with ALL his might to retain it. Saul not only fails to seek the Lord, he KNOWS he is fighting against the Lord! He says, “I’ll hunt him till he’s dead; if I have to turn over every stone I’ll find him, David will die”. It is so sad to see this. Saul has given himself over to the lust of his flesh. He cares about nothing more than destroying David. Anointed, called, gifted; the Lord had given him all he needed to be a great king. Yet we see him here looking anything but Godly. He is blinded by rage, his own sin and pride has caused him to lose sight of all that matters.

David and Saul were called by the same God, and equipped by the same Spirit. The difference in their behavior has nothing to do with privilege or opportunity. It has everything to do with choices. David chose to honor the Lord, Saul chose to seek his own selfish desires. It is really that simple.

My friends, where do you stand today? Called of God, gifted, equipped to do His work… what choices will you make? Will you be a David or a Saul? The choice is yours!!!