David escapes with Jonathan's help

1 Samuel Chapter 23

One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the Lord what to do and the Lord answered that he should go save Keilah. But his men said they were afraid in Judah and didn't want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army. So David asked the Lord again and got the same answer.

So David and his men went to Keilah and slaughtered Philistines and took their livestock and rescued the people. Abaithar the priest went to Keilah with David, taking the ephod with him to get answers for David from the Lord. However, Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah and figured he was trapped in a walled city.

Saul mobilized his entire army to attack David. But David learned of Saul's plan and told Abiathar to bring the ephod and ask the lord what he should do and would Saul actually come. The Lord answered yes, Saul would come. David then asked if the men of Keilah would betray him and again the answer was yes. So he and his band of six hundred men left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. He stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and Saul hunted him day after day, but God did not let him be found.

One day near Horesh, David received news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him. Jonathan went and found David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith of God. He told David that Saul would never find him and David would be the new king of Israel. The two men renewed their friendship before the Lord.

The men of Ziph went to Saul and betrayed David by giving his hiding place. They told Saul to come to Horesh and they would catch David and hand him over. Saul blessed them for being concerned about their king and he told them to come back with a more definite report of David's whereabouts.

So the men of Ziph returned home ahead of Saul and David moved into the wilderness of Maon. When he heard that Saul was searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness. But Saul kept after him and the two men were on opposite sides of a mountain. Just as Saul began to close in, an urgent message reached Saul that the Philistines were raiding Israel again. So Saul quit the chase and returned to fight the Philistines.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: When Saul heard David was in a walled city, he thought God was putting David at his mercy. He was so selfish and wanted David so badly, that he interpreted every sign as God's approval to move ahead. If he had taken the trouble to know God, he would have known what God wanted. Saul wanted something so bad that He assumed every opportunity was one of divine origin.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We should all be prepared to be cautious when an opportunity comes our way. Check your motives. Make sure this is not an opportunity to do something against God's will. God does not tempt us. Satan does.Make sure you are following God's desires and not our own.
Don't you wish you had a friend like Jonathan? True friendship comes along only a few times in our life. This was a friendship forged with God's love.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Arlene’s nephew David, Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family and my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, is now able to speak and is working on rehab for paralysis. Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: A photo of her shows a chubby, alert baby who is breathing on her own. Her eyesight problems seem to be no longer a problem. But she must learn to eat and drink normally. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. Update on Mark: He has some paralysis on one side from the stroke, his eyesight has been impaired too. But he has gone home and his wife cares for him. Soon he will begin therapy. Continue to pray for his healing. Pray also for my aged friend Elaine who underwent surgery and is home healing slowly. Update on Craig: he ended up having a stent put in and is back to work. Keep him and his family on your list for prayers. Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.