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DAVID’S FLIGHT CONTINUES AND SAUL PURSUES:

David in Keilah

I Samuel 23:1-13

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    DAVID SAVES KEILAH (I Sam. 23:1-5)

ii.                  ABIATHAR SUPPLIES EPHOD (I Sam. 23:6)

iii.                SAUL SCHEMES AGAINST DAVID (I Sam. 23:7-8)

iv.                DAVID SOLICITS GOD (I Sam. 23:9-12)

v.                  DAVID SIDESTEPS SAUL (I Sam. 23:13_

 

2.      What news did David receive concerning Keilah? (I Sam. 23:1)

 

Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah…

 

A.    David was told the Philistines were fighting against Keilah.

 

B.      Keilah

1.      A town of Judah (Josh. 15:44)

2.      It has not been discovered, but is thought to have been near the border of Philistia.

 

C.     We are not told who informed David of this.

 

D.    We are not told why David was informed of this.

1.      Perhaps many in Israel are now well aware of the rift between Saul and David.

2.      Saul’s preoccupation with David would not allow him to deal with important matters facing the kingdom.

3.      Too, David had been a warrior in Saul’s army.  Therefore, it was thought that he would be interested in fighting this battle.

 

3.      What were the Philistines robbing? (I Sam. 23:1)

 

…and they rob the threshingfloors.

 

A.    The threshingfloors were where the grain was winnowed at the harvest.

1.      It was a place on a small rise.

2.      It was about 50 feet in diameter.

3.      The grain was thrown in the air.  The grain would fall to the earth and the wind would blow the husk in a pile at the bottom of the hill.

4.      The grain would be bagged and ready to take home or to the market.

 

B.      This was a place of great bounty for the enemy.

 

4.      Upon hearing this news, what did David do? (I Sam. 23:2)

 

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philstines?...

 

A.    David inquired of the Lord about fighting the Philistines.

 

B.      This could put David in a very vulnerable situation.

1.      It would expose his position to Saul.

2.      The battle could cause many problems.

a.      His army could be diminished.

b.      He would be captured or killed.

c.       He could be weakened and Saul could capture him.

 

C.     Rather than rely on his own wisdom or feelings, he inquired of God about the matter.

 

5.      What was the Lord’s response? (I Sam. 23:2)

 

…And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

 

A.    The Lord told him to go.

 

B.      The Lord also told him the outcome of the battle.

 

6.      What was the emotional response of David’s men about saving Keilah? (I Sam. 23:3)

 

And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah:  how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

 

A.    David’s men knew they were in rebellion to the king.  They also knew that Saul was seeking David’s life and theirs.  Just being in Judah brought fear to their hearts.

 

B.      Now, to have to face a battle with the Philistines was another stressor that brought more fear within them.

 

7.      When his men balked, what did David do? (I Sam. 23:4)

 

Then David inquired of the Lord yet again…

 

A.    David inquired of the Lord “yet again.”

 

B.      David gives us a wonderful example of what to do when obstacles appear in our way when seeking to do His will.  We must continually go back to God and get answers from Him.

1.      We can find answers in His Word.

2.      We can find wisdom in prayer (James 1:5-8).

 

8.      What did the Lord say unto him? (I Sam. 23:4)

 

And the Lord answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah:  for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

 

A.    The Lord told him to go and fight.

 

B.      He also promised to give victory and David and his men.

 

C.     LESSON:  When God promises us the victory, we must trust Him for the victory.

 

 

 

 

9.      T – F    David lost the battle against the Philistines. (I Sam. 23:5)

 

So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter…

 

A.    False

 

B.      The men of David must have trusted in God also.  Once the inquiry was made of the Lord again, they were willing participants in the battle.

 

C.     LESSON:  When God promises the victory, we cannot lose.

 

10.  What animals did David’s men take from the battle? (I Sam. 23:5)

 

…and brought away their cattle…

 

A.    Their cattle

 

B.      These animals would provide food for David and his men as they fled from Saul.

 

11.  How is the slaughter described? (I Sam. 23:5)

 

…and smote them with a great slaughter…

 

A.    A great slaughter

 

12.  “So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah” (I Sam. 23:5).

 

A.    David is attributed with the victory because he is the captain of the four hundred (See I Sam. 22:2).

 

B.      This is an interesting battle.

1.      Most of the time, men like David would rejoice that another enemy is coming against their adversary.  They might even side with the enemy.

2.      David does not have a problem with Saul from the standpoint of being an enemy.  Too, David loves his homeland.  He is willing to fight to preserve both.

 

13.  Who came to David at Keilah? (I Sam. 23:6)

 

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah…

 

A.    Most commentators believe that Abiathar never left David after he came to him in the forest of Hareth.

 

B.      He may not have gone to the field of battle since he was not a soldier.  After the battle was won, he then came to David at Keilah.

 

14.  What did he have in his hand? (I Sam. 23:6)

 

…that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

 

           

A.    Ephod

1.      Strong (646):  girdle, high priest’s shoulder piece

2.      BDB:  priestly garment, shoulder piece or mantle, worn by the high priest - more costly, woven of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and linen threads provided with shoulder-pieces and a breast piece of like material, ornamented with gems and gold (See Exo. 28:4-6).

 

B.      This ephod also included a breastplate.  It was referred to as “the breastplate of judgment” (See Exo. 28:28).

 

C.     When this was worn by the priest, it showed that he was operating in his priestly capacity as a mediator between man and God.

 

15.  When Saul heard David was in Keilah, he said:  “God hath delivered him into mine hand” (I Sam. 23:7).

 

A.    It is interesting to hear Saul make this statement.  God had rejected him, but he was still assured that God was with him.

 

B.      LESSON:  Man is able to reject the facts and deceive himself into thinking that he is in God’s grace.

1.      The Bible plainly teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:26; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; I Pet. 3:21).  Yet, some deny that baptism saves and still believe that they are in the grace of God.

2.      There are Christians who are not holding their confidence firm unto the end.  They are not abounding in good works.   They are not adding the Christian graces to their lives.  They are not striving against sin.  Yet, they believe that God is still with them just as Saul did.

 

16.  Why did Saul believe David had been delivered into his hand? (I Sam. 23:7)

 

…for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

 

A.    Because he believed that David would be locked into the city until he arrived to capture him.

 

B.      LESSON:  Those who reject facts try to point to other things that they feel sure secures their salvation.

1.      The Bible says to believe in Jesus Christ and I do.

2.      The Bible says God loves me.

3.      The Bible teaches that God will never leave me.

 

17.  T – F    Saul called all of the people to war…to besiege David and his men (I Sam. 23:8).

 

And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

 

A.    True

 

18.  What did David know Saul practiced against him? (I Sam. 23:9)

 

And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him…

 

A.    Mischief

19.  Define:  mischief (I Sam. 23:9)

 

A.    Strong (7451):  bad, evil

 

B.      BDB:  bad, evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

 

C.     Two passages from the Proverbs:

1.      Proverbs 3:29

 

Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

 

2.      God hates an evil heart that devises wicked imaginations (Prov. 6:16-19).

 

20.  What did David ask Ahiathar to bring to him? (I Sam. 23:9)

 

…and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

 

A.    David asked for the ephod to be brought.

 

B.      In trying times, David sought the counsel of God.

 

21.  What had David heard about Saul? (I Sam. 23:10)

 

Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

 

A.    He heard that Saul was coming to the city of Keilah to destroy it because David was there.

 

B.      This was not an empty threat.  Saul had previously had the city of Nob destroyed.  That kind of news travels fast.

 

C.     We continue to see the kind of evil, ruin, destruction, and loss of life that envy and anger can bring to individuals, cities, and nations.  A THOUGHT:  Saul was destroying cities that he, as king, should be been protecting.  He was destroying them out of personal vengeance against another.

 

22.  What was the first question God answered of David’s two questions? (I Sam. 23:11)

 

Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand?  Will Saul come down, as they servant hath heard?  O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant.  And the Lord said, He will come down.

 

A.    “And the Lord said, He will come down.”

 

B.      Look at verse 13.  It ends with these words:  “…and he (Saul) forbare to go forth.”  In other words, Saul did not go to Keilah.  If this is the case, why did God say that he would come down?

 

23.  T – F    God did not answer David’s second question. (I Sam. 23:12)

 

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?  And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.

 

A.    False.  God told David that the men of Keilah would deliver him up.

 

B.      It is sad that the inhabitants of the city would deliver David to Saul after he had saved them from the Philistines.

1.      Sometimes the emotion of fear is stronger than the attribute of gratitude.

2.      Man quickly moves from one position to another when the threat of life and the desire for survival are imminent.

 

C.     LESSON:  Men are not always loyal, even to them who have provided them wonderful blessings.  Preserving self always seems to be more important than preserving another.

 

24.  How many men did David now have with him? (I Sam. 23:13)

 

Then David and his men, which were about six hundred…

 

A.    600

 

25.  T – F    David and his men made themselves ready to do battle with Saul. (I Sam. 23:13)

 

…arose and departed out of Keilah, whithersoever they could go.

 

A.    False.

 

26.  T – F    When Saul heard David escaped from Keilah, he destroyed the town. (I Sam. 23:13)

 

…And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

 

A.    False

 

B.      God had told David that Saul would come to Keilah. 

1.      This information, however, was predicated on David’s being in the city.  Once David left, there was no need for Saul to make that trip.  God did not give misinformation.  He gave qualified information.

2.      Clarke:  “We may observe from this that, however positive a declaration of God may appear that refers to any thing in which man is to be employed, the prediction is not intended to suspend or destroy free agency, but always comprehends in it some particular condition” (e-sword).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID’S FLIGHT CONTINUES AND SAUL PURSUES:

David Flees to The Wilderness of Ziph, The Wilderness of Moan, and En-gedi

I Samuel 23:14-29

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    I SAMUEL 23:14-15

ii.                  I SAMUEL 23:16-18

iii.                I SAMUEL 23:19-24

iv.                I SAMUEL 23:25-29

 

2.      Where did David abide while in the wilderness? (I Sam. 23:14)

 

3.      How often did Saul seek David? (I Sam. 23:14)

 

4.      T – F    God delivered David into the hand of Saul (I Sam. 23:14)

 

5.      What was Saul’s only purpose in seeking David? (I Sam. 23:15)

 

6.      What did Jonathan do when he came to David in the wood? (I Sam. 23:16)

 

7.      T – F    Jonathan was fearful that Saul would find David. (I Sam. 23:17)

 

8.      Who did Jonathan believe would be the next king? (I Sam. 23:17)

 

9.      Who did Jonathan say would sit next to him? (I Sam. 23:17)

 

10.  What did Jonathan and David make together? (I Sam. 23:18)

 

11.  Where did Jonathan go after seeking David? (I Sam. 23:18)

 

12.  Who told Saul where David was hiding? (I Sam. 23:19)

 

13.  What was the specific location they revealed to Saul (I Sam. 23:19)

 

14.  T – F    The Ziphites were willing to deliver David to Saul. (I Sam. 23:20)

 

15.  “And Saul said, _________________ be ye of the Lord; for ye have _______________ on me” (I Sam. 23:21)

 

16.  Why did Saul want the Ziphites to go back and see “where his haunt is”? (I Sam. 23:22)

 

17.  Define:  subtlely

 

18.  T – F    Saul wanted the Ziphites to return with certainty.  (I Sam. 23:23)

 

19.  If they truly knew were David was hiding, what would Saul do? (I Sam. 23:23)

 

20.  T – F    The Ziphites found David. (I Sam. 23:24)

21.  Where did David go from Ziph? (I Sam. 23:24)

 

22.  T – F    Saul pursued David to Maon. (I Sam. 23:25)

 

23.  T – F    Saul and David eventually came to the same mountain (I Sam. 23:26)

 

24.  “…for Saul and his men __________________ David and his men round about to take them” (I Sam. 23:26).

 

25.  What came to Saul as he was about to overcome David? (I Sam. 23:27)

 

26.  What message was told to Saul? (I Sam. 23:27)

 

27.  T – F    Saul continued to pursue David. (I Sam. 23:28)

 

28.  What was the name of that place called? (I Sam. 23:28)

 

29.  Where did David flee after Maon? (I Sam. 23:29)