#433 Those That Don't Tremble Here

When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” 2 he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

3 But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

4 Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” 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. 6 (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Saul Pursues David

7 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” 8 And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

9 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” 10 David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will.”

12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.”

13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did notgive David into his hands.

15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that[a]Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

19 The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? 20 Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands.”

21 Saul replied, “The Lord bless you for your concern for me. 22 Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. 23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah.”

24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.25 Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.

26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them,27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” 28 Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.[b] 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi. 1 Samuel 23 NIV

This is being brought to me, and though I love these people, I already own so much trouble of my own. But here if God has given me 400 and then 600, maybe it is not just for my person. He enquires of the Lord though if any a man could say his plate was full, his cup of troubles runneth over, it would be David. God could hide him by himself, He could destroy the Saul and the Philistines without David lifting a hand. His men are afraid at home and how much worse will it be to attack the bear with the wolves at your back. There was a reason he left the Philistines that first time, and though he played the fool, foaming at the mouth, God would be kind to his people through the base things of this world. This little rag tag army would smash the Philistine invaders, God told him so, and this encouraged them in the way. Oddly enough, the same people he came to save would be willing to turn him over to Saul. He leaves this place, and does not ask the oracle whether or not he should go up against Saul, but waits upon the Lord for that. Jonathan comes with words of encouragement and reaffirms his covenant with David as on those precious Sundays we not only ask the forgiveness of our sins as a man should everyday, but on those certain days with the breaking of the bread and tasting of the wine, we remember that body and blood of our Savior. It is sad, as Jonathan says it, even my father knows this, he knows the truth, but would deny it even so. Why does this surprise us? I knew, I hated God and the idea of it all, but I was vane in my own ideas. Saul takes another priest when God's prophet does not suit him; and he continues when his own men prophesy and the words come from his own mouth, but it surprises us? Does it need mention what he prophesied? He knows that God is with David, yet entertains the men of Ziph, so many Judas's in this world, Saul knows the wickedness of men and comes to rely on it. In the last chapter he threatens those that refused to kill the priest. Will David give you lands, a big house, what kind of car would make you feel like you had arrived? Do you like women, we have those a plenty, what about a boat or a throne? There will always be those ready to turn us in for less than you would imagine. In the condo I lived in there was a young man 2 buildings over, and 2 other young men broke into his place and exchanged gun fire with him, over less than the price of a good rod and reel. It was the principle of the matter they say, so they are men of principle, dealing drugs and shooting men over it because they can't afford to lose position. They can't have someone stealing illegal gains from them because it wouldn't look good, and a long line of kids follow them like the Pied Piper, who would they look up to if these guys don't stand up for what they believe in? Beat your chest, raise your middle finger, there is nothing new in any of it, it is pride and it is unwarranted. Saul, like so many bloody men, invokes God. May the Lord bless you, they say, even though their desire is not to the Lord. They hate His will, do not accept His Word, and their hearts are so far from Him, yet He is on their lips. The demons tremble, but these men laugh in the face of truth, despise the voice of reason, hate humility, mistaking it for weakness. God bless you for turning in this traitor, for he is a crafty one. So many so called Christians are so happy to hear someone running for office claim the name of Jesus, invoke God, but do they know Him? Are they really affected by Him, or are they saying His name in vane, because they know it means something to you? Do you know Him, or are you just conditioned to the name, a part of a club? Would you stand with a friend who suffered for righteousness, who told the truth, who stood against the powerful and the popular? God, please don't let me or my family live an ordinary and wasted life. Let us live to your honor, not turning our back to what is right. Forgive me for my faithlessness. 

Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12: 22-37