1 SAMUEL 23 - WHEN LIFE IS DIFFICULT
1 Samuel 23
While hiding in caves, David had become the captain over a small army of four-hundred distressed and bitter men. David could have easily sunk down into bitterness and self-loathing as he hid from King Saul in the wilderness. They say misery loves company, but David loved and trusted in the Lord. It doesn’t mean, however, that this season was easy for David. In fact, it was difficult, and thankfully his friend Jonathan came to visit him to strengthen his hand in the Lord (v. 16-18).
When seasons of life are difficult, the Lord provides us the means of strength and support.
While David was hiding from Saul a report came that the Philistines were attacking Keilah and robbing the threshing floor. Saul and his army had the responsibility of protecting Keilah, but they were shirking their responsibility. Saul had become so self-consumed that he was not fulfilling his duty as king. The people asked David if his small army would fight the Philistines and save Keilah (v. 1).
When seasons of life are difficult, we still have a responsibility to the Lord and to other people.
When he was asked to fight the Philistines, David did what he always would do - he sought the Lord. The Lord told David to go and fight, but when David brought the idea before his men, they feared the Philistines and didn’t want to go. David sought the Lord again, and again the Lord said that they should go. Therefore, David and his men obeyed (v. 2-4).
When seasons of life are difficult, we should seek the Lord, and obey what he says to do.
The Lord promised David’s army the victory, and they struck down the Philistines with a great blow. But just as soon as they tasted victory, David heard that Saul was coming to trap him inside the walls of Keilah. David sought the Lord again, and God told him that the people Keilah would surrender him to Saul. David and his mighty men had to flee right back into the mountains and caves that they had come from. (v. 5-15)
It is not uncommon that right after a season of victory, spiritual warfare may soon follow. We have an enemy that seeks to attack us when he finds out that we are experiencing victory in the Lord.
With David back in the caves and his life still being pursued, David could have become angry and bitter at the Lord. Instead, he trusted in the Lord, and God continued to protected David. Saul’s frustration grew as people would report the whereabouts of David, but Saul could never find him. Saul said that David was very cunning for this reason (v. 19-23).
In our spiritual life, we should be as cunning, if not more cunning, than the enemy. Jesus said to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. We should be truthfully cunning, because we have a deceitfully cunning enemy. As we do this, the Lord provides protection for his righteous ones. Still, with all our cunning, and all our protection from the Lord, there may still be moments when we feel like we might fall to the enemy.
In this fallen world, we will face difficult trials and temptation of many kinds.
Saul received good intel about where David was hiding, and a very close encounter occurred in the wilderness of Maon. David and his men were on one side of the mountain, and Saul and his men were on the other side. It seemed like there was no escape as Saul was closing in. Just then, a messenger came to Saul reporting that the Philistines had made a raid against the land. Saul turned back and David and his men made an escape. They called that mountain, the Rock of Escape. (v. 24-29)
It can’t be guaranteed that living a righteous life with God will be easy.
In this world Jesus said we will have trouble. But we are guaranteed that Jesus will be to us the Rock of Escape. With the protection of God, prayer, obedience, and the support of friends, we can fight the good fight. We can be certain that the Lord will strengthen, protect, and provide the escape, and that we will be overcomers.