1 Samuel 23 | Deborah H Bateman

David Escapes the Wrath of Saul

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Samuel 23:14-29. David remained in the wilderness of Ziph hiding out in the mountains. Saul searched for David ever day. But God didn’t deliver David into the hands of Saul.

David knew that Saul was looking for him. David was held up in the wilderness. Jonathan, Saul’s son, went to be with David and strengthened him in LORD.

Jonathan comforted David reassuring him that Saul wasn’t going to kill him. Jonathan assured David that he would be king over Israel and Jonathan would be by his side to support him.

Jonathan and David made a covenant declaring these things before the LORD. Jonathan returned to his house and David remained in hiding in the wilderness.

The Ziphites came to Saul in Gibeah and inquired of Saul saying, “Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?”

The Ziphites beckoned Saul to come and they would deliver David into his hands. Saul blessed the LORD saying the LORD had compassion on him.

Saul told them to go seek David and inquire who had seen him and where they saw him. Saul sent them to find all of David’s hiding places so he could go to Judah and conquer him.

When David heard that Saul was on his trail he went down from the mountain to hide in the wilderness of Maon, a plain south of Jeshimon.

Saul and his men were on one side of the mountain and David on the other side. Saul’s men surrounded David and were ready to take him, when Saul got word that the Philistines were attacking.

Saul and his men had to leave their quest of hunting David and went to fight the Philistines. Once again David escaped the wrath of Saul. Because of this they called that place Selahammahlekoth, the cliff of escapes.

Isn’t it amazing how quickly circumstances can change. The enemy was closing in on David and then their attention was diverted to the attacks of the Philistines. How many times in life have you narrowly escaped the attacks of the enemy? David took this opportunity to leave and go to dwell in strongholds in Engedi.

Daily Bible Reading:

1 Samuel 23:14-29

14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16 And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.
21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

Things to think about:

Where was David held up at the beginning of this Scripture?

Who came to visit David and what pact did they make?

What happened when Saul found out where David was?

Who joined Saul in his endeavor to find David?

What happened to save David from the wrath of Saul?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we see that Saul was hot on David’s trail again. David was able to escape the wrath of Saul because the Philistines invaded the land. Help us to escape the wrath of the enemy as You did David in this Scripture. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “We Cry Out” ~ Kari Jobi

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study. We will continue with the study of The Book of 1 Samuel.

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The Book of 2 Thessalonians: Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. The book of 2 Thessalonians is one of the Apostle Paul’s Epistles (letters). It’s part of the New Testament of the Bible.

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The Book of 2 Thessalonians: Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians contains four Daily Bible Reading lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the daily Bible Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer of the day. This is a great study for an individual or group Bible study.
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David Conquers the Philistines at Keilah

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Samuel 23:1-13. David received news that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah. Keilah was a city of Judah northwest of Hebron.

The Philistines were robbing the threshingfloors. A threshingfloor was a place, usually at the gates of the city, where they would gather their crops such as corn or barley and trod them out. The crops were important to the people of Israel. They used them for food and also to trade for anything else they needed.

David prayed to God and asked Him if he should go and conquer the Philistines. God gave David the go ahead to go to Keilah and defeat the Philistines.

When David told his men that they were going to Keilah to conquer the Philistines the men were afraid. So David prayed again and the LORD assured him that He would deliver the Philistines into their hands.

David and his men did as the LORD instructed them and He helped them to win the battle against the Philistines. They also confiscated their cattle. With God’s help David and his army were able to save the people of Keilah.

Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, went with David to Keilah and brought an ephod (priestly garment) with him.

When Saul heard that David was a Keilah he felt sure that he could capture him since Keilah was a town with gates and bars.

David heard that Saul was coming to Keilah. He had Abiathar bring the ephod and he prayed to God and asked Him if it was true that Saul was coming to try to capture him.

God told David that it was a sure thing that Saul was on his way to Keilah in order to capture him. David asked God if the men of Keilah would deliver him into the hands of Saul and God assured David that they would deliver him into the hands of his enemy.

So David and his men left Keilah to seek shelter and refuge from Saul. Can you imagine being constantly on the run as David was in fear of his life? Thank goodness David had God on his side to lead, guide and direct him so that he could stay a step ahead of Saul.

We too can conquer the enemy when God is on our side. Be sure to stay in close contact with God so He can help you divert the attacks of the enemy by leading, guiding and directing you in the right way.

Daily Bible Reading:

1 Samuel 23:1-13

1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
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?
4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
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. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
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.
11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
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.
13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

Things to think about:

Where was it that David heard the Philistines were attacking?

What did God tell David to do concerning the Philistine attacks?

How successful were David and his men at conquering the Philistines?

What happened when Saul found out where David was?

What difference does it make in our lives when we have God on our side?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

In this Scripture in 1 Samuel we see where David had another battle with the enemy. We see that You helped David and his men to conquer the enemy. All the while Saul was on David’s coat tail trying to capture him, but You led David away. Help us to stay in close contact with You so You can help us to avoid the enemies attacks. Watch over us and protect us from the snares of the enemy. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “God Is On Our Side” – Don Moen

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study. We will continue with the study of The Book of 1 Samuel.