David Inquired of the Lord

1 Samuel 23:1-29

Key verse: 4a

"Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him.”

Read verses 23:1-6. When David hears that the Philistine attacked Keilah, what does he do? (1-2a) What is God’s answer to David’s inquiry? (2b)  Why do David’s men hesitate to follow God’s command? (3)  What is God’s answer to David’s second inquiry?(4)   What happens through David’s obedience? (5) What does Abiathar bring with him when he fled to David at Keilah? (6)

Read verses 23:7-13. When Saul learns that David went to Keilah, how does he do? (7-8)  When he learns that Saul is plotting against him, what does David ask Abiathar to bring? (9)  What does David ask God, and what is God’s answer? (11) What is David’s second inquiry, and  what is God’s answer? (12)  How does David follow God’s direction and what happens? (13)  What do you notice about David’s prayers?

Read verses 23:14-24. Where is David staying, what does Saul do, and what does God do? (14) When Saul searches for David at Horesh, who visits David ? (15-16a) How does Jonathan help David? (16b-17) What do they do before parting ways? (18)  Who reports to Saul about David? (19-20)  What are Saul’s instructions to the Ziphites and how do they respond? (21-24a) Where are David and his men? (24b)

Read verses 23:25-29. Where does Saul pursue David? (25) When Saul and his men are just about to catch David and his men, why does he have to give up the pursuit? (26-28a)   “Sela Hammahlekoth” translates into “Rock of Parting,” what do you think about its meaning? (28b) Where does David go to? (29)

David Inquires of the Lord

1 Samuel 23:1-29

Key Verse 23:4a

“Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him.”

In this passage, we see David inquires of the Lord’s direction and follows it through the priest Abiathar.  He continues to be molded as a shepherd for the Israelites in the wilderness training.

Read verses 23:1-6. When David hears that the Philistine attacked Keilah, what does he do? (1-2a) What is God’s answer to David’s inquiry? (2b)  Why do David’s men hesitate to follow God’s command? (3)  What is God’s answer to David’s second inquiry?(4)   What happens through David’s obedience? (5) What does Abiathar bring with him when he fled to David at Keilah? (6)

Read verses 23:1-6. 

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.)

When David hears that the Philistine attacked Keilah, what does he do? (1-2a) 

“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?” 

Keilah was a city at low land of Judah near Hebron.

He inquired of the Lord.  Possibly by means of the Urim and Thummim (divination method) through the priest Abiathar (6)

What is God’s answer to David’s inquiry? (2b)

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

Why do David’s men hesitate to follow God’s command? (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!”

They were afraid of attacking the Philistine forces in the heart of Judah near to Saul’s stronghold with a small army.

What is God’s answer to David’s second inquiry?(4)

 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.”

God reassured his victory against the Philistine.

  What happens through David’s obedience? (5)

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.

What does Abiathar bring with him when he fled to David at Keilah? (6)

⁶ Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.

“Ephod”. Ephod is a garment the high priest was wearing.  A passage in the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Exodus" \o "Book of Exodus"Book of Exodus describes the Ephod as an elaborate garment worn by the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_priest" \o "High priest"high priest (Exo 28:6-14).  Apparently, breastplate containing HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urim_and_Thummim" \o "Urim and Thummim"Urim and Thummim, which was used to inquire of God’s will (divination).   Here, we can see David probably used Ephod and its Urim and Thummim for his inquiry of God’s direction.

Read verses 23:7-13. When Saul learns that David went to Keilah, how does he do? (7-8)  When he learns that Saul is plotting against him, what does David ask Abiathar to bring? (9)  What does David ask God, and what is God’s answer? (11) What is David’s second inquiry, and  what is God’s answer? (12)  How does David follow God’s direction and what happens? (13)  What do you notice about David’s prayers?

Read verses 23:7-13. 

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.

When Saul learns that David went to Keilah, how does he do? (7-8)  

“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.”

As David’s men feared, Saul attacked Keilah.  Here we can see Saul did not pay attention to Keilah when it was attacked by the Philistine, but he wanted to attack David when he saved it from the Philistine.

When he learns that Saul is plotting against him, what does David ask Abiathar to bring? (9)

 ⁹ When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

He wanted to inquire of God.

What does David ask God, and what is God’s answer? (11)

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.” 

What is David’s second inquiry, and  what is God’s answer? (12)

¹² Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?”And the LORD said, “They will.”

How does David follow God’s direction and what happens? (13)  

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.

What do you notice about David’s prayers?

In his wilderness training, he learned how to depend on God only through prayer (inquiring of God’s direction)

Read verses 23:14-24. Where is David staying, what does Saul do, and what does God do? (14) When Saul searches for David at Horesh, who visits David ? (15-16a) How does Jonathan help David? (16b-17) What do they do before parting ways? (18)  Who reports to Saul about David? (19-20)  What are Saul’s instructions to the Ziphites and how do they respond? (21-24a) Where are David and his men? (24b)

Read verses 23:14-24. 

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 not give David into his hands. ¹⁵ While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that^[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20samuel%2023&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-7826a" \o "See footnote a"^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.

Where is David staying, what does Saul do, and what does God do? (14)

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 not give David into his hands.

Saul continued to pursue David, but God did not give David into his hands.

When Saul searches for David at Horesh, who visits David ? (15-16a)

 ¹⁵ While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that^[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20samuel%2023&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-7826a" \o "See footnote a"^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.

Jonathan visited David.

How does Jonathan help David? (16b-17)

Jonathan helped David to 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.”

Jonathan encouraged David and David probably was greatly moved by Jonathan’ word of encouragement in spite of Saul’s persecution.

What do they do before parting ways? (18)

“ ¹⁸ The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.”

Who reports to Saul about David? (19-20) 

 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.”

 It seems Saul’s threat and massacre of Nob worked in the Israelites, and Ziphites promptly reported Saul about David. 

What are Saul’s instructions to the Ziphites and how do they respond? (21-24a)

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.

Saul became more cunning and he wanted to take advantage of  the Ziphites.

Where are David and his men? (24b)

“Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.”

Read verses 23:25-29. Where does Saul pursue David? (25) When Saul and his men are just about to catch David and his men, why does he have to give up the pursuit? (26-28a)   “Sela Hammahlekoth” translates into “Rock of Parting,” what do you think about its meaning? (28b) Where does David go to? (29)

4-1) Read verses 23:25-29. 

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.^{[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20samuel%2023&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-7839b" \o "See footnote b" b] 29} And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

4-2) Where does Saul pursue David? (25)

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.

4-3) When Saul and his men are just about to catch David and his men, why does he have to give up the pursuit? (26-28a) 

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.

While Saul pursuing for David, the Philistine were raiding the Israel. So Saul had to withdraw from his pursuit of David to meet the Philistine.

4-4) “Sela Hammahlekoth” translates into “Rock of Parting,” what do you think about its meaning? (28b)

They parted each other avoiding the fight against each other. God helped David avoiding direct fight against Saul and his army, who were his own people. 

4-5) Where does David go to? (29)

²⁹ And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

In conclusion, God continues to train David as a shepherd for the people of Israel in the wilderness. He learned how to depend on God in the time of crisis by prayer.  God had sent Jonathan and assured him with word of encouragement and God protected him avoiding his fight against his own people.