I love thoughts and insights I get as I read through the Bible each morning, even though I’m in pain and feeling ever so miserable.
Today I read 1 Sam. 23 and saw some interesting things that definitely apply to me. David was on the run from Saul, yet when the Philistines attacked a place called Keilah, he asked God if he and his men should go down there and save the Israelite town. God said yes. We don’t know how that happened. Was it through the Urim and Thummim? An inner impression? Did the priest’s son, who was with David, tell him God said yes? Wish we knew, but we don’t. We just know God said go.
His own men said, “Look, we’re having enough trouble right here in Judah, being on the run from our own king. Why go fight a foreign army?” That’s just asking for trouble!
So David asked God again, to get some confirmation. God again indicated yes, they were to go. I thought that was interesting. Israel of that time was the “Church” of God today. Overall, the church was led by Saul, but there were lots of problems throughout the land. Still, David, as anointed of God, sought to help the people of God any way he could. That’s what we should always do. We may see lots of problems with the Body of Christ, lots of places Satan is attacking, lots of needs. What needs can we address? Sure, we have problems of our own. But what about the Church? How can we help? David asked God, and God told him. He was a man who could lead troops. He could fight some battles. He could liberate part of the Church from a danger. He could meet a need.
So David leads his guys down there to battle the Philistines, and God gives them victory. It turns out the Philistines brought livestock with them, probably the way armies brought along supplies back then. They let the “supplies” walk on their own four hooves! David and his men took advantage of that. You might say the Philistines gave them an “offering” to continue their “ministry.” Hey, everybody’s got to make a living somehow!
Then Saul found out where David was, and planned to gather his troops and go after him there. Can you imagine this?! You’ve got a great young captain out there, defeating everybody’s enemies, but to you, he’s an enemy and you gotta go after him!? It’s sad when God’s people fight among themselves, or when leaders are jealous of one another. Too bad there’s so much division in the Church and in America these days. Seems like we have enough enemies “out there” without fighting against ourselves. Oh well, such is life, even among the people of God!
David just rescued the people of Keilah, so he asks God, will these people turn me over to Saul if he comes? You’d think they’d be loyal to David and defend him. You’d think they’d say, “Look, king Saul, we’re loyal to you, but you’re doing the wrong thing here, coming after David. He’s a hero who just saved us. Don’t come after him. We’re going to stand by him.” But God told David the people of Keilah would turn him over to Saul.
Hey, Saul was the king of Israel. It was not politically expedient for the people of Keilah to anger him. They were going to do what was in their own selfish interests and not help David at all. Paul said this many years later, “All seek their own, not the things of Christ.” (Phil. 2:21) So the people of Keilah, in spite of David’s rescue, were going to turn David over to be killed by Saul. So David and his men accepted what God told them regarding this, and they just moved on in life, looking for their next place to hide out and continue life.
Here’s what struck me in this passage. I guess I would’ve made a bigger deal of the betrayal of the people of Keilah. I would’ve been so distraught that God’s people should be stupid like that, disloyal like that. I would’ve wanted them to see how wrong they were. It’s obvious David was their hero. He had saved them. He was in the right, Saul was in the wrong. They should’ve been loyal to David and stood up for him. Things should’ve been very different among God’s people. But they weren’t. They were really messed up! God should’ve intervened and fixed things. This had gone on long enough. Nope! God wasn’t going to do that yet. Not for years and years.
So David moved on. “Move-on.org.” That could’ve been his website. FIDO could’ve been his license plate (Forget It Drive On). The Church was screwed up. God’s people were confused, ignorant, doing the wrong thing, not responding correctly. The nation of Israel was divided. People were fighting against one another. They didn’t see things eye to eye. They didn’t understand the real truth. Why was everything so messed up? God didn’t explain. God didn’t intervene. God didn’t fix things.
Still, David had done what he could for the “Body of Christ.” He’d made a difference, even if the people didn’t appreciate it or stand by him for it. And through it, God had worked to give him victory, and had provided some livestock to feed him and his men for a while more.
I guess I always expect too much of the world and of life. I get angry with Americans because they’re divided and don’t see eye to eye. I think certain things are so obvious, why can’t everyone see them? Why did we have such a close election in Florida? It shouldn’t be close! Why doesn’t everybody see that socialism is a bad idea?! Hello, this isn’t theory – it’s been proven over and over! Why don’t people understand that we need to turn back to God? That we need to be against same-sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana, and open borders?! Why do even different Christian groups get it so wrong?! Why are so many Catholic priests pedophiles? Why do pastors run off with secretaries or steal the church’s money? Why are Christians so hypocritical? Why doesn’t God intervene and fix things?
I guess the lesson from David for me this morning is “Move-on.org.” FIDO. Serve God. Do what you can. Trust Him. He will work things out in His time. Who told you things would all “work out” nicely, in a way you could understand? Huh?! Where do you see that in the Bible you so love? Huh? God’s people have always lived in a world of chaos and confusion, of sin and division. Hello? This is the world. It’s not heaven (yet). Trust God. Keep on walking. ‘Nuff said!