Yesterday, I alluded to the big change in David's approach in making decisions from chapters 21-22 to chapter 23. Today, I can't shake this awesome truth - when we acknowledge God in everything, He WILL direct our paths (Prov. 3:6). But when we take things into our own hands and make our own decisions, we leave in our wake death and destruction.
Verses 1-13 of chapter 23 almost hit you over the head with "David inquired of the Lord". David repeatedly asks the Lord for direction! Should I go help Keilah? He asks this twice. God tells him to go for it. Then, after delivering Keilah from the Philistines, David asks the Lord whether the men of Keilah will give him over to Saul when Saul surrounds the city. God tells David that the men of Keilah will succomb to Saul's pressure and hand him over. So David gets out of town.
You see the difference between the David at Nob and the David at Keilah? He involves God in his decision-making. He finally gets a clue! And look what happens! Amazingly, David doesn't lie! He doesn't need to act like a crazy lunatic! He doesn't get a group of priests slaughtered this time! He defeats the Philistines once again! He successfully escapes Saul's plot at Keilah! And to put icing on the cake, just a few verses later, when it appears that David and his men are trapped and becoming surrounded in the mountains, God intervenes using news of a Philistine invasion as a diversion to distract Saul from chasing David.
What a dramatic difference! When I acknowledge God in all my ways, He WILL direct my path. When I start to see my life spinning out of control, when I am trusting in my own wisdom and foolish devices, when my choices are not based on God's word, when my prayer life is non-existent, is it any wonder I'm miserable? Is it any wonder that everything I touch dies? That's when I need to come back to 1 Samuel 21-23 and re-read these chapters. I need to be reminded that prayer and the word of God should be the beginning and end of every decision I face. I can't count the number of times that God has probably groaned at me from His throne on high, "So NOW you ask Me!" What took me so long?
Prayer: Father, before every step I take, before every decision I make, may I inquire of You as David learned to do. Thank you for Your promise that if we acknowledge You in all our ways, You will direct our paths. And when I do not follow this truth, Lord, thank You for being patient with me and never ceasing to pick me back up. In Jesus name...
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