“David Inquired of the LORD Again”

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 23

“Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”” (1 Samuel 23.4)

It was David’s habit to inquire of the LORD. Nine times throughout 1 & 2 Samuel, the scriptures depict David stopping to ask God what to do rather than just forging ahead with his own plans. We know David was a man of prayer and meditation, but more importantly he was interested in knowing God’s will. In the same way, the real purpose of our prayers is to make our desires align with God’s will.

But notice David’s persistence towards this in the present context, When the Philistines regrouped and gathered a second time in the valley of Rephaim, David could have easily assumed that he should attack again. But he took nothing for granted and inquired of the Lord again (1 Samuel 23.10-13).  The result was God gave him new instructions. He was to attack from a different direction, and God would work with him in new ways. 

Consider the contrast of Saul’s behavior. He ran full speed ahead in his pursuit of innocent David. He was so blinded by hatred he didn’t appreciate David was doing the job entrusted to him. Saul did not thank God for using David to defend one of his cities from the enemy. Instead, Saul thought God was handing David over to him! (1 Samuel 23.7). Saul was pursuing his own selfish and evil desires and presumed God was helping him. At no point did Saul stop to ask direction from the LORD. Sadly, some people make the same mistake. They have something they really want to do out of their selfish motive. They would say, “It seems God’s will for me to do this.” They are so obsessed to do what they want they fall into an illusion that God is backing them up.

David reminds us we should not presume we know what God wants. David went to inquire of the Lord to be sure he was aligned with God’s will... and then he followed God’s direction. David did this in times of distress and peace. He did not calculate this and that, based on his own logic or people’s opinions. Nor did he depend on people. He depended on God; and how did God help David? “Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands” (1 Samuel 23.14).

May the Lord give us grace to emulate David’s example and to cultivate the habit of always inquiring of the Lord and waiting for His answer. The more we seek direction from God in prayer and the more we desire to know His will, the more He is honored and the more we are blessed.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3.6)

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