7 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.’ 1 Samuel 23
BEWARE FALSE REFUGES!
King Saul believed David had trapped himself when he heard he’d gone to Keilah. How many times do we as believers ENTRAP OURSELVES by trusting in things other than the Lord? I also believe that the enemy tricks many into taking dogmatic positions on issues, often of minor importance, which block our progress in the ways of the Kingdom. When we become stubborn and wilful we may endanger ourselves and those around us.
The first thing was that though David and his men, now grown to six hundred in number, had won a victory at Keilah, he was not swept away by euphoria. He continued to be on his guard and that probably saved all of them.
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.’ 1 Samuel 23
David had rescued the people of the town, but he realised that they were no match for the army of King Saul. God had ordered David and his men to go and rescue the town from the Philistines, an external enemy, but He had never told David to fight against King Saul, an internal battle. We must never assume that because we’ve won one victory that we’ll also be successful in future ones. Don’t be in a hurry to fight battles that God hasn’t called you to engage in!
12 Again David asked, ‘Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?’
And the Lord said, ‘They will.’ 1 Samuel 23
God told David, because he’d sought His direction, that the town of Keilah and it’s people would become a trap for him. He had no option, but to be thankful for the victory God had given and move on. Keilah may have seemed a very attractive alternative to David and his men, who were used to living in caves or roaming in the wilderness, but in the end it would have been a trap. We must be careful to trust the Lord for His leading and not seek to settle down in places which may be dangerous for us. (Lot settled in ‘the well watered plain of the Jordan’ but God eventually came down and judged the people who lived there.)
10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Genesis 13
David and his men didn’t settle in Keilah, he sought the Lord and moved on. He also saved the town from destruction by Saul and his forces.
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. 1 Samuel 23
We must be careful to keep our eyes on the Lord and be willing to move on whenever He instructs us. STAY FLEXIBLE BEFORE THE LORD. Things which look good after one victory may become dangerous for us in the future. Lord, help us to keep in step with your Spirit and not be drawn to any False Refuges, no matter how attractive they seem.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.