Today’s reading is found in 1 Samuel 23-24. We read of David’s effort to protect the town of Keilah from the Philistines. Saul is still in hot pursuit of David. David is on the run. But an amazing thing happens. David has the perfect opportunity to kill Saul, take revenge on his enemy, and claim the throne of Israel for himself. But instead of taking Saul’s life he shows mercy out of his loyalty to Yahweh. David refuses to lift his hand against the Lord’s annointed.

Even though David is on the run to save his own life, he goes to help the people of Keilah (23:1-6). What does this say to you about when you encounter other people in need?

David could have easily said, “I have enough to worry about on my own.” He could have left the people of Keilah to fend for themselves. But he goes to help them and rescue them. He shows compassion for their cause.

It is easy for us to get caught up in our own worries and burdens that we don’t ever take time to help anyone else. The truth is we will always have burdens we are carrying. If we are so self-focused we will never find the motivation to go and help others. It is only when we look to God that he will enable us to move past the troubles of our own situation to go to others in their distress. One thing that is most interesting is that as we go to serve others in their need, our great worries and concerns become less and less significant.

It is easy to see why. When we begin to serve our focus is taken off of our own needs. We are living for a purpose bigger than ourselves. When we serve we also begin to discover how God takes care of our needs. It may seem backwards but the neediest people are the ones who are always getting, but never giving. The most satisfied people are the one who are always giving.

How does Saul respond to this good David does for the people of Keilah (23:7-8)?

David accomplished for Saul what Saul was to do. Again, David is showing himself loyal to the king and the nation. But instead of thanking David and showing his appreciation for David, Saul is out to kill David. Through it all David never utters a bad word toward the king. No one would have faulted him for having done so.

How has Saul’s jealousy of David, hindered Saul from fulfilling his responsibility as king? What should the Israelite army have been doing instead of chasing David (23:8)?

It is amazing to think about all the effort that was used to pursue David. It was a gross misuse of the army. I wonder if the army had been better used to fight and defend against the Philistines if the story would have turned out differently. But it is what it is. Saul’s passionate pursuit in David was not for the building of the kingdom but the destruction of David. Saul was no longer in the business of building up but had crossed over to the business of tearing down. How about you? Are you in the business of building up or are you in the business of tearing down?

How does David go about making decisions at this point (23:9-14)?

It stands out for me that David asked the Lord what he should do (24:9). David prayed before he made his decision. He seeks the Lord. Jesus says, “seek and you shall find.” David is not going to do what he thinks is best, but he looks to find what God thinks is best. God rewards him for this.

In the decisive moment, when all seems lost, and it looks like David is going to be captured by Saul, what happens (23:26-29)? Describe a time in your life where God intervened at just the last moment.

I wonder if David thought it was all over. Saul was about to overtake him. There was not much more he could do. But when David had done all he could do, God would step in. This is the perfect example of God’s faithfulness to those who remain faithful to him. In my office I have a quote written, “start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing what is impossible.” Stay faithful. Keep listening. And eventually you will begin to see how God takes over.

David had the opportunity to kill Saul in chapter 24, but instead he just tore off a piece of his clothing. Why was David conscience-stricken when he could have killed Saul and didn’t (24:5-6)? How do we justify our sins by comparing our seemingly smaller sins to bigger sins?

We tend to rationalize little sins in the face of big sins. David resisted killing Saul. That was a good thing. So what is the big deal in just tearing off a little piece of his robe?

The problem is this little sin was justified in comparison to the bigger sin. When it comes to sin – sin is sin. Big sin or little sin, it is all sin. Sin separates us from God. Sin is rebellion against God. Any sin should break our hearts. Not just the big sins alone.

We justify our little sins by comparing them against bigger sins. “What I did was not that bad,” we think to ourselves, “I could have done something much worse.” We justify stealing $1 by comparing it against the theft of $1,000,000. We think to ourselves, “what is the big deal.” But it is all a big deal to God.

How does David make his appeal to reconcile with Saul (24:8-21)? Are David and Saul truly reconciled after this incident (24:25)?

David appeals to his own innocence. He gives Saul evidence he is not out to kill him. He practices humility before Saul. David could have really beat Saul and stood on his soapbox. Instead of hurling accusations at Saul, David appeals for reconciliation.

In the end there is a cease-fire to the hostilities, but there is not a true reconciliation. Rather than come together, Saul and David go their separate ways. Trust was still lacking after all that had transpired.