Seeking answers from God (1 Sam 23.2, 4, 10–11)

David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”
Then David inquired of the LORD again…

David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. And now, will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant…Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?”

This passage contrasts the power of God with the power of human authority. Though David is a fugitive from the State, he is loyal to the people. He is a savior of the people or a traitor, depending on one’s perspective. The passage also demonstrates that God allows humans the freedom to act as they wish; it is through prayer and His answers that he controls events.

The message about prayer is a simple one. Regardless of our position, and how God might have blessed us in the past, it is important to continue to seek God’s will. We might feel quite confident in the position God has put us, and in the “rightness” of our situation—yet we must be aware that God’s plans are not always our plans, and things may change. Our view is not always God’s view. For this reason—especially in critical events that affect other people—we should never fail to ask God, “what should I do?”