Today’s Devotion
Topic: People Inform, But God Guides!
Text: 1 Samuel 23: 7- 14
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.” 8 And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” 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.”
12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will.” 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. 14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. Amen
Beloved, humbly read the passage again. By this time, we all know that king Saul is pursuing David out of jealousy. One thing that is very apparent in the passage, however, is how much people were whispering to both Saul and David.
Saul, who was pursuing David, was listening a lot to informants. They tell him David is here, then he goes directly after him. David too learns of Saul’s pursuance and hides further away from his reach.
Now this had to go on for a long time. Each of these men was obviously listening to others in order to know what to do. However, David was smarter. After listening to all that his informants had to say, he still went ahead to inquire of the Lord and never took the Lord’s counsel lightly. It is not surprising, therefore, that Saul searched day after day for him but God would not give David into his hands.
As we begin this new working week, be determined to abide only by the leadings of the Lord, not men. For the same informants who keep showing you ‘how to hide’, may just be telling the adversary ‘where you’re hiding’. Be smarter than that, and let God lead you.
That way, you will be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. The enemy will search day after day and not find you. God will not give you into his hands!
