Where God Guides, God Provides

1 Samuel 23:1-29
Darrin Mariott, Lead Pastor

Big Idea: As we draw close to God, we can know His purpose for our lives, and we can experience His provision.

I. God Guides (vv. 1-14)
1 Samuel 23:1-29
1 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.”2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”4 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.”5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand.7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.”8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”10 Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account.11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.”12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.15 David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.”18 And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.19 Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?20 Now come down, O king, according to all your heart’s desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”21 And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.22 Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning.23 See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”24 And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.25 And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.”28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi.

A. David may be on the run from Saul, but this doesn’t stop him from responding to the needs of his fellow Israelites in Judah when they are attacked by the Philistines (vv. 1-5). David’s leadership is revealed here as he doesn’t let his personal interests get in the way of the larger good.

B. David’s first reaction in this situation is to inquire of the Lord, an important lesson that teaches us:

1. God has a plan – David trusts that God has a plan and a purpose (cf. Ps. 32:6-8).
Psalms 32:6-8
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

2. David seeks God’s will – David doesn’t just bolt off on his own, he seeks God’s guidance—so should we. To do this:

a. We need the Holy Spirit – The Spirit gives life and imparts wisdom (cf. 1 Cor. 2:10-13).
1 Corintians 2:10-13
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

b. Actively seek – Seeking God in prayer and through His Word (cf. Matt. 7:7-11).
Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

c. Actively live – Live out what we know to be true and let God guide our steps (cf. Phil. 3:12-16).
Philippians 3:12-16
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

II. God Provides (vv. 15-29)

A. In this chapter we see, once again, that the Spirit of the Lord is with David, but has departed from Saul (cf. 1 Sam. 16:13-14), reemphasizing God’s hand of anointing on David and his call as king of God’s people Israel (cf. Heb. 11:6).
1 Samuel 16:13-14
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.

Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

B. We see God provide for David in the following ways:

1. Encouragement (vv. 15-18) – Jonathan encourages David, which reminds us that when we get discouraged, reach out to God and to others (cf. Heb. 10:23-25; Psalms 54, 56-57, 63, 138, and 143).
Hebrews 10:23-25
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

2. Guidance (vv. 19-29) – God is directing David and his men.

3. Protection (vv. 19-29) – God is caring for David and his men.

4. Presence – God is a very present help in times of trouble.