Devotional: Inquire of the Lord

1 Samuel 23:1-5

“So David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines?’ And the LORD said to David, ‘Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah’” (1 Sam. 23:2, NASB).

Have you ever felt trapped? Have you ever faced a situation in which you needed to make a difficult decision? This is the kind of situation David finds himself in. The king, Saul, has turned against him, and he seeks to kill David. David flees from Saul, and he receives news that the Philistines, the greatest enemy of Israel, “are fighting against Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors” (v. 1). Should David come out of hiding and fight the Philistines? If he does Saul will know where to find him. On the other hand, if David does not fight against the Philistines they will gain a victory against David’s own people. David has a tough decision to make. He is not sure what the better thing to do is. How does David make his decision? What would you have done if you had been in David’s situation?

David is unable to make a decision. If he does not attack the Philistines they will gain a victory against Israel. If David comes out of hiding he risks being exposed to Saul. David accepts his limitations. At the same time David trust the Lord. He has killed the lion and the bear (17:37), and the Lord has given the Philistine warrior, Goliath (17:50). So, instead of making a decision that might prove to be an unwise decision, David inquires of the Lord. David’s trust in the Lord is seen in David’s decision to fight against the Philistines. The wisdom of his faith is seen in his victory.

Prayer: Lord God, we are thankful that we can turn to you when we do not know what to do. You know what is best, and we are victorious when we obey you. Amen