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OK, you can turn in your Bibles 
to 1 Samuel chapter 23. 1 Samuel chapter 23, in the larger 
section, the story of Saul and David. In chapter 21, we saw 
David's escape from Saul. Here in chapter 23, Saul is now 
in pursuit of David. And in his pursuit of David, 
obviously, we see continual episodes of David's escape from Saul. This will continue on in much 
of the remainder of the book. And here, specifically in chapter 
23, I'll begin reading at verse 1. Then they told David, saying, 
Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are 
robbing the threshing floors. Therefore, David inquired of 
the Lord saying, shall I go and attack these Philistines? And 
the Lord said to David, go and attack the Philistines and save 
Kiela. But David's men said to him, 
look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more than if we go to 
Kiela against the armies of the Philistines? Then David inquired 
of the Lord once again and the Lord answered him and said, arise, 
go down to Kiela for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand. 
And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, 
struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. 
So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. Now it happened when 
Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that 
he went down with an ephod in his hand. And Saul was told that 
David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, God has delivered 
him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a 
town that has gates and bars. Then Saul called all the people 
together for war to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his 
men. When David knew that Saul plotted 
evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, bring the 
ephod here. Then David said, Oh Lord, God 
of Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come 
to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of 
Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant 
has heard? Oh Lord, God of Israel, I pray 
tell your servant. And the Lord said he will come 
down. Then David said, will the men 
of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the 
Lord said, they will deliver you. So David and his men, about 
600, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they 
could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, 
so he halted the expedition. And David stayed in strongholds 
in the wilderness, and remained in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul 
sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his 
hand. So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. 
And David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in a forest. Then Jonathan, 
Saul's son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened 
his hand in God. 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. "'Even my father 
Saul knows that.' "'So the two of them made a covenant before 
the Lord, "'and David stayed in the woods, "'and Jonathan 
went to his own house. "'Then the Ziphites came up to 
Saul at Gibeah, saying, "'Is David not hiding with us in strongholds 
in the woods, "'in the hill of Hekulah, which is on the south 
of Jeshimon? Now therefore, O King, come down 
according to all the desire of your soul to come down, and our 
part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand. And Saul 
said, Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion 
on me. Please go and find out for sure 
and see the place where his hideout is and who has seen him there. 
For I am told he is very crafty. See, therefore, and take knowledge 
of all the lurking places where he hides and come back to me 
with certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall be if 
he is in the land that I will search for him throughout all 
the clans of Judah. So they arose and went to Zeph 
before Saul. But David and his men were in 
the wilderness of Mahon. in the plain on the south of 
Jeshamon. When Saul and his men went to 
seek him, they told David. Therefore, he went down to the 
rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard 
that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul 
went on one side of the mountain and David and his men on the 
other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away 
from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his 
men to take them. But a messenger came to Saul 
saying, hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the 
land. Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David and went 
against the Philistines. So they called that place the 
Rock of Escape. Then David went up from there 
and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. Amen. Well, in this particular 
chapter we see three things. The first is the deliverance 
of Keilah in verses 1 to 13. Secondly, the encouragement by 
Jonathan in verses 14 to 18. And then thirdly, the treachery 
of the Ziphites in verses 19 to 29. Again, we see David is 
a fugitive, he is on the run, he is being hunted like a dog 
by Saul. And in the instance of Keilah, 
he is given up by the inhabitants of that land, probably an act 
of gutlessness on their part. But when he comes to Ziph, we 
see the treachery of the Ziphites. They immediately address Saul 
and want to give David over into their hand. But all throughout, 
under the kind providence and the goodness of our God, God 
continually preserves His servant along the way. I just want to 
read a quote from Dale Ralph Davis concerning this particular 
section. I think it gives a bit of an 
overview at the outset. He says, anyone coming fresh 
from 1 Samuel 21 and 22 into chapter 23 can easily note some 
fascinating contrasts. At Nob, Saul is the destroyer 
of Israel, but here at Keilah, David becomes the savior of Israel. Saul complains that no one discloses 
urgent matters to him, but God discloses via Abiathar all that 
David needs to know. Saul's companion is Doeg, the 
Edomite killer, who covers Saul's hands with blood. David's support 
is Jonathan, the royal son, who strengthens his hand in God. 
Previously, the Philistines were a dangerous threat to David. 
Now they are his welcome saviors. So there is a series of contrasts 
in this particular chapter. We will try and note some of 
them in detail as we move through the text. Notice in the first 
place, the deliverance of Keilah in verses 1 to 13. This particular 
situation is indicated in verses 1 to 5, the attack by the Philistines, 
verse 1. Then they told David, saying, 
Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are 
robbing the threshing floors. As far as we know, David is still 
in the forest at Areth. in the land of Judah as this 
chapter proceeds when we go to Kila and then to Zeph and then 
to Mahon and then to En-Gedi, we are in the southern region 
of Judah just west of the Dead Sea. Now obviously Philistines 
would want to attack Israel because they were their enemies. The 
Philistines also had a vested interest in robbing the threshing 
floors, a two-fold purpose in view, so that they could take 
the grain for themselves, and secondly, so they could destroy 
this particular city. If you take a city's food supply, 
then you render that city inoperative. Now notice, in response to this 
report given to David, David inquires of the Lord. David asks 
God specifically if he should go, in fact, to Gila in order 
to defend this particular city. It's interesting because David 
is, as I said, a fugitive. David is on the run. David is 
seeking his own life to protect it from the threat of Saul. And 
yet, in all this, David is still willing to go spare an Israelite 
city. We see the true heart of the 
true king indicated in this particular chapter. Who should have been 
the one to provide defense for the city of Keilah? It should 
have been Saul as the king of Israel. No doubt if David got 
a report concerning this event in Keilah, certainly Saul would 
have gotten the report about this event in Keilah. Instead 
of Saul dispatching troops or adjoining troops and going to 
Keilah to resist these Philistines and destroy them, He again is 
still operating under a brutal tyrannical system and he's chasing 
David. So David shows or David evidences 
the true heart of the true king in Israel and he inquires of 
Yahweh saying, shall I go and attack these Philistines? Now the means by which David 
inquires of God, it's fleshed out for us somewhat in verse 
6. Notice, now it happened when 
Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, fled to David at Keilah that 
he went down with an ephod in his hand. Now this wasn't the 
linen ephod that all the priests wore. This was the ephod that 
the high priest wore. Remember that Abiathar by default 
has become the high priest. Why by default? Because all of 
his fellow priests were slaughtered in Gibeah and their families 
were slaughtered in Na. Now this sort of makes it sound 
like Abiathar comes after David is there at Keilah. The Septuagint 
sort of smooths it out for us and says, And it came to pass, 
when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David, that he went down 
with David to Keilah. excuse me, having an ephod in 
his hand. Now some commentators prefer 
to see that verse 6 does happen later. In other words, David's 
already in Gila and then Abiathar comes. And those commentators 
would explain the way that David inquires of the Lord is via the 
prophet. So either way, the thing that 
we ought to see is that David has access to God. David has 
access to the Lord Most High. another contrast that we see 
between David and Saul. Remember the prophet Gad in chapter 
22 verse 5 had told David to return to the land of Judah. 
So either way David has either prophet or priest in order to 
access the mind of God concerning this situation. I tend to think 
that Abiathar is with him and that it is through this priestly 
means of his using the ephod. But again, either way, what we 
have is David has access to the Lord God. So the means of inquiry, 
either the ephod, or the priest rather, and or the prophet, and 
then the nature of the inquiry. Shall I go and attack these Philistines? The Lord said to David at the 
end of verse 3, go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah. Of course God, the Lord, would 
favor this particular decision because this is his concern, 
the kingdom of Israel. Saul does not have in his mind 
God's interests. David rather has in his mind 
God's interests. Now note David's men in verse 
3. David's men were 400, collected in the cave of Adullam, according 
to chapter 21. And we see by the time we get 
to later on in this chapter, he has 600 men, according to 
verse 13. So along the way, men are seeing 
that David is in fact a godly and a good leader, and they are 
joining with him. But in this instance, in verse 
3, David's men said to him, look, we are afraid here in Judah. 
How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of 
the Philistines? Obviously, on the human level, 
very legitimate. They know and they understand 
that Saul is seeking to kill their leader. They are in Judah. That brings them into Saul territory. So they say on the one hand, 
this is frightening in and of itself, but let alone going to 
Keilah and facing the armies of the Philistines. So you can 
see a bit of hesitancy or reluctance on their part. Then David inquired 
of the Lord once again. And then in verse 4, the Lord 
answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will 
deliver the Philistines into your hands. Now notice the deliverance. This is by God Most High through 
his servant David. And the text is interesting. 
Notice, David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the 
Philistines. Now each of the verbs from here 
on are actually fought with the Philistines struck them with 
a mighty blow and took away their livestock are all singular. The 
emphasis is upon David. Now, certainly, he did not do 
this alone. He didn't do it single-handedly. 
But it is the case that those men are with him. The text underscores 
the reality as what is specified at the end. So David saved the 
inhabitants of Kelah. It is highlighting the reality 
that David is God's man. David is the one that the Lord 
speaks to. David is the one that the Lord 
equips. And David is the one that the 
Lord uses in battle to stay the hand of the Philistines and to 
preserve the city of Kila. Now notice the livestock. Why 
did he take away their livestock? Probably, Davis explains, that 
this was probably the means by which they would have transported 
the grain back to their own hometown. Sort of like disabling their 
pickup trucks. If you don't have the means, 
to transport the grain, you certainly can't take the grain. And so 
David dealt a decisive blow to the Philistines. In Keilah, he 
was victorious. So as we move through the passage 
and we see that Keilah then delivers him into the hands of Saul, truly, 
it underscores their gutlessness. It underscores the fact that 
they were marked by an ingratitude toward their savior, at least 
in this particular instance. Now, verse 6, again, underscores 
the presence of the priest. Now, it's very intriguing. Saul 
is absent of priests. Saul has no priests because Saul 
is undertaken to execute all the priests. Remember last week, 
in chapter 22, the city of Nah. God, or rather Saul, got wind 
of the reality that a Himalak had given safety to David in 
the tabernacle, or at the sanctuary. Doeg the Edomite reports back 
to Saul, and Saul orders the mass execution of all the priests 
of Nob. Remember, the priests of Nob 
come to Gibeah, and none of Saul's henchmen or servants would undertake 
to kill them, and so Doeg the Edomite readied his sword, killed 
the priests, then they went to Nob to neutralize the families 
of the priests. So Saul effectively rid himself 
of any priestly intercession on behalf of God. Ironically, 
the one escapee was Abiathar, and he runs right into the hands 
of David. As I've said many, many times 
throughout our study in 1 Samuel, if you do not understand the 
providence of God, read the book of 1 Samuel. In this terrible 
event, this horrific activity of the slaughter of these priests 
in the city of Nab, one is spared and he runs to David. So this 
leaves David with a priest and Saul without a priest. There 
is no intercessor. there is no ephod, there is no 
yoram and thumim, there is no way for Saul to access the mind 
of Yahweh through the priestly means. As well, because of Saul's 
background, his rejection against the prophetic word, his rebellion 
against the God of that prophetic word, therefore Saul does not 
have access to the voice of God that comes to the prophet. David 
on the run gets a word from God to go into Judah. You see this 
throughout the narrative. There is no voice. There is no 
help. There is no guidance. There is 
nothing given to Saul in this section. And so notice then Saul's 
response to this particular event in Keilah. Saul should have said, 
praise God, that he sent David to do my job. But we know that 
Saul is not functioning this way, do we? We know that Saul 
is so filled with envy, he's so filled with anger, he's so 
filled with rage and bitterness, that all he sees is a great opportunity 
for him to seize and murder David. And notice, in all of his madness, 
the self-deception still runs high. Verse 7, Saul was told 
that David had gone to Keilah, so Saul said, God has delivered 
him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a 
town that has gates and bars. Are you kidding me, Saul? Do 
you actually think for a moment that God the Lord has delivered 
David into your hand. This in many respects is a terrifying 
passage of Scripture because it evidences how people can fool 
themselves. There are those who name the 
name of Jesus Christ and violate His law. They disobey His word. Now I know that all of us who 
name the name of Jesus Christ violate His law and disobey His 
word. But for the most part, the genuine 
believer feels the pangs of that. He feels bad as a result of that. The spirit brings conviction. 
There is repentance. There is a forsaking. There is 
a confession. There is this desire to rid oneself 
of the sin that remains in our hearts. But there are those who 
profess the name of Jesus Christ and live in open, vile, rebellious 
sin. Think of the professing gay Christian. Think of this mindset that is 
turning in our own generation about such things, as if the 
Bible would sanction a homosexual Christian. And yet, for all of 
that, they oftentimes think they enjoy the blessing of God, because 
they're happy, or they have some sort of satisfaction, or they 
have some sort of contentment. God does not bless lawlessness. God does not bless sin. God does not deliver enemies 
into the hand of His enemies. And for Saul to say this just 
shows how mad he really is. And I don't mean angry in that 
instance. I mean bonkers, nuts, crazy. God has delivered him into my 
hand for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has 
gates and bars. We are never given entitlement 
to think that God is acting favorably toward us while we are in abject 
rebellion against Him. Remember the difference, the 
remaining corruption of the believer who is daily striving to murder 
sin or kill sin and the believer who struggles and agonizes and 
confesses and forsakes and weeps and repents and prays. That's 
not who I'm talking about. I'm talking about the flagrant, 
vile sinner that somehow thinks that they are right with God 
because they've said the name Jesus or they've darkened the 
door of a Christian church. God does not deliver His enemies 
in this manner. So be aware of this particular 
situation. Saul is informed that David is 
in Keilah. Saul concludes that this is in 
favor from Yahweh. This is just incredible. The couple of instances here 
where Saul actually mentions God, they're not in a repentance, 
they're not in a forsaking, they're not in a sorrow over sin. The two times he mentions God 
in this particular section is really just incredible that he 
would take the name of God upon his lips. So Saul then gives 
instructions in verse 8, Saul called all the people together 
for war to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. This would mean destruction for 
the city as well in verse 11. This would mean the destruction 
for the city in verse 11. Now think about this for just 
a moment. The Philistines wanted to liquidate 
the city of Keilah. The Philistines wanted to take 
Keilah's grain. The Philistines wanted to continue 
in their long ongoing war with Israel in order to destroy them. That makes sense, doesn't it? 
We disagree because certainly we don't want Philistines invading 
Israel, but we understand. These are nemesis. Nemesis, I 
guess, is the plural form. They are antagonists toward one 
another. But now, in his rage and in his 
brutal tyranny, Saul wants to go to Keilah that has just been 
saved by David in order to murder the Savior and then murder all 
of the people in the town. This is tragic to see the depths 
that Saul has plummeted into. Now notice in verse 9, when David 
knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the 
priest, bring the ephod here. Access. David has access. David has what we enjoy. We have 
a great high priest. If we read through this section, 
we say, wouldn't it be nice to be able to inquire of the Lord 
this way? Wouldn't it be nice to hear from 
the Lord in this way? Well, we probably won't hear 
from the Lord in this way because David was the heir to the kingdom 
of Israel. And there is that direct line 
with God or from God to David. We won't get that. But we have 
the benefit of a priest. We have the benefit of access. 
We have the privilege to lay our petitions before the throne 
of grace. And God, in His grace and mercy, 
has given us His mind. He has given us His Word. He 
has given us His instructions in the Old and the New Testament. 
So David here uses that access. David here uses that approach. David here goes through the intercessor 
to meet with his God. It truly is a wonderful description. Now notice his prayer in verses 
10 and 11. And David said, O Lord God of 
Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come 
to Gila to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah 
deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant 
has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, 
tell your servant." Now listen, God says he will come down. Then 
David said, will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the 
hand of Saul? And the Lord said, they will 
deliver you. How do you like that? You save 
a city and then they turn you over to Saul. As Gil says, this 
showed the great ingratitude of this people to their deliverer. It most certainly did. But again, 
I think there is a little, not a but again, like they're somehow 
okay, but probably there's a bit of difference between Kila and 
Zeph. Kila is gutless. They know what 
happened in Naab. They know what happened in Gibeah. 
They know about the massacre of the 85 priests. They know 
about the massacre of the 85 priests' families. They were 
terrified, they were fearful. Here is Saul, this tyrant who 
is brutal, who has used Doeg the Edomite to neutralize the 
very priesthood from Israel. Helah is afraid and so they probably 
reluctantly said, yeah, we'll give up David. I doubt they did 
it in the same manner that the Ziphites did. The Ziphites evidence 
a true treachery. These men probably did it simply 
to save their own hide, they gave up David. Again, I'm not 
suggesting that it's somehow okay, that they were innocent 
or exonerated as a result, but you can see the driving force, 
you can see the gutlessness that stands behind these men of Keilah. 
And before we get too judgmental, have we ever engaged in gutlessness 
when it came to David's greater son. We may not have turned him 
over to Saul, the tyrannical king that would murder him, but 
have we ever been gutless in the way in which we have or haven't 
spoken of Jesus, acted for Jesus, or conducted ourselves in Jesus' 
name? There is probably as much gutlessness 
in the church today as there was in Keilah. Now, the ramifications 
may not be exactly the same, but they are certainly as grave 
and as serious. These men were gutless concerning 
David. We can be gutless concerning 
the greater son of David, even our Lord Jesus Christ. So we 
can all probably understand, when looked at through that window, 
what is going on in the men of Keilah. But notice in all of 
this, the Lord in his answer gives the reason or provides 
the instigation for this escape. Notice in verse 13, so David 
and his men about 600 arose and departed from Keilah and went 
wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David 
had escaped from Keilah, so he halted the expedition. So it's 
a good thing. God, the Lord answered David. 
Because of the answer received by David, he then acts upon that 
information. David's not a fool. When God 
says, here's the deal, David takes it seriously and acts. 
David takes it seriously and moves. David runs. David hides. David goes wherever they could 
go. Then it was told Saul that David 
had escaped from Keilah. And in that respect, Saul, or 
the Lord's answer rather, frustrates Saul's plan. So Saul then returns 
to Gibeah and now we come to the encouragement by Jonathan 
in verses 14 to 18. Now, the Lord is truly good, 
isn't He? Do you think David is on top 
of the world at this moment? God graciously answered David. God revealed his mind to David. In that we greatly rejoice. But 
was it the answer that David was probably hoping for? David 
probably had hoped for, no, Saul is not coming. In fact, Saul's 
back at the kingdom and Saul's preparing a royal pardon and 
calling off his henchmen because he knows that you are the king 
select for Israel. Saul has repented and Saul has 
forsaken and Saul wants everything to be good between the two of 
you. And furthermore, not only will Keilah not give you over 
to Saul, but Keilah will protect you. Keilah will guard you. You 
just saved them from the hand of the Philistines, so Keilah 
is going to serve as a fortress to make sure no harm comes. No, 
that's probably what David wanted to hear. What would you have 
wanted to hear? When you pray to God, do you 
ask for the very worst possibility? You say, Lord, please bring it 
to me in the most heinous way that you can. God, I want to 
make it to point Z and I want it to be miserable every... No, 
we pray for the best, don't we? We pray for the most optimum 
situation. We want good, we want ease, we 
want comfort, we want protection, we want safety, we want stability. So I'm suggesting that David 
is probably in a bit of turmoil at this point. He's in a bit 
of difficulty, he's in trial. This is hardship. He has to run 
from the king, and he has to leave a city that he himself 
just defended. And as the author indicates, 
he does it single-handedly. Again, he does it with his men, 
but the credit for the victory goes to David. He fought, he 
struck, he moved the livestock, or he sent the livestock away. 
It was all David. And now Kelah says, thanks, but 
We're going to hand you over into the hands of your enemy. 
David is hurting here. Notice in verse 14, David stayed 
in strongholds in the wilderness and remained in the mountains 
in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but 
God did not deliver him into his hand. Isn't that beautiful? 
The king did not tire in his hunt for David, but the Lord 
did not tire in his preservation of David. That right there had 
to encourage David. But it goes on because Jonathan 
visits him. So you see, in the midst of trial, 
in the midst of turmoil, in the midst of difficulty, in the midst 
of hardship, what does God the Lord do? God the Lord comes to 
his servant. God the Lord comes to encourage. God the Lord comes to cause him 
to persevere. Davis says concerning this statement, 
that the statement, but God did not deliver him into his hand. 
Davis says, in all the topography and geography, David, though 
he may escape Saul, never escapes the shelter of the Most High. 
I love that. He never escapes the shelter 
of the Most High. He escapes Saul, but he can't 
escape God because God is preserving him. Now notice, as I said, trial, 
turmoil, difficulty, hardship. And then we find in verse 16, 
then Jonathan. Saul's son arose and went to 
David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. Isn't it intriguing? 
Jonathan can do what Saul cannot. Talk about providence. Jonathan 
can do what Saul cannot. He can find David. I mean, Saul 
and all of his henchmen are busy trying to find David. And he 
can't get him. He can't catch him. He can't 
ultimately seize upon him. Jonathan wants to see David. 
And it's as if there's a flower-petaled row for him to walk upon. He 
always finds David. Because God wants Jonathan to 
find David. Because God is guarding David 
from Saul. And He will not let that wretch 
harm him. But when it comes to encouraging 
his servant, what does God do? He sends Jonathan along. Notice, 
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. Even my father Saul knows that. 
So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord and David stayed 
in the woods and Jonathan went to his own house. There are several 
things we ought to appreciate in this encouragement given by 
Jonathan to David. In the first place, Jonathan 
strengthened his hand in God. That is beautiful language. I 
hope your Bible translation has it that way. Verse 17, I'm sorry, 
at the end of verse 16, strengthened his hand in God. There is a marginal 
reading in the New King James. Let me find it here. Encouraged 
him. Yeah, it is encouragement, isn't 
it? But what sounds better? The literal rendition, he strengthened 
his hand in God. Gil says, and his heart too, 
his hand of faith to lay hold on God as his covenant God and 
lean and rely upon him. He strengthened him in his power 
and in his providence and in his promises to him. Davis explains 
that it's as if Jonathan took David's hand and put it in the 
hand of Yahweh. He strengthened his hand in God. That's exactly what David needed 
at this time, didn't he? Again, we've got to remember, 
David's not chilling on the beach. David's not on a cruise. David's 
not sitting down playing video games. David is on the run like 
a dog from a man that wants to murder him. A man that has shown 
his purpose in murder or his desire to murder him in the way 
of killing 85 priests and their families. Nothing is going to 
stop him. And in the midst of this, God, 
as it were, drops Jonathan right down into David and says, I want 
you to strengthen my servant. In the second place, Jonathan 
sets the promises of God before David. Notice verse 17. 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. Even my father 
Saul knows that. Of course, David is not to fear. 
I'm sure that was easier said than done. I mean, if somebody 
told you, do not fear the man who had Doeg the Edomite murder 
85 people, it would take grace for you to not fear that particular 
person. David would not be found by Saul, 
but notice the hub or the rub or the core of this promise. 
David was going to be the next king over Israel. Now, the reader 
knows this according to chapter 16. Jonathan certainly understood 
this according to chapter 18, because he gave David his royal 
robes. But this promise has never been 
directly stated to David. Again, Samuel anointed David. 
That was an interesting situation. And based on what happened after 
that, David may not have connected all the dots up at this point. 
But everybody else seems to know that David is the heir apparent 
to the throne in Israel. Davis makes this observation 
and I think it's beautiful. He says, Jonathan simply reaffirms 
God's promise to David vis-a-vis that David is going to be the 
king. This is how he encouraged him. He encouraged him with the 
promises of God. Back to Davis. Jonathan simply 
reaffirms God's promise to David, a promise nowhere directly stated 
to David in 1 Samuel, but which everyone seems to know about. 
Of course, Jonathan's presence itself would have been a great 
comfort and refreshment for David. And just if he saw Jonathan in 
the midst of the mayhem, in the midst of the issues, in the midst 
of the trials, in the midst of the difficulties. Remember David 
has found out that he was directly the cause for the massacre at 
Nob and Gibeah. Certainly that's some baggage 
to try and carry with one. If David understood this. So just to see Jonathan probably 
would have refreshed him. But then Davis goes on to say, 
yet our personal presence does not have the abiding encouragement 
that God's sure Word does. We best encourage not by being 
cuddly with people, but by reminding them of the promises of God. 
Encouragement from God for the people of God comes from the 
Word of God. You see, this is how we dare 
to be a Jonathan. This is how we dare to strengthen 
men or women in the hand of God. It is through the promises of 
God. Davis goes on to say, I am not depreciating the helpfulness 
of the personal touch or care. But in an age that wallows in 
caring and sensitivity on every hand, Believers need to know 
that solid encouragement comes not from emotional closeness, 
but from God's speech. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And that is precisely what Jonathan 
does with David. in this instance. 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." Notice the two 
then covenant together. Verse 18, So the two of them 
made a covenant before the Lord, and David stayed in the woods, 
and Jonathan went to his own house. They never saw each other 
again. That was it for David and Jonathan. Now this covenant, some say they 
reaffirmed their covenant. Remember in chapter 18, repeated 
in chapter 20, they had a covenant bond together. Others suggest 
they've established a new covenant, namely that Jonathan would be 
next to David when he reigned. Remember, David's already promised 
to Jonathan that he would not exterminate Jonathan's family. When all was said and done, and 
David assumed the kingdom, David had promised not to slay the 
family of Saul. And again, that's something you 
just didn't do, but because they had this covenant agreement together. 
But you notice what Jonathan says to him in verse 17, you 
shall be king over Israel and I shall be next to you. Unfortunately, 
Jonathan dies. before such a thing could be 
realized. So you see God's encouragement. After this defense of Keilah, 
after this word from the Lord that Keilah would give David 
over into the hands of Saul, probably a depressing time for 
David. He would have had a case of the 
Mondays that day, I'm sure. And what does God do? God comes 
through his servant Jonathan to encourage his heart. Now notice 
finally the treachery of the Zephyrites. Verses 19 to 29. By the way, this is when David 
wrote Psalm 54. This instance with the Zephyrites. Psalm 54, the superscription 
says, to the chief musician with stringed instruments, a contemplation 
of David, when the Zephyrites went and said to Saul, Is David 
not hiding with us? Truly, David is an amazing man 
to be running from Ziphites and composing psalms for the Church 
of Jesus Christ. It's a blessing to be sure. Notice 
their treachery. The contrast with Kila, we have 
already mentioned. Probably Kila was gutless, the 
Ziphites are treacherous. Verse 19, Then the Ziphites came 
up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is David not hiding with us in 
strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hekelah, which is 
on the south of Jeshimon? Now therefore, O king, come down 
according to all the desire of your soul to come down, and our 
part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand. You see, 
that is just treachery, that is just wickedness, that's kissing 
up to the king, and that is selling out David. Notice the response 
by Saul, verses 21 to 23. Again, self-deception. Saul said, 
blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me. 
Do you think Saul is in any position to pronounce a benediction upon 
anyone in the name of Yahweh? It truly is amazing, isn't it? I mean, the depths to which this 
man will continually sink is absolutely mind-blowing. And 
remember, it all started out very, very small. He didn't wait 
for Samuel. Who would have thought? Chapter 
13, he didn't wait for Samuel. Chapter 14, he imposes a fast. Chapter 15, he disobeys with 
reference to Agag and the Amalekites. From there, it's just this downward 
spiral into this madness that we find before us. And notice 
as well, he continues to wallow in self-pity and sees himself 
as the victim. Blessed are you of the Lord, 
for you have compassion on me. Remember that howler back in 
22.8? All of you have conspired against 
me. This is to his own servants in 
Gibeah. And there is no one who reveals 
to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse. And there 
is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that 
my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait as 
it is this day. The pity party in Gibeah. That's 
what we call that particular section. Because that is precisely 
what it was. So now Saul sees these Ziphites 
and he says, finally, somebody has compassion on poor me. Because this man David, this 
renegade, this troubler of Israel, who by the way has saved Israel 
on two occasions. This man has become my enemy 
and now finally you dear Ziphites have had compassion on me. Truly 
is amazing the way that this man operates. Now notice his 
instructions. They were to pinpoint David's 
exact location and report back to Saul and they would accompany 
Saul on his mission to murder David. So then David Verse 24, So they arose and went 
to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in 
the wilderness of Maon, in the plain, on the south of Jeshamon. When Saul and his men went to 
seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down to the 
rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. Davis makes the observation, 
both Saul and David had a lot of informants. So all along the 
way, someone always tells Saul what's going on and someone always 
tells David what's going on. They didn't have email, they 
didn't have text, they didn't have fax, they didn't have phones, 
but they certainly had a good web of communication involved 
in this particular situation. So David hears what's happening. 
Saul is after him. They stay in the wilderness of 
Maon. Verse 25, And when Saul heard that, he pursued David 
in the wilderness of Maon. Now verse 26 is one of those 
nail-biting scenes. You may not bite your nails, 
I'd be biting my nails as I saw this all fleshed out. Saul and 
his men almost got David. Saul and his men are close. Saul 
and his men encircle the very mountain that both of them are 
on in order to take them. One man says that the side that 
David and his men were on went into an open area. Saul and his 
men would have picked them off. It would have been easy. I mean, 
you got one half on this side and one half on the other side, 
and this half is encircling and this half is about to close in 
on that. And what happens? Providence 
of God. Salvation by Philistine. Right? David kills Philistines in Keilah 
and now the Philistines save David's bacon. God the Lord truly 
is amazing. Notice verse 26, then Saul went 
on one side of the mountain and David and his men on the other 
side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away 
from Saul for Saul and his men were encircling David and his 
men to take that. You see, if verse 27 wasn't there, 
the natural outflow would be Saul and his men encircled David 
and took him and his men. But notice, verse 27, out of 
nowhere, and isn't this how God operates in this book? We need 
a king so we see some lost donkeys. We need to calm Saul so we need 
a servant to play the harp. And oh, that servant just happens 
to be David. All these things just happen 
to fall into place. Notice in verse 27, but a messenger 
came to Saul saying, hurry and come, for the Philistines have 
invaded the land. Just an amazing picture. You're 
watching the scene. Saul and his men are about to 
converge on David. And this messenger comes and 
Saul probably said, ah rats, we got to go actually do what 
I'm supposed to do. We got to leave off killing David, 
which is what I want to do, but we better go provide some support 
so we can keep these Philistines away. That's exactly what happens. 
The Philistines save David. Verse 28, therefore Saul returned 
from pursuing David. David and his men by this time 
are wiping their brow saying, Praise God, from whom all Philistines 
flow. I mean, these are the men that 
have saved us in this particular instance. Therefore Saul returned 
from pursuing David and went against the Philistines, so they 
called that place the Rock of Escape, or it could be the Rock 
of Divisions. We have Saul, we have David. Then David went up from there 
and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. So every step of the way, 
what God says or what the author says in verse 14 holds true. But God did not deliver him into 
his hand. Davis says concerning this rock 
of escape or rock of divisions, he says, of course, you can read 
this with blind, unbelieving eyes, babbling about how David 
can thank his lucky stars, he alluded Saul. Or you can read 
it with the clear vision of faith, exalting in the endless variety 
of ways in which Yahweh delivers His servants, marveling at Yahweh's 
timing and rejoicing that even Philistines can be pressed into 
the Lord's service. The rock of divisions indeed, 
a suitable name for an unforgettable place. is beautiful. The Lord God, every step of the 
way, did not deliver him into his hand. So in conclusion, a 
couple of thoughts and then we close. In the first place, the 
continued contrast between David and Saul. We introduced with 
that quote concern in the various contrasts that are in this chapter, 
but consider the ones that exist here just between David and Saul. David saves Keilah and not Saul. This was Saul's job. This is 
what Saul was supposed to do. Saul shouldn't have been on the 
hunt for David. Saul should have been defending Keilah and destroying 
Philistine. Secondly, David has access to 
Yahweh via prophet and priest, but Saul does not. See, that 
is significant and that is huge, brethren. Apart from the Word 
of God, we are nothing. Remember in the prophet Amos, 
God the Lord, through the prophet, tells the people that there would 
be a famine. Not a famine of bread, not a 
famine of meat, but rather a famine for hearing the Word of God. 
That's the worst thing that can ever happen to us. And it's one 
of the best things that can ever happen to us. Having our Bibles, 
having access to the Scriptures, having access to the very mind 
of God Most High. I wonder if we appreciate, as 
we ought, the reality that we have Bibles. that we have preaching, 
that we have study, that we have sermons, that we have all of 
the resources that the Lord God has given us. Apart from His 
Word, we are nothing. We need the Scripture, and David 
had it. Thirdly, David has a relationship 
with Jonathan, but Saul doesn't. I'm sure that just ate Saul up 
as well. Everything about David infuriated 
Saul. Imagine Saul seeing his son being 
the friend in covenant to David. David is the recipient of God's 
favor via providence, not Saul. You see the providence in the 
chapter? It's just beautiful. It's amazing every step of the 
way. And David continues to praise 
Yahweh, not Saul. In the second place, I've already 
mentioned this many times, so I won't again, the amazing providence 
of God. And then thirdly, we can turn 
to Psalm 54. It's always good to get David's application concerning 
these things. He's given us the Psalms as a 
record of praise in the various situations that he found himself 
in. I've already read the superscription. I'll read verse 1. Save me, O 
God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my 
prayer, O God. Give ear to the words of my mouth. 
For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought 
after my life. They have not set God before 
them. Selah. Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is with those who uphold 
my life. He will repay my enemies for 
their evil. Cut them off in your truth. I 
will freely sacrifice to you. I will praise your name, O Lord, 
for it is good, for he has delivered me out of all trouble, and my 
eye has seen its desire upon my enemies. Note specifically 
verses four and seven. Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is with those who uphold 
my life, for he has delivered me out of all trouble, and my 
eye has seen its desire upon my enemies. God did this for 
David in three ways in this particular chapter. In the first instance, 
it's through revelation. It is through the revelation 
of the mind of God to his servant, David. In other words, David 
has access to the throne of grace. In the second place, God did 
this through an encouraging friend, through Jonathan. we ought not 
to underestimate or undervalue the preciousness of good friends. And in this instance, Jonathan 
proved a faithful man to his friend David by strengthening 
his hand in God and by reminding him of the promises of God. That 
probably put the ballast back in David's soul so that he could 
continue to fight onward. And thirdly, God was David's 
helper. God brought deliverance through 
divine providence through the way that he orchestrated these 
events in order to spare David from the hand of wicked Saul. Well, let us pray. Our Father, 
we thank you for the Word of God and we thank you for the 
life of David and for what lessons we learn concerning our God in 
these sections of scripture. I pray that we would see the 
blessing of access through Christ to the throne of grace in terms 
of prayer, that we'd see the blessing that we have of access 
to the Word of God. to the scriptures and to preaching 
and teaching and good books and so many things that you've given 
us. As well, Father, help us to be Jonathans to the friends 
that we have. And as well, God, help us to 
acknowledge the reality that you govern all your creatures 
and all their actions, and you have purpose to work all things 
for good to those who love you, to those who are the called. 
according to your purpose. Thank you for these things, not 
only in David's life, but thank you for these things in our lives. 
We pray that you would go with us now, and we ask through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen.