27th.: Verify Intell. Briefings with the Lord
After beating the Philistines, David encamped at Keilah. (1st Sam. 23:6).
There, David received intelligence reports that Saul planned to come take David (1st Sam. 23:9).
So David asked the Lord, “O Lord God of Israel, thy 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 up into his hand?
Will Saul come down, as thy servant has heard?
O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant.” (1st Sam. 23:10-11c).
David asked the two questions most important to him.
1. Will Saul come,
and
2. Will the Keilahites turn on David.
The Lord answered, “He will come.” (1st Sam. 23:11d).
David realized that the Lord tersely answered only his second question.
David therefore re-asked the first question, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” (1st Sam. 23:12a).
The Lord answered, “They will deliver thee up.” (1st Sam. 23:12b).
With this confirmation, David and his men left Keilah.
It is good to present any foreseeable problems to the Lord.
David’s questions may have come across as rapidly asking a slew of questions.
Answering the questions one at a time, minimized communication errors between God and David, at least in this case.
Nevertheless, be prepared to sometimes respectfully ask God the same question several times.
“… the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.” (Pr. 19:21b)