King James Version
The Book of 1 Samuel
Chapter 23
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Commentary
by G. Neil Armstrong
In what seems like a very short time, David’s numbers had increased from about four hundred men to about six hundred. David was in Keilah at the end of the battle. The Lord had wrought him a great victory. Even though David’s small army feared the Philistines, they were able to overcome those fears and deliver Keilah from the hand of them. After David saved Keilah from the hand of the Philistines, they heard that Saul was coming to attack David and the people feared Saul. Because of this fear, they purposed in their heart to deliver David into the hands of Saul, that he might smite David.
The Lord is with David. At every turn, David inquires of the Lord as to what He would have him do. There is significance in this ephod that Abiathar had brought with him out of Nod. It was this ephod that David asked for when he inquired of the Lord. I researched the ephod and learned that it is a cloth-like shoulder garment, sort of like an ornamental armor piece. The significance is that it is consecrated for the Lord, that the priests had worn in ceremony to God.
In a way, David sought the guidance of the Lord by way of ceremony. He did understand the purpose of the ephod when he asked for it. He did use it when he inquired of God to lead him this way or that. Is it any wonder why God had described David as a man after His own heart? Did Saul ever go to such great lengths to honor God? All of this chasing and fleeing is somehow directly related to preparing David for his higher calling of being the next king of Israel.
We have struggles in our lives and for some of us, this struggle can last for many years at a time. There are good times and bad times in everybody’s lives, but in some there are hard times and not so hard times. This could be because of a troubled childhood or so traumatic experiences in our past, but it is made good by the hand of God to train us up in the way He will require of us. We are being prepared for a higher calling. God will make our crooked ways straight and our rough places plain. What the enemy means for evil God means for good.
I encourage the reader to embrace the challenging times and encourage ourselves in the knowledge that this difficult thing will somehow be made to bless us in the times yet to come. I know from personal experience that when I go through a particularly difficult time, all of the times that were difficult before are far easier to deal with. I am strengthened by the challenges to face unforeseen times to come.
My foot was severely injured on April 1st and there are days when it hurts so much that I can only walk with much pain and effort, but I continue for as long as I possibly can. This strengthens my foot for the days to come. Now I can go for longer periods because my foot is strengthened. In this way, we can be assured that no time is a bad time because it strengthens and makes the common challenges of no toil at all.
Thank You, Lord, for teaching us Your way as we learn how You have brought Your People through in the past. We can learn Your way through them and be encouraged that You have not abandoned us in our time of struggle. Knowing that the difficult times do strengthen us and help us to overcome that which used to overcome us encourages us. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
