The Explanation

David and his men were hiding from King Saul. Saul wanted to kill David, even though David had done nothing wrong. One day David heard something. Philistines, enemy soldiers, were attacking a town called Keilah, stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked God, "Should I go fight these Philistines?" God said, "Go. Save Keilah."

But David's men were scared. "We are already afraid here," they said. "How much more if we go fight a whole army?" So David asked God again. God answered again, "Go down. I will hand the Philistines over to you." David trusted God's second answer. He went, fought hard, rescued the animals, and saved the people of Keilah.

Then a priest named Abiathar came running to David, carrying something called an ephod, a special garment used to ask God questions. That was good, because Saul heard David was in Keilah and thought, "Now I have him trapped, shut inside a walled town!" Saul gathered his army to surround Keilah.

David asked God through the ephod, "Will the men of Keilah hand me over to Saul?" God said, "Yes, they will." So David and his six hundred men left quickly, before Saul even arrived. Saul heard David escaped, and stopped his plan.

David kept moving, hiding in the wilderness hills of Ziph. Saul hunted him every single day, but God did not let Saul catch him. Then something wonderful happened. Jonathan, Saul's own son, snuck out to find David in the woods. Jonathan said, "Don't be afraid. My father will not find you. You will be king one day, and I will stand right beside you." The two friends made a promise before God, and Jonathan went home.

But some men from Ziph told Saul exactly where David was hiding. Saul rushed there with his soldiers. David heard just in time and ran to the wilderness of Maon. Saul and his men chased him around one side of a mountain while David scrambled around the other side. Saul's men were closing in, almost surrounding David completely.

Then, right at that moment, a messenger ran up to Saul shouting, "Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking!" Saul had to turn around and leave. David escaped by moments. People later named that place Sela Hammahlekoth, which means "the rock of escape." David then went to live safely in the strongholds of En Gedi.

What Does This Mean?

David could have run away and hidden forever, only thinking about his own safety. Instead, he asked God first, "Should I help Keilah?" Even when his men were afraid, David asked God twice, and obeyed what God said. David was brave, but his bravery came from listening to God, not from feeling fearless inside.

Notice also how many times David asked God questions. He did not guess or just hope for the best. He asked, and waited, and asked again. God answered every single time, even when the answer was hard to hear, like "yes, they will hand you over."

The Common Thread

David was going to be king, just like Jonathan said. But first he suffered, hunted like an animal through deserts and rocks. Many years later, another King would also be hunted by powerful men who wanted him dead, even though he had done nothing wrong. Jesus, David's much greater descendant, was chased, betrayed, and nearly caught too. But God's timing protected Jesus, just as God's timing rescued David at Sela Hammahlekoth. God always finishes what He starts.

For You

When you are scared or unsure what to do, you can ask God, just like David did. You do not need golden garments or an ephod. You can simply pray, "God, what should I do?" And you can ask again if you are still unsure. God listens to children too, not only to kings hiding in caves.

Talk About It

Why do you think David asked God twice before going to help Keilah?

Have you ever felt as scared as David's men did? What helped you?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank You that David trusted You even when he was scared. Help me to ask You when I don't know what to do, and help me trust Your answer. Thank You for always watching over Your people. Amen.