Read 1 Samuel 23:1-13
In the Forest of Hereth, David was shaping his band of misfits into being men who could trust one another and work together with military precision. Up to this point, the purpose was to teach them how to provide for and defend themselves, avoid Saul's men, who were hunting them down, as well as support one another. The focus was inclusive, until word arrives of trouble in Keilah.
The tactic the Philistines used was very common. They would lay back and wait while the farming communities put in the necessary hard work to plant, tend and harvest a bountiful crop. Then, when all the threshing was done and the processed grain was being ready for storage, they would swoop down and attack, stealing the grain for themselves. This could put the village in dire straights for the entire year and possibly beyond.
Previously, as one of Israel's valiant men, David would have been part of the military usually sent to defend villages like Keliah. Back then, David would have known how to respond and done so promptly. Under the current circumstances, he doesn't know if he should go to their assistance or not. He could honestly state, "It's not my problem nor my responsibility." They really weren't. They were Saul's, but he seems to be too focused on his "Eradicate David" campaign to even care. Besides, David already had his hands full of 400+ dependents. But, the Keilah-ites were people in desperate need. Whether or not they were David's responsibility, he did care. However, it still wasn't his responsibility and no longer his job. This identity crisis, of sorts, left him in a quandary.
When things change in our lives, we can find ourselves equally perplexed. What we've "always" done may not be what we are to do now. Even though we know what to do and how to do it, the question remains: Should we? These transitions come with parenthood as our children progress through different stages. It occurs in relationships with family and friends as changes in their and/or our lives redefine our roles. This also occurs at work and in ministry. The presumption of "I can means I should" can lead to big problems.
David didn't know what to do about Keilah, but he did know what to do about it. He inquired of the Lord what He wanted them to do. David believed God had a specific will as to what they did or didn't do. He asked. When the people under him questioned the
wisdom of it, he asked again. Like
David, God graciously invites us to confirm His will as long as we are doing so
to fully obey not looking for a way around obedience.
David not only wanted to lead these men with confidence, but he wanted them to follow with confidence as well. God confirmed that they were to go up against the Philistines on behalf of Keilah. God granted David and his men incredible success.
However, that
is not the end of the story. When Saul
heard about David’s going to Keilah’s aid, he didn’t respond with appropriate
gratitude that David had done what he could and should have done, but saw it as
an opportunity to get David. We can
imagine David’s surprise when he heard that Saul was going to destroy his own
kingdom village to capture or kill him. David had inquired of God if he was
supposed to go to their aid. God had said “yes,” twice! In this incident could
did mean should. But obedience led to complications, confusion and possible
chaos. What should he do now? What he
did from the beginning – inquire of the Lord.
Assumptions,
presumptions and jumping to conclusions could have changed everything. Keilah
could have fallen to the Philistines. David’s men could easily get the message
that it is only about their needs. The people of Israel wouldn’t know that
David really did care about them. He could have claimed his rights over Keilah
and fought Saul, maybe even killing him and taking his throne by force. Of
course, he too may have lost men or even his own life. Instead, David sought God’s will. He took every could and question of should as
an opportunity to seek the Lord’s will!
Making It Personal
Does God have a specific will for the situations and decisions in your life? (How you answer that question will determine if and when you seek God's will in making a decision.)
When others question your decision, what is your usual response? How should you respond?
How
do you respond when obedience leads to greater challenges and more questions?
The
same person wrote Ecclesiastes 7:13,14 and Proverbs 3:5,6. How do these verses
apply to seeking the Lord’s “should?”
What is your "usual" reason for wanting to know what God wants?
How
does this compare to 2 Corinthians 5:9?
What does this mean to you in regards to the “should” questions you are
dealing with right now in your life?
