Ask Twice, Listen Closely

Our Sunday School lesson was based on:

And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. (1 Samuel 23:16 KJV)

It was a very good lesson, teaching us to look for those who help build our faith, as Jonathan did for David; and to look for those we can help build their faith, as was done for us.  We were challenged to do so, rather than just saying, “I need to …” I do pray that what I write each day increases someone’s thoughts about their own faith.

But, I digressed in my reading.  Having missed a couple of Sundays due to illness, I looked back to catch up on verses I missed, and found:

Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh 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 hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up. (1 Samuel 23:10-12 KJV)

David’s first question reminds me of questions from reporters to politicians – covering more than one topic.  David had good reason for thinking Saul would kill others in his search.  Not long before, Ahimelech and his priestly family inadvertently aided David, thinking he was traveling for Saul. Instead, Saul blamed them and killed them. Thinking Saul would destroy Keilah was within reason.

David’s closeness to his Lord gave him strength to ask the questions. God answered the last one, “He will come down.” But that only solved part of David’s situation.  So, he asked again, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me?”

To save their city?  The answer given by God appears obvious to me. Perhaps it was obvious to David, too, but he requested clarification from his Lord.  We should, too.

We should be specific in our questions to our Lord. There’s a good example of David’s discourse with the Lord before battle in 2 Samuel 5 and 1 Chronicles 14, where when asked, God gave specific strategy for besting the Philistines. This from a man described as being after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).

If we wish to do God’s will, to follow His own heart, shouldn’t we pay attention to examples? Were we not encouraged to do so by our Lord himself?

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7 KJV)

Don’t stop at one verse – read before, after and get down to:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11 KJV)