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On the Job Training

1 Samuel 23:1-29

There is so much to learn as a leader that God takes ten years of David?s life to do it. Much of that time David is on the run from Saul, but starting here he starts acting like the king?doing the things a king would be expected to do. I?m not sure it was part of a grand plan of David?s?he saw a need and reacted with the character that God was working in him. It?s a great lesson to us when God creates a character in us and then expects us to act on that character even in the midst of opposition.

 

1 ? 2

 

Keilah was a border town between Israel and Philistia, located about twelve miles from Gath and about ten miles west of the forest of Hereth, where David was hiding from Saul. ?Robbing the threshing floors? was a pretty common thing the Philistines would do. Once the Hebrews had done all the hard work of harvesting they Philistines would swoop in and steal the produce.

 

Now David could have reacted like ?this is a job for the king, Saul. If he doesn?t come down here then he?s falling down on the job and the blame goes to him.? That?s the sort of ?not my job, man? mentality. David had been anointed king but he wasn?t king yet and so could easily avoid taking responsibility. He doesn?t.

 

David goes right to the Lord and wants to know ?should I take my rag-tag army and rescue my fellow Israelites?? God, through the Urim and Thummim held in the priest?s ephod, said ?go.? It was a kind of ?yes? and ?no? thing so David would have had to ask the question. He?s already willing to go if God tells him.

 

When you see a need what is your reaction? ?Somebody else is in charge of that so they better step up to their responsibilities here.? Now, I?m not talking about being an opportunist, taking responsibility for something when it is already covered and you are stepping on toes for your own promotion. But we should be those that react to need with ?how can we fix this?? That?s the mark of a leader?ready to get in and solve problems, not waiting for someone who might come along.

 

But the second thing is equally important. David didn?t just bank on his military might and say ?we can do it so we should do it.? He asked God and then moved forward.

 

Now look at his men?s reaction?it is anything but faithful.

 

3 ? 5

 

The guys say ?It?s tough enough for us here with Saul chasing us, and now you want us to make an enemy of the Philistines too?? So instead of pulling rank, like he could have done, David goes before the Lord again. This time his question is a little different. Before it might have been ?Should be go and attack? this time it?s ?Will you cause us to win?? The answer again is ?Yes.? This is another hallmark of a good leader?a person who is not afraid for others to question decisions and willing to in humility go before God as the ultimate authority.

 

So the guys are apparently satisfied and they go and, surprise, they are victorious?not that the people of Keilah are all that thankful as we?ll see in a moment. But that is not what?s important here. David saw a real need, responded with the character God gave him, asked for direction from God, sought to rally the men to the Lord?s direction and then followed through. He rescued the people despite their attitudes. We as leaders need to do the same?do God?s work for God?s people no matter whether they appreciate it or not. Saul is actually happy about this, but not for Keilah.

 

6 ? 14

 

Here we seen in a little more detail what was probably the process earlier. Abiathar, the last remaining son of the slain residents of Nob, comes with the Ephod containing the Urrim and Thummim. David asks a series of questions after his spies tell him that Saul is coming. It reveals David?s steadfast reliance on God?s direction. If I had heard my enemy was coming to kill me I?d be out of there as quickly as possible. David patiently entreats the Lord for information until he knows there is no other way than escape. Now his men number 600 so they?ve grown since the last chapter.

 

They go to Ziph because the people of Keilah are probably afraid of royal retribution if they harbor David. Ziph is south of Keilah and directly west of Engedi. Saul decides to give up when he hears David has gone away.

 

15 ? 18

 

Here is the last time that Jonathan and David meet. Notice what Jonathan does??strengthened his hand in God.? Isn?t that awesome? Jonathan doesn?t come to strengthen his hand with military might or intelligence or his allegiance to flaunt in the face of Saul. He simply wants David to be stronger in his relationship and reliance on God. This should be our mission too. I am increasingly impressed with this man Jonathan and plan to have some long talks with him in heaven. The two renew their commitment to each other and then Jonathan goes home. They will not meet again.

 

19 ? 23

 

The Ziphites are more cruel than the residents of Keilah. They decide to win some points with Saul and basically give him up. I can?t believe that Saul says ?may you be blessed by the Lord.? This is not of the Lord at all. He puts them to work locating David exactly because he?s learned by now how slippery David can be. They almost succeed.

 

24 ? 29

 

Maon is a little southwest of Ziph. This looks like it for David. He is about to be captured. Then, seemingly unconnected, just as he is about to slam the trap shut, a messenger comes with word that the Philistines are attacking ?the land.? Reminds me of later when Jerusalem is surrounded by the Assyrians when they hear that their king is embattled against an enemy and they have to leave (2 Kings 18).

 

David then keeps going east to Engedi, which is on the upward slope away from the Dead Sea to the Judean desert. It?s a barren place filled with caves and some waterfalls. It also has signs warning people to watch for leopards. Not the most friendly place in the world, but a place for God to continue training his king.

 

Lessons

A good leader considers the work more important than the worker

David was really continuing to discharge his duties for the kingdom despite the king.

A good leader has compassion on others first, rather than looking for others to have compassion on him/her first

Compare David and Saul. Saul looked to the people of Ziph for what they could do for him. David did good for them and Keilah even though they would have given him up and had no compassion at all.

A good leader sees a need and fills it

Even if that need is not necessarily his responsibility. It is done humbly and with God?s direction.

A good leader continually trusts in God.

Notice that just asking God once isn?t enough here? David first learns of Saul?s plans and escapes but then God doesn?t reveal Saul?s plan but intervenes for David directly.

A good leader trusts in the character of God, not in the character of men

Saul relied on human intelligence to tell him where David was. David relied on godly intelligence to tell him where to go and when.

A good leader does the right thing, even if he gets nothing for it.

David did some really good things for the people of Keilah. They returned the favor by giving him up to Saul. Getting a bad response shouldn?t dissuade us from doing the right thing.