The Book of First Samuel
Chapter 23
[1] Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
[2] Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
[3] And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
[4] Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
[5] So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
1) Divine Direction (V 1-5)
David is led, by God, out of Adullam (refuge) back to Judah 
In Judah, David can be reached in the time of need and therefore help the people
We like to be safe, and God called David out of his comfort zone
The threshing floor is where the grain is processed on its way to becoming bread. 
The enemy comes and robs Israel of all of its reward of hard work and their resources 
“They told David”............. Why not tell Saul ? It was Sauls job to protect Keilah
David could’ve said it’s not my responsibility or my business
David could’ve said I’ll help you on my own OR I’ve got my mind made up
But instead David inquired of the Lord
God told David to go. David tells his men and they advise that they are afraid 
Remember, they are a group of misfits, they hide from Saul but are gonna stand?
David wrestles with their advice & inquires of God again
God said “Go and I will deliver thee”
God is confirming His word (His previous command) and gives a Promise with it (confidence)
David and his men follow God’s word and gain a great victory 
Right here David inquired of God’s will, Knew God’s will, Obeyed God’s will and had victory

[6] And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
[7] And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
[8] And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
2) Darkened Discernment (V 6-8)
Abiathar, the priest who escaped, comes with the ephod (covering over clothing of priest) to Keilah
The ephod is the breastplate of judgment (12 stones) and contains the urim and thummim
Saul is told that David is at Keilah. He beleives that God has delivered his enemy David into his hand
Saul just assumes since he dislikes David that David is an enemy of the Lord.
Yet God and the priest are with David while King Saul is in the flesh
Saul calls the people to war at Keilah. Not against the real enemy (Philistines) but against David
Instead of saving the people of Keilah, he will rip the city apart to kill David
Saul believes this is the will of God

[9] And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
[10] 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.
[11] 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.
[12] 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.
[13] Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
[14] And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
[15] And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
3) Determined Declaration (V 9-15)
David, did not blame God for being found out by Saul, but inquired of God once more
Will Saul come down to Keilah ? Yes (Sauls hatred for David) 
Will the men of Keilah betray me ? Yes (The fear of Saul’s wrath)
Thus David and his 600 men depart and when Saul heard David had left, he halted his expedition
David hid in the wilderness (not comfortable and was afflicted) 
Saul sought him each day, a determined enemy, unrelenting, focused, obsessed and pressuring 
But God protected David * David hid in the wood............. (The cross Col 3:3) 

[16] And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
[17] And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
[18] And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
4) Dedicated Disciple ( V 16-18)
Jonathan went to David and strengthened David......... Sent of God
He greatly encouraged David (Fear Not- God’s Protection) (Next king- God’s Promise)
(Next unto thee- God’s Preservation) (Saul knows - God’s Power)
David & Jonathon make a covenant. This is the last time they saw each other on earth.

[19] Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
[20] Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.
[21] And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
[22] Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
[23] See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
[24] And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
[25] Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
[26] And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
[27] But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
[28] Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
[29] And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.
5) Dramatic Deliverance (V 19-29)
The Ziphites, the people of the wilderness where David hid, betray David
Saul, spiritually warped, says “Blessed be ye of the Lord” 
Saul asks that they go back and deceive David, but know David is crafty
Psalm 54 was written right here
David and his men, knowing Saul pursues them, narrowly escape
“Saul and his men on this side and David and his men on that side” 
They are on the same mountain, just separated by a ridge
Then mysteriously a messenger comes and drew Sauls attention to the Philistines
The hand of God delivered, thus David men called this place the Rock of Escape