1Sa 23:10-13

Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.

“Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand?
Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard?
O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.”
And the LORD said, “He will come down.”

Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?”
And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”

Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah,
and they went wherever they could go.
When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit.

David knew Saul was coming.
David sought the Lord.
David had questions for the Lord.

He knew Saul would destroy the city of Keilah on his behalf.

Note how David inquired…
“O Lord God of Israel…”
“I pray…”
“Tell Your servant…”

Passion.
Concern.
Humility.

David wanted to know if Saul was coming.
God said “He will come down”.

David wanted to know if the men of Keilah would surrender him to Saul to save their city.
God said “yes”.

David then clarified/verified.
Would the men of Keilah surrender him and his men into Saul’s hands?
God said “yes”.

What did David do?
He and 600 men (up from 400) arose and departed Keilah.
They went wherever they could go.
Saul heard.
Saul gave up pursuit.

Now, why is this passage so important for us.
A couple of reasons…

It continues the narrative of David.

Then this…

This shows us that foreknowledge is not the same as predestining.

God has foreknowledge of all.
Every possibility.
Every option.
Amazing.

He told David that the men of Keilah would surrender.
This is foreknowledge.

Yet, it did not happen.
David left.

Was God wrong?
Of course not.
He simple told David what would happen…if he stayed.
It was not predestined.
It was not preordained.

This has huge ramifications to our understanding of God.

We will reflect back on this many times…from now until the Lord returns.

For today, rejoice in the wonder and glory of the Most High God, He Who is without limit.

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