Two Tests of Faith
1 Samuel 23:1–15
Paul J. Bucknell
Keilah’s need | Two tests of faith | Obedience and faith
Two Tests of Faith
Problems are often raised, but we usually are too selfish to care or too little faithful to act. We often ignore the voice.
First Test
We don’t care. We are too busy focusing on our own lives. We have our own responsibilities to handle. If we asked anyone if Keilah was important, they would all say, “Yes!” But convincing others to commit is a different matter. People are too selfish. Sometimes this selfishness shows itself like this: “Well, if there is a problem, it isn’t mine. I don’t want to deal with a problem like theirs. If I get involved, then the enemy will notice me. I don’t want that.” The underlying decision here is that, while Keilah is important, it isn’t more important than our own well-being and safety. As long as we hold this attitude, the church of Jesus Christ will remain mediocre and fail to show the world God's love.
The Second Test
The second test, of course, is wondering whether we can effectively do anything about it. In some ways, this response is much better than the first. Initially, they never got out of their own lives enough to see if God could do anything. They simply didn’t care. Our churches often relate to each other this way. They do not collaborate. The churches could be a community working together for the benefit of society, or they could be separate entities with petty jealousies. But the belief that something can be done is so important. We see this as closer to the problem David and his men faced. And this, no doubt, is most of our problem. Our issue is not the money or resources but our belief that God wants to do something about it.
We often resemble David. We care enough to ask God about the situation, but when we receive His reply, we face all kinds of obstacles. Notice this progression in verses 2-3.
Ask - So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?"
Answer - And the LORD said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines, and deliver Keilah.
Self - But David's men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?"
Most projects stop here because, along with people’s selfish responses, confusion arises. In one sense, we cannot blame David’s men; they were not cowards. They had dedicated time to their training and led hard lives. They did not fear the battle as some others might have. David, their commander, believed they could be part of the solution. We remember David’s battle with Goliath many years earlier. His faith still courageously led them.
The problem was simply that David’s men were being regularly pursued in Judah. They saw the land of the Philistines as a refuge. But if they attacked the Philistines, it would cut off any chance of taking refuge there. In fact, they would be surrounded by two opposing nations that wanted to get rid of David and his men: Judah, with Saul on one side, and the Philistines on the other. They would be surrounded. David responded in an unfamiliar way. He was a great leader. Look at verse 4.
Ask again- Then David inquired of the LORD once more. And the LORD answered him and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand."
David could have listened to his men because he cared for them. There’s no doubt that their loosely formed group had become a close-knit network of loyal followers. David’s men knew this and trusted his leadership. When David asked God again, he risked everything. God answered with what no one wanted to hear.
But the question arose from a deep concern for some Israelites. This is the part we can easily overlook. David was not trying to be a hero but a helper. He saw someone in need and believed God could use them to resolve it. And so David’s values (care) and faith (rallying them) prompted an army to move forward into battle. Sometimes, as leaders, we lead God’s people for the wrong reasons. Here, David had concern, and God empowered his army to accomplish His own works of deliverance.