What Should I Do?

1 Samuel 23:1-14

1 Samuel 23:1-2 (HCSB)

It was reported to David: “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and raiding the threshing floors.” So David inquired of the Lord: “Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?” The Lord answered David, “Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah.”

When issues arise

• Life is filled with issues

o Personal

o Professional

o Spiritual

• We are faced with a series of choices

o Advance or retreat

o Ignore the problem and do nothing

• The choice to seek guidance

o Go it alone without bathing the issue in prayer

o Seek the direction of God

 Be prepared to receive His instruction

1 Samuel 23:3 (HCSB)

But David’s men said to him, “Look, we’re afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

When doubt creeps in

• The devil will seek to confuse the issue

o The “what ifs?”

• Doubt often comes from those who are well meaning

o Doubt is generally rooted in fear of the unknown

• These times of doubt are a “crisis of belief”

o Is God trustworthy?

o Can He sustain you?

1 Samuel 23:4-5 (HCSB)

Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.” Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.

Clarify, confirm and commit

• When you are unsure

o Seek the Lord once again

o Clarification and verification

• God will either affirm or clarify His direction to you

o This affirmation is a call to obedience

o God is clearing your path

 No matter what lies ahead in your path

• Your obedience is critical

o Delayed obedience is still “disobedience”

 Delays can be costly

o God’s timing is divinely accurate

1 Samuel 23:7-8 (HCSB)

When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.” Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

Trouble on the horizon

• The enemy is always after you

• The war is never fought on just one front

• Often the Lord puts us in situations that leave no human way out

o That His power and glory might be revealed in us

1 Samuel 23:9-12 (HCSB)

When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”

The Lord answered, “He will come down.”

Being aware of your surroundings

• Where is God working?

o What are the opportunities?

o Who is He raising up?

o Where are His blessings evident?

• Where is the enemy lurking?

o What are the landmines?

o Where are the battle fronts?

o Where are you exposed?

• Seek God’s direction for the next steps

o The last direction may no longer be relevant to the circumstances

1 Samuel 23:12-14 (HCSB)

Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?”

“They will,” the Lord responded.

So David and his men, numbering about 600, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.

Getting the whole picture

• When you don’t have complete guidance

o Ask again on the points of uncertainty

• When the instruction becomes clear

o It is time to move forward in obedience

God’s will is never a guessing game. Are you listening???