20240418

knowing the moves

1 Samuel 23:6-12 (JDV)

1 Samuel 23:6 Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.
1 Samuel 23:7 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.”
1 Samuel 23:8 Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
1 Samuel 23:9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod.”
1 Samuel 23:10 Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, your servant has reliable information that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.
1 Samuel 23:11 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.” Yahveh answered, “He will come down.”
1 Samuel 23:12 Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” “They will,” Yahveh responded.

knowing the moves

Often when we believers encounter a challenge, we are tempted to use our prayers to give God instructions on what to do about our problems. It struck me as I read today’s passage that David was not in a hurry to do that. He was more concerned with knowing whether the rumor he heard was true, then he could act upon it. It was as if David and Saul were in a deadly chess game. David wanted to know Saul’s next move so that respond appropriately. Winning at chess requires the ability to know the next potential moves.

Perhaps we should learn to direct our prayers this way, too. Our appeals to God, when we are facing trouble, should be for his omniscience to help us know the next move our opponents will make so that we can avoid their intentions. As such, we are using God’s awareness to our advantage.