“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).
Most of the last 12 chapters of the book of 1 Samuel are the record of Saul’s jealousy and pursuit of David, the heir to the throne of Israel. In the 23rd chapter, there is a short incident in the city of Keilah that merits our attention. David, by the Lord’s request and support, went to Keilah and saved the people from the hands of the wicked Philistines. After the defeat, David and his men stayed in Keilah for some time.
When word came to Saul that David was camping in Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand…” (1 Sam. 23:7). Consequently, Saul then prepared for war against the people of Keilah. David soon heard of Saul’s planned conquest, and decided he needed to take some action also. He again, as he had in 23:2, “…inquired of the Lord,” as to what the best plan of action would be. The Lord warned him of the danger, and David and his men fled the city unharmed.
The lesson of the story can be found in the contrast between the two leaders’ trust. When Saul heard of the opportunity, notice that he credited God for the chance to slay David. It is interesting because though he gave the Lord the credit, he made no attempt to do the His will. In fact, it had been quite some time since Saul had even attempted to be pleasing to God, even rebelling against Him just prior to this by slaying 85 of God’s priests and a whole city (cf. 22:6-23). We might say he gave lip-service to God. He had no intention of doing anything that God wished—he did whatever he wanted to do. But, he wanted to make it look as though he was trying to please God. We might call his attitude one of “trust.”
David, on the other hand, didn’t just portray a trust in God, but the first thing he did was express his trust by “inquiring of the Lord” as to what decision he should make. There was no lip service. He wanted to do only and exactly what the Lord desired him to do. Though David would make mistakes in his lifetime, He is called a man after God’s own heart “(cf. 1 Sam. 13:14). In other words, we might say that his purpose was fully in line with God’s purpose. His desire was to do God’s will.
Let us not follow after the hypocritical ways of Saul, giving lip service to God though inwardly seeking our own way. But, let us strive every day to accomplish not our own will, but the will of God. There was one who came after David, who also modeled this purity of heart. He expressed His desire for another way, but in the end, because of His trust in God, could only say, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Should we not strive for the same?