"Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, 'God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.'" (1 Samuel 23:7) If word is able to reach Saul that David is at Keilah, then surely word was able to reach Saul that Keilah had been invaded by the Philistines. But Saul didn't lift a finger to help his fellow Israelites. He didn't do a thing to defend his nation from the enemy. It's only now, when he hears David is at Keilah, that he decides to send troops there. "And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men." (1 Samuel 23:8)
Saul has betrayed his own people by not coming to their aid. David, though it meant great risk to his personal safety, delivered the people of Keilah from the invaders. But David is concerned that if Saul's men come to Keilah to arrest him, the citizens will hand him over to Saul's soldiers. They've no doubt heard about what happened at Nob when the high priest gave food and a sword to David: upon Saul's orders the high priest and all the other priests were killed, along with their families and all the men, women, children, and animals at Nob. They know Saul will do to them what he did to the people of Nob if they give asylum to David. "When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, 'Bring the ephod.' 'David said, 'Lord, God of Israel, Your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell Your servant.' And the Lord said, 'He will.' Again David asked, 'Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?' And the Lord said, 'They will.'" (1 Samuel 23:9-12)
We don't know how a message gets to David that Saul is planning to have his troops surround the city to demand that the people turn David and his men over to them. We were told earlier in the book of 1 Samuel that the majority of the citizens of Israel loved David and this means he has many supporters in many places---even in the king's palace. Upon hearing the king plotting to send soldiers to Keilah, one or more of these supporters makes sure David receives a warning in time to escape. A messenger can run or ride to Keilah faster than a large group of troops can pack up all their gear and supplies and make the journey. This gives David an edge over Saul's men.
Saul wasn't willing to go up and attack the invading Philistines but he's willing to attack his own people if that's what it takes to make them hand David over. David hates to believe such a thing is true but the Lord confirms it. David also hates to believe the people he just rescued from the enemy will hand him over but the Lord confirms this too. He has no choice but to go on the run once again. As we read this next passage we should take note that the number of soldiers with him has grown. "So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there." (1 Samuel 23:13) He previously had four hundred men and I assume these extra two hundred left the city of Keilah with him. They are grateful to him for saving them from the Philistines and, if they ever felt any loyalty or affection toward King Saul, that is no longer the case. Why should they keep giving their allegiance to a king who not only didn't come out to save them from the Philistines but who also would have put them and their families to death if they had stood between him and David?
On the one hand we can see why the people of Keilah should have felt obligated to protect David. On the other hand we can see why they would have had to make the difficult choice not to protect him. Saul's troops could have surrounded the city and bottled them up until they starved to death for lack of supplies from outside. If Saul's troops tore down a wall and swarmed into the city they would have outnumbered the people of Keilah---and many of those people are not soldiers but ordinary citizens including women, children, elderly people, and those with illnesses or disabilities. To stand against Saul almost certainly means the death of everyone there. They feel they have no choice but to hand David over if Saul's men come. David must flee for his life but two hundred brave young men decide to go with him. They decide to give their allegiance to David, who cares about them, instead of to Saul, who cares about nothing but the ravings of his own unsound mind.
"David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands." (1 Samuel 23:14) It must have been so encouraging when the two hundred extra men put their support behind him. David knows the Lord is with him, for the Lord answers his prayers and protects his life. But it would have been so much harder to live in exile if he had to live alone. It would have been so much harder to keep his spirits up without the initial four hundred men and the two hundred additional men who are there every day to bolster his faith and provide godly fellowship. These men believe David is the Lord's chosen king, so much so that they are willing to risk everything to give him their full allegiance. They trust the Lord and they trust David. Knowing he has their trust and support is exactly what he needs right now to keep from falling into doubt and depression.
Have there been times when a godly friend has come alongside you and encouraged you when you were tempted to give up? Didn't it do your heart good to know a fellow human being was on your side? Maybe someone needs your encouragement or my encouragement today. The Lord has placed people in our lives from time to time to help us along the journey; let's do what we can to "pay it forward" and help those around us who may be struggling.
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