God Helps us with our Choices by Tim Parkinson
When we consult God in prayer, or through His written word, the Bible, or get Godly counsel, we have an opportunity to thoughtfully consider our options and decide which the Lord would have choose.
We still do the choosing. It’s not up to God to choose, He’s given that responsibility to us.
If we wait on God to choose for us, we may get what neither we nor God want us to have.
Christians need to be led by that still small voice leading to taking action, not into procrastination. As we are moving, God is then able to steer us and even provide us a “tailwind”.
David provides us with a good example of how to be a winner” by doing things God’s way.
David Saves the City of Keilah
1Sa 23:1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
1Sa 23:2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
David has good intentions, does is that fix anything or solve any situation?
1Sa 23:3 And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
David’s people are afraid, so why should he choose to follow their counsel? We shouldn’t by motivated by fear of failure.
1Sa 23:4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
1Sa 23:5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
Following the word of the Lord by faith is always the best choice to make. Getting a word comes first followed by taking action. He didn’t need to procrastinate or pray again for further guidance. God assured David that He was giving him victory in battle and David didn’t doubt it. He didn’t look at any other circumstances that might dissuade him from helping that city.
1Sa 23:7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
1Sa 23:8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
So after David delivered the city of Keilah, he became a target for King Saul, who wanted to kill Him.
1Sa 23:9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
It seems that David understood all along, that he was opening Himself up to discovery, if he saved Keilah. So David came back to God for further guidance.
1Sa 23:10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
1Sa 23:11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
1Sa 23:12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
After God revealed what would happen if David stayed there, he and his men got out of town.
1Sa 23:13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
Because of David’s decision, King Saul didn’t even bother to leave home.
1Sa 23:14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
Saul would have come down, and the men of Keilah would have betrayed their deliverer. Thus the prediction was totally conditional;
Therefore, Let us Consider
This relates to the messages from the prophets to God’s chosen people. God had always tried to guide His people to make the right choices, so something bad wouldn’t happen to them. God didn’t have to punish them, since their choices put them onto a certain destructive path.
Prophecies relative to the apostasy of Israel were given to those whom God hoped would listen and repent of their ways. They were only fulfilled in those who did not receive them as warnings.
Those who believed and acted escaped. God speaks to those who choose to listen and will hear His guidance.
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