6th April 2026

6th April 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (1 Samuel 23:1-14 focus v1-2a)


Message (Alan Burke) 


I’m aware that it’s been about two and a half years since we were last in the book of 1 Samuel, so I’m going to in big, broad brushstrokes summarise the first 22 chapters. 1 Samuel records the events just as the period of the Judges is coming to an end. It had been a time marked by the people’s faithlessness to the LORD, a time when ‘everyman did what was right in his own eyes’ (Jud 21:25). The LORD, though, through his sovereign plans and purposes, was going to act, and at the beginning of 1 Samuel, we are introduced to Hannah, her desperation, and faith to begin a new chapter in Israel’s history. Hannah gives birth to a son and dedicates him to the service of God. 


This son is called Samuel, a prophet of God. He led the people, and towards the end of his life, the people of God demanded a king. The LORD gives them a king in Saul; he was the king the people wanted, but not what they needed; he was not obedient to the LORD and became the rejected king. 


Meanwhile, David, who we are told is a man after God’s own heart, becomes the king elect. He demonstrated his faith; his popularity among the people grew. Whereas Saul’s jealousy grew, and so did his paranoia, and David is forced to flee from his presence; he sought help in Nob before receiving refuge in Gath, which was the home of the Philistines. To survive, David had to feign insanity before the king of Gath. He then escaped and went to the cave of Adullam, and four hundred men, likely with their families too, came to David, seeing him as their leader. 


Saul, consumed by paranoia and hatred for David, accuses his servants of conspiring against him and orders the slaughter of the priests and inhabitants of Nob. David is left burdened by the unintended consequences of looking for help in Nob. David is being hunted by Saul; he’s a fugitive, he’s the king-elect running from the rejected king. David had every reason to be paralysed by fear; he was facing the might of the king and his armies. We pick up today and David hears a report that the Philistines are fighting against Keilah; in effect, by looting the threshing floors, they were taking the grain that was needed for the people’s survival over the winter. Even if the people of Keilah survived the attacks, many would not survive the winter. 


David heard because Saul hadn’t responded to the people’s plight; he did nothing in the midst of their need, and he asks of the LORD: “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” How did David inquire of the LORD? Well, if you look back to 22:5, we are told of the prophet Gad who was with David and his men. The prophet Gad was also referred to as David’s seer. Both seer and prophet were used interchangeably; in effect, Gad was a prophet of the LORD God who had a unique role; he was not to give prophecy regarding the nation but rather he was to give counsel of God to David, his king. (Also see: 2 Sam 24:11, 18–19, 1 Chro 21:9, 11, 13, 18-19, 29:29, 2 Chron 29:25). 


David inquired of the LORD; he looked to the LORD. For us, we should in the everyday kind of things that often come across our path look to the LORD. A job opportunity, retirement plans, holidays, new cars, maybe a house move. I think it’s fair to say that we seek counsel, advice from those around us, maybe a financial adviser, or a travel agent, estate agent, family, friends. But remember that as believers, we have been redeemed at such a great cost, and in response, we are to live to the praise of his glory; we do that by looking to him in all things, big and small, seeking to do his will in all things (Eph 1:4).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q34 What is adoption?
A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
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