8th April 2026

8th April 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (1 Samuel 23:1-14 focus 2b-13)


Message (Alan Burke)


I was sitting in at the dentist not so long ago, and the person beside me was there with a glossy magazine, and they were reading their horoscope. You could tell they were nervous, and whatever the horoscope said, they were thinking through what it meant in light of the fact that they were about to go sit in the dentist chair. For a laugh, I thought I’d read through my horoscope for today for the entertainment value, and wow, it’s like some of the prophetic words I’ve heard about me by charismatics, vague, and I could, if I was gullible, be excited about it because everything this month is going to be amazing, but I know already it’s not. People look for direction in all kinds of things; we seek counsel and advice from those around us, maybe a financial adviser, or a travel agent, estate agent, family, friends; some people even turn to the horoscopes for all the good that does them. 


David, though, sought the Lord and his will; he looked to the word of the Lord. He enquired of the LORD, and the answer was given: David was to “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” It may not have been what David wanted to hear, but it was definitely not what his men wanted to hear. So David once more inquires of the LORD. The Word of the LORD was against what seemed wise to David’s men. From a human point of view, it was total foolishness, madness. It is the same today; the Word of the LORD declares the way of salvation, but the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18). David went; he trusted in the word of the LORD, and he and his men had the victory. 


Notice how we are told in v6 (Now Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah). Well, remember Saul had slaughtered the priests and inhabitants of Nob because of the aid they gave to David. Well, one of those priests was Ahimelech; he had helped David. And here we are told that his son Abiathar had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah. He hears of what David has done and he comes to him. 


An ephod was a fine linen garment that the priests wore over their garments. What Abiathar brought was the ephod of the Chief Priests, with the Urim and Thummim that were used to determine the LORD’s will. - The Urim and Thummim were some sort of sacred lot and were part of the high priest’s equipment that were used to discern the will of the LORD  (Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; 1 Sam. 14:41–42). Not only did David have Gad the seer, but he also had the Urim and Thummim. The LORD was equipping David with everything he needed to rule as king, and he was stripping away everything from Saul, the rejected king, because of his own sinfulness. David was trusting in the LORD, and Saul was trusting in himself. And when Saul learns David had gone to Keilah, he sees it as a God-given opportunity, that God has handed David over to him, but he was wrong. 


We do not have a prophet like David had in Gad, we do not have an ephod with the Urim and Thummim. Hebrews 1 reminds us: In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… (Heb 1:1–2). God has spoken to us through his Son. His revelation is complete; we do not need anything more to determine the will of God. If you have your Bible, then you have the word of God, the word of God which is our only rule and guide, which teaches what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Look to it, trust in it, let your path in life be guided by it, for it will teach you the way of wisdom, to trust in God, to trust in his Christ (Jn 14:1).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q 36 What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.
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