“Now they told David behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and a robbing the threshing floors. Therefore David inquired of the Lord, shall I go and attack these Philistines? And the Lord said to David, go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
– 1 Samuel 23:1–2
This is one of multiple times in just this chapter. First, Samuel chapter 23, when David inquires of the Lord, shall I do this? Shall I do that? And God answers says, do this or do that. And it is such a powerful reminder all over this chapter to live like this. Before we act to inquire of the Lord first.
Before we do anything else, before we seek counsel from anyone else, before we make a decision for sure, to inquire of the Lord, to live in constant community education with God in unceasing prayer, communion with God, such that we are always looking to him for leadership in every facet of our lives. To live moment by moment, day by day, inquiring of the Lord.
1 Samuel 23:1–2 Helps Us to Know the Lord
God wants His will to be accomplished in our lives more than we do.
That’s how I want to live my life. Like every single thing I do directed by God. Don’t you want that in your life? Knowing that God knows better than any one of us, what is best for our lives. And we trust him to lead us for our good and others good and for his glory. So to follow his leadership and in order to do that, we must inquire of his leadership in small decisions, in big decisions.
And isn’t it good to know that God wants his will to be accomplished in our lives more than we do. It’s not like he’s hiding his will from us. It’s not like he’s trying to keep us from walking in obedience to him. He wants us to inquire of him and he will lead us as we do, as we seek him in prayer, as we go to his word. And as you read and you see these different instances in 1 Samuel 23, it’s almost unfair for these other armies because David has a direct line to God.
1 Samuel 23:1–2 Shows Us the Beauty of the Gospel
And this is the beauty of what Jesus has made possible for all of us who have trusted in him as savior and Lord of our lives. And so we pray with this direct line to God. God make us men and women who constantly inquire of you. Forgive us for times when we have moved forward, for tendencies we have to move forward without first inquiring of you. God, we want to follow your leadership in every facet of our lives, in every decision we make. In small decisions, in big decisions. God, I pray for my life today. For everyone who’s listening to this, help us to seek you, to inquire of you, to hear from you as we navigate decisions we make today. Help us to make those decisions according to your word and the leadership of your spirit as we seek you.
God, I pray for those who are making big decisions in their lives. Lord, help them to inquire of you to seek you through prayer and fasting. I pray that you would lead them by your spirit. Lead each of us by your spirit as we inquire of you. What good news we rest in today that you direct us. You’re our shepherd. You lead us and you guide us. We praise you for your love for us that even allows us to inquire of you. And then it speaks to us in response to our prayers to you. That you love us so much you’ve put your spirit inside of us to direct us. All glory, be to your name.
This Verse Helps Us Pray for the Unreached
So help us to inquire of you and to obey you as you direct us, even as we pray for unreached people around the world and your clear command to make disciples of all the nations. God, we know we don’t have to inquire of you. Do you want us to reach people around us with the gospel? Do you want us to reach all the peoples of the world with the gospel? You’ve made that clear, so God help us to follow you. However, you lead us for the sake of the Soninke people of West Africa who are unreached by the gospel. God lead somebody to them. We pray. And every other people group in the world. Lord help us to inquire of you and follow your leadership according to your word and your spirit in each of our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.
David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.
