Episode 4: God's Promise Of Help
"I've picked you. I haven't dropped you. Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." Isaiah 41:10 (MSG)
"One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the Lord, 'Should I go and attack them?' 'Yes, go and save Keilah,' the Lord told him. But David's men said, 'We're afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don't want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!' So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, 'Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.' So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah...Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. 'Good!' he exclaimed. 'We've got him now!'...So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men. But David learned of Saul's plan...and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside...Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn't let Saul find him." 1 Samuel 23:1-5, 7-9, 13-14 (NLT)
1. Real help is responsive.
"One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the Lord, 'Should I go and attack them?' 'Yes, go and save Keilah,' the Lord told him." 1 Samuel 23:1-2
2. Real help is risky.
"But David's men said, 'We're afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don't want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!'" 1 Samuel 23:3
"Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. 'Good!' he exclaimed. 'We've got him now!'...So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men." 1 Samuel 23:7-8
3. Real help is rewarding.
"So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah." 1 Samuel 23:5
"Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn't let Saul find him." 1 Samuel 23:14