6th February 2024: Our Daily deLIGHT~3rd Day-Counsel
“David Slays Goliath” from the book ‘Bible Gallery’ Illustrated by Gustave Dore
Counsel
David has been on the run from King Saul who was pursuing his life to kill him. Saul couldn’t handle the favor and anointing that was given by YHVH to David. David escaped to the cave of Adullam. In 1 Samuel 22:3-5 we read, “3 And David went from there [from the cave] to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what Elohim will do for me.” 4 Then he left them with the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 5 The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” [The prophet Gad relayed the counsel of YHVH to David.] So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.” [David did just as the prophet Gad had counseled him. If he had not it would have been his death.] As we continue to read we will discover what happens as long as David continues to heed the Spirit of Counsel from the Father.
1 Samuel 23:1-14 says,
1 Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.”
2 So David inquired of YHVH [sought counsel of YHVH], saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And YHVH said to David [counseled David], “Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.” [1st inquiring for counsel]
3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?”
4 Then David inquired of YHVH [sought counsel of YHVH] once more. And YHVH answered him and said [counseled David], “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” [2nd inquiring for counsel gave confirmation]
5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. [David trusted and obeyed the counsel and had the victory];
6 Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7 When it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “Elohim has delivered him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.”
8 So Saul summoned all the people for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 Now David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
10 Then David said, “O YHVH Elohim of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.
11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O YHVH Elohim of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” [3rd example of seeking counsel] And YHVH said, “He will come down.”
12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And YHVH said, “They will surrender you.” [Continued to ask counsel to know exactly what to do and YHVH answered him]
13 Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit.
14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but Elohim did not deliver him into his hand.
The Hebrew word here for “Inquire” is Strong’s #7592 Sha’al. It means to ask, to ask for, inquire, and consult [counsel].
This word is made up of the Hebrew letters…
- Sheen
To Consume, to Destroy - Alef
Strength, Leader, First - Lamed
Control, Authority, The Tongue
So a Hebrew word picture for this word Inquire is “To destroy first our control”. When we inquire or seek counsel of YHVH we are relinquishing our control for His control.
Another interesting point is that Sha’al shares the same Hebrew root as Shalom. Thus we will gain Shalom if we inquire or counsel YHVH for His will and not our own. And as we’ve seen in the verses above it can come through His people or by His Spirit, but either way, it will line up completely with the written Word.
Though David’s life would prove he was not perfect in all of his ways, he did have a heart for YHVH which led him to repentance. He is an example of a man who understood the value of seeking counsel and listening to counsel. Each time he sought and obeyed counsel it saved his life and gave him the direction and protection he needed. May we be encouraged that this is true of us too because YHVH never changes (Malachi 3:6).
Have a blessed and shalom filled day!!
Tammy
Courtesy of
River of Life Tabernacle
Tammy McLendon
Great peace have they who love Your law. Psalm 119:165a
0 Comments