Saved by God’s Grace

When the Philistines were fighting Keilah, what did David do? He inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more than if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” David inquired of the Lord once again. The Lord said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

God gave David and his men the victory.

Then, King Saul, his father-in-law, called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. David asked the Lord, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” The Lord replied, “He will come down.” David asked, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The Lord replied, “They will deliver you.” David and his men escaped.

Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

The Ziphites offered to betray David into Saul’s hands.

Saul was on one side of a mountain, and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain. Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them. But a messenger came to Saul and warned of a Philistine invasion. So, Saul broke off the attack on David. David called that place the Rock of Escape (Jesus is the Rock of our salvation). [1]

A lengthened life is God’s gift to those who listen to Him:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by Me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.” [2]

Today, there still is a remnant of God’s people according to the election of grace. “Saved by God’s grace” means our salvation is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. [3]

The odds are stacked against us. We cannot win. Except for God! Praise be to God for extending grace to us in Jesus Christ His Son. We win because God saves us by His grace in Christ Jesus, not by our works.

[1] 1 Samuel 23
[2] Proverbs 9:10-11
[3] Romans 11:5-6