“And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars” (I Samuel 23:7).

David, during his wanderings from King Saul, utterly destroyed the Philistines at Keilah and delivered the inhabitants from sure death. Saul, feeling that David was now trapped in the city, began to gather his army to besiege Keilah and capture David. At this point, David, through intercessory prayer, once again received God’s protection and escaped. “And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand” (I Samuel 23:14).

In verse 7, Saul gave God the credit for delivering David into his hand, but in verse 14, God did just the opposite by protecting David from Saul.

Saul had come to a dramatic false conclusion that God was on his side. Nothing was further from the truth. In desperation, Saul put God’s name on his own evil will, possibly hoping that the Lord, who had long since departed from him, was now back. He even said it out loud, trying to convince the people of Israel.

The ultimate false conclusion is found in John 16:2, “Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” Saul reasoned that God desired him to kill David. The rulers of Israel crucified Christ thinking they were doing God a service. Likewise, the blood of the martyrs was shed by those who thought God was with them.

Paul established his reputation by killing Christians in the name of God (Acts 9:1–5). He was a “blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but (he) obtained mercy . . . . And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 1:13,14).

May we, as true believers, never put God’s name on our own human will! NPS