I Samuel 23:1-12 “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. 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. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.”

Text I Samuel 23:2 “Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

What is your motivation for doing right? Within the text David is made aware of an unjust situation; citizens of a peaceful city are being robbed of their provisions. The right thing to do would be come to the people’s aid; but there is a cost attached to doing the right thing! It would be easy to always do the right thing if there were little or no cost involved. David’s men knew that in addition to the dangers associated with the Philistines, such an act would expose them to the wrath of King Saul. In spite of the cost, “David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah” (vs.5). Everything appears to be great until one discovers the hidden cost; in addition to the danger of the foe, there is the desertion of the friend. David discovered that the very men he has befriended are going to desert him in his time of need and deliver him into the hand of thee one that sought to do him mischief. Take a moment and give this question some deep consideration; “Would you do right if you knew that you would be wronged for doing right?” David’s actions are marked by a divine principle; doing right is not about cost, it is a matter of conviction; being obedient to the clear command of God, “And the Lord said.”