1 Kings 23:7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand; for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 And now, will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant.” The LORD said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The LORD said, “They will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, set out and left Keilah; they wandered wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14 David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but the LORD did not give him into his hand. 

David enjoyed incredible favor with God. He was elevated from a shepherd boy to a king. He defeated Goliath as a mere boy armed with a slingshot and a few rocks. He united the 12 tribes of Israel and took more territory than any other king. He was known as a man “after God’s own heart”. David is one of the giants of the Old Testament scriptures.

Yet here he is – running for his life.

I was born into a family in which security/stability was a very high value. Not a lot of risk-takers in my family. I was taught to get an education, find a job, have a family, enjoy the “good life”. The “good life” was about having a roof over your head, food on the table, people you love around you. Simple things. I’m grateful for all of this. God has been very good to me and my family.

But I’ve also learned that following the Lord often means giving up some or all of those things. Stability and discipleship don’t always go together. Instead we’re called to take risks, embrace failure, battle the devil and forces of evil in the heavenly realm. It can get really scary. There have been times when the enemy of God couldn’t get to me, so he attacked vulnerable people connected to me – particularly my children. I have had to teach them about spiritual warfare and using the power of prayer and the name of Jesus to ward off evil. I wish it weren’t necessary, but it is.

Being a favored one of God, which you are through Jesus Christ, means being attacked.

It may not occur to you to think of opposition in life as a battle of good and evil, but that’s what the bible teaches us. If you’re a follower of Jesus you are a participant in battle whether you like it or not. Don’t be ignorant of these things, but also understand that the Lord stands with you, even unto death. There is no evil that can keep you down. Thanks be to God.