April 17: 1 Samuel 23:13–29; Psalm 54; 1 Samuel 24:1 – 1 Samuel 25:44

David Saves the City of Keilah – 1 Samuel 23:13–29

• David asks God if the people of Keilah will surrender him to Saul's men, and God tells him that they will. David and his 600 men depart from Keilah and go wherever they can go. Saul hears this and gives up his expedition. David hides in the wilderness of Ziph, and though Saul seeks him every day, God does not give David into his hand.

Saul Pursues David 

• Jonathan comes to David at Horesh (in the wilderness of Ziph), and tells him not to fear, for Saul will not find him and he will be king over Israel (with Jonathan next to him). The two continue their covenant.
• The Ziphites go to Saul and tell him that David is hiding in Horesh. Saul has them go and confirm David's position and then return to them with the information.
• David learns of what has happened and goes down into the wilderness of Maon. Saul pursues him there, and as David is fleeing him, Saul's messengers come and tell him that the Philistines have made a raid against the land. Saul and his men instead go after the Philistines, and David escapes and goes to live in the strongholds of Engedi.

The Lord Upholds My Life – Psalm 54

• Another psalm of David, asking for God's help against those who threaten the lives of the faithful.

David Spares Saul's Life – 1 Samuel 24

• When Saul returns from fighting the Philistines, he is told that David is in the wilderness of Engedi. He takes 3,000 men there. Saul goes into a cave to relieve himself, not knowing that David and his men were in the inmost parts of the cave. David's men encourage him to kill Saul, but he instead cuts off a piece of his robe. Afterward, David realizes he must not kill Saul since he is God's anointed and doesn't allow him men to attack Saul.
• When Saul leaves the cave, David follows him and shows him the he spared his life (he believes God should be the one to avenge Saul's wrongdoing). Saul acknowledges that David is more righteous than he and that David will be king. He asks David to swear that he will not cut off Saul's offspring after him or destroy his name, and David agrees. They go their separate ways.

The Death of Samuel  – 1 Samuel 25

• Samuel dies, and all of Israel mourns for him. He is buried in his house at Ramah.

David and Abigail

• David goes to the wilderness of Paran, where there is a cruel man named Nabal and his beautiful wife Abigail. While Nabal is out sheepshearing, David sends ten of his man to politely request food from Nabal, but Nabal responds with comtempt and refuses. David sends about 400 armed men to Nabal.
• Abigail learns about David's men and prepares much food for the men, not telling Nabal. She and her servants go out to meet David and his men and she begs them to forgive her husband and accept what she has brought. David realizes she has stopped him from doing  a foolish thing, accepts her gifts, and promises not to harm her husband.
• When Abigail returns, Nabal is holding a feast in his house and is drunk. The next morning, Abigail tells him what she has done, and Nabal's heart dies within him (he has a heart attack or stroke). Ten days later, God strikes Nabal and he dies.
• When David learns of Nabal's death, he sends his servants to ask Abigail to come and be his wife. She agrees, and Ahinoam of Jezreel also becomes his wife. Saul has given Michal to another man.