When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me.  Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him?  Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, tell your servant? (NIV)

David had been on the run from Saul, who was trying to kill him.  He had been hiding in the forests and desert caves and trying to stay one step ahead of Saul.  In fact, in 1 Samuel 22, Saul had murdered 85 Hebrew priests in the city of Nob, along with its men, women, children, infants and livestock, because they would not tell him the whereabouts of David.  

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About this time, David heard that the Philistines were fighting against the city of Keilah, and he asked the Lord if he should attack the Philistines and save the city.  He followed the Lord’s instructions, promising that God would give the Philistines “into your hand.” So, David attacked and defeated the Philistines and was now garrisoned in the walled town of Keilah behind its gates.  This meant Saul knew exactly where he was and could surround him, overpower the city, and kill him.  

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The son of the high priest in Nob, Abiathar, had escaped from the city, and David asked him to “Bring the ephod,” which was a garment worn by the priests, so he can ask the Lord whether he should flee from the city. God tells him the people will give him up, so he flees the city for the wilderness again.

First, we need to know what the ephod is.  Simply put, it’s the priestly garment worn by the high priest when ministering before the Lord and making sacrifices. The ephod represented God and his blessings. This reveals that the first thing David does is lean into God in his time of crisis.  For us, do we lean into the Scriptures when crises arise in our lives?  Do we look for God’s comfort and strength first, or as a last resort?  

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Also, we see a bit of David’ heart in his prayer.  He starts by addressing God as “Lord.”  This is a word we use almost as a pronoun for God, but by addressing God in the manner of lordship, David approaches him as a servant, for a servant serves a Lord. I think we can often look to God as a rescuer of our victimhood or circumstances, and less so with the heart of a servant. Then after “Lord,” he addresses God more specifically as “God of Israel,” once again cementing who is the all-knowing, all-powerful one in the relationship. And lastly, he addresses himself as “servant.”  Only then does David get around to asking God his practical question, will he be given up to Saul.  

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In the context of the ups and especially the downs of life, David demonstrates that how we position ourselves is what is important when asking something from God. He even closes by repeating, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant…” after his request.  We can often focus so much on the crisis of the moment, when God may be equally or more so concerned about the position of our hearts.  

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Today we do not have or require an ephod for ministering before the Lord or even discerning his will. Instead, we have the Holy Spirit, God’s presence with us. We have the Lord, or even more reassuring, he has us. We are to give him our attentions today: our focus and desires. Just as David positioned his heart when he went to Abiathar and the ephod to determine his next steps, so we must position our hearts when we go to the Lord for help and guidance.  

Lord, the One whom I serve, the One who is all knowing and all powerful, come Holy Spirit, guide my steps.  Help me be all you have called me to be by your grace and for your glory. Amen.