What can we learn about God's omniscience from David's question in this verse? Setting the Scene at Keilah “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” (1 Samuel 23:11) What David’s Question Tells Us About God’s Omniscience • David assumes the LORD can answer with perfect certainty—he treats God as the ultimate source of knowledge. • He believes God knows not only present facts but contingent futures (what Saul will do if circumstances remain unchanged). • By asking, David displays confidence that God’s foresight is reliable enough to guide immediate, life-and-death decisions. What God’s Answer Confirms • The LORD reveals events before they unfold: “He will come down.” • Divine knowledge embraces free human choices; Saul’s intentions are fully exposed to God. • God’s response proves He sees every possible outcome – later in verse 13, when David departs, the predicted capture is averted, showing God knew both futures (with or without David’s flight). Supporting Witnesses from the Rest of Scripture • Psalm 139:1-4 – “You discern my thoughts from afar… before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.” • Isaiah 46:9-10 – God declares “the end from the beginning,” His counsel standing unmoved. • Hebrews 4:13 – “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” • 1 John 3:20 – “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.” • Job 37:16 – “Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?” Key Takeaways for Us Today • Seek guidance: Like David, we can inquire of the LORD in confidence that He already knows the best path (James 1:5). • Rest in security: An all-knowing God cannot be caught off guard by threats against His people (Romans 8:31-32). • Cultivate humility: Since God alone possesses exhaustive knowledge, we gladly submit our limited understanding to His wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Worship with awe: Omniscience is not cold data but personal care—He knows every hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30). • Respond swiftly: When God reveals truth, act on it as David did; obedience aligns us with the safest place—inside God’s perfect foresight. |
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