There is a remarkable story recorded in 1 Samuel 23 that illustrates to us the interface between a faithful child of God, prayer, and God’s response to prayer. David is trying to keep his distance from King Saul, who wants to kill him but, at the same time, fight the Philistines in order to keep his own people safe.
It is reported to David that the Philistines are fighting against the town of Keilah and looting it. So, “David inquired of the Lord” (underline that statement in your Bible). God responds to David’s prayer. Apparently David shares God’s message with his men because they express some hesitation in trusting God. They respond to David: “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines” (vs 3)?
So, “David inquired of the Lord once more” (vs 4; underline that statement in your Bible). This time, God promises to give the Philistines into David’s hands. So, David responds to God and has success in driving the Philistines out of Keilah.
But then, King Saul hears that David has holed himself up in Keilah, “a city with double gates and bars” (vs 7). Notice Saul’s message to his own men: “God has delivered him into my hand…” There will never be an end to people who think and believe and act as if God is on their side. God was not on King Saul’s side. Saul was deceiving himself. The only way to know if God is on our side is to make sure we are on God’s side!
Be that as it may, David heard that King Saul knew they were in Keilah and that King Saul was intending to ambush Keilah and take/kill David. So, as David was in the habit of doing, he prayed to God (note verse 10). “Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard?” (vs 11).
God responds to David’s prayer: “He will come down.”
David pursues that line of thought: “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” (vs 12).
God responds to David’s prayer: “They will surrender you.”
So, David takes his 600 men and leaves Keilah and this particular event concludes with the statement in verse 14: “God did not deliver him [David] into his hand [Saul’s].”
What we have illustrated here is that there is an “alternate reality” that parallels the lives we live. David’s “alternate reality” was being delivered by the men of Keilah into the hands of Saul. God told him it would happen! But, David responds to God’s message and it doesn’t happen. Everything God predicts does not happen, in the sense that it might (as in this case) depend on man’s response.
The reason it didn’t happen, the reason “God did not deliver him into Saul’s hand” is because: 1.) David prays to God; 2.) David responds to God’s answer. The “alternate reality” could have / would have happened if David had not: 1.) Prayed; 2.) Responded.
Now, God does not violate His will or His nature in answering David’s question. The “alternate (undesirable) reality” was a possibility but it did not happen.
When we pray, we are asking God to close the door to “alternate (undesirable) realities” and show us the way to go by opening the door to the desirable alternative. Prayer is not asking God to violate His will nor His nature. He can change our future without changing either of those invariables.
Yes, prayer changes things.
Paul Holland