A Fight of the Flesh
How often do we claim to “hear from God,” when in truth, we’re being led by our flesh? Whether that be pride, ego, or lust – each can speak to us so loudly that we often mistake them for God’s voice.
In 1 Samuel 23, we see this tension unfold. On the surface, both David and Saul appear to be operating in God’s will—but their motives couldn’t be any more different. Saul was convinced that God had delivered David into his hands, but in reality, it was jealousy and his need for control. The result? He wasted time, drained resources, and ultimately spent the rest of his life chasing David while neglecting Israel’s true priorities.
The same is true for us. When we don’t pause to inquire of the Lord before making major life decisions, we risk choosing paths that can cost us our peace, our sanity, our families, our friendships, and even our finances. When we succumb to our flesh, we find ourselves cleaning up messes God never intended for us to make.
David: A Model for Heart Posture
When David heard the Philistines were attacking Keilah, he didn’t rely on human instinct or wisdom. Instead he asked God: ‘Shall I go and attack these Phillestines?’ (1 Samuel 23:2).
Even when his men were hesitant, David went back to God for confirmation. This shows us something about David’s character. Prayer wasn’t a formality for him—it was a spiritual discipline. He actually wanted God’s instruction, not just God’s blessing to carry out a plan of his own. Through this act, David demonstrates alignment with God’s will, instead of a foolish allegiance to his impulses.
Saul: Mistaking Flesh for Faith
Saul, on the other hand, heard that David was in Keilah and arrogantly declared: ‘God has delivered him into my hand’ (1 Samuel 23:7). But God had not spoken to him at all. His words were actually driven by paranoia, insecurity, and pride.
Instead of admitting to himself that he was afraid, he spiritualized his ego. This caused Saul to mistake his obsession with control for God’s divine providence. And as result, his kingdom would eventually fall. This is the danger of letting our flesh masquerade as faith. We can slap “God told me” on our decisions, but if they’re driven by fear, pride, or greed, we’re only deceiving ourselves.
Testing the Fruit
So how do we discern the difference? Scripture gives us a test in Galatians 5:22–23. True decisions led by the Spirit produce fruit like: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control
If our choices lead us to anxiety instead of peace, arrogance instead of gentleness, chaos instead of self-control—then we can’t label them as Spirit-led. They’re more than likely being driven by something else. David’s decisions bore the fruit of patience, faithfulness, and trust. Saul’s produced fear, pride, and paranoia. And that difference went on to shape not only their futures, but their destinies.
A Call to Discernment
The story of 1 Samuel 23 teaches us to slow down, reflect, listen, and wait for God’s voice before we act. Going forward here are some questions we can ask ourselves:
Is it the Spirit, confirmed by love, peace, and self-control?
Or is it the flesh, disguised by ego, fear, and pride.
The difference matters—not just for us, but for our families, our futures, and our fate.