David was running from Saul, staying undercover and out of sight was top of mind. Saul was on a killing spree and killed 85 priests along with women & children because one of the priests gave David some bread and a spear. Hiding in caves, hiding in the forest, David was on the run. Then he gets some news:

Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.”
1 Samuel 23:1

What would SEEM to make sense is to let Keliah fend for themselves... Its the obvious answer. If David goes out to war, then he will surly blow his cover.. and Saul will find him. But instead of living by the voice of reason, David seeks the Lord:

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”
And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him,

“Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”
1 Samuel 23:2-4

Afraid to be sure, David asks twice. A clear answer from the Lord gives David the direction that is far from safe and really far from comfortable: go to war. I wonder what I would have done? Would this have been one of those obvious scenarios where logic and reason make the final decision? Where preservation of life seemed like the obvious choice? David, a man after God's own heart, reminds me of a passage in Isaiah:

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
Isaiah 11:3

Lord, cause me to inquire from you, even if everything seems to make perfect sense to me. Cause me to be willing to go to war, specially when you tell me to. Open my eyes and my heart to see and hear from you regardless of life's circumstances. Give me the courage to obey, even when the men around me are more afraid than I am.

Blessings,
Rob Laizure Jr.