Choose obedience (3)

"David heard that the Philistines were attacking the town of Keilah and were stealing the newly harvested corn. So he asked the LORD, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines?” “Yes,” the LORD answered. “Attack them and save Keilah.” ...

David and his men went to Keilah and attacked the Philistines; they killed many of them and took their livestock. And that was how David saved the town. ...

David said, “LORD, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come to Keilah and destroy it on account of me, your servant. Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to Saul? Will Saul really come, as I have heard? LORD, God of Israel, I beg you to answer me!” The LORD answered, “Saul will come.”

“And will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul?” David asked again. “They will,” the LORD answered.

So David and his men — about 600 in all — left Keilah at once and kept on the move."

~ 1 Samuel 23.1-13 GNB

The LORD told David to save Keilah, but that did not mean Keilah citizens would side with David against Saul. So did David and his men risked their lives for nothing?

Obedience to the LORD is not about the visible reward. Many missionaries died spreading the gospel without seeing the harvest. But they went anyway.

The reward for obedience is the obedience itself.