David Flees Saul, Saul's Slaughter of Nob, David Spares Saul (1 Samuel 21-24)

For Starters...

Sometimes when things aren't going as we think they should, we can have our deepest communication with God. Do we feel like we're "on the run" so to speak? Evil seems to be winning in our lives. And where is God? Then we'll question, doubt, and eventually, hopefully, we'll cry to the Lord out of our misery.

David was about to go through many years like this and some of the most compelling and dramatic psalms were written at this time. Check our Psalms 34, 52, 54, 57, 59, and 63!!!

Paul did some of his best writing of encouragement from a prison cell. And Jesus most touching communication with His father was just before he was betrayed or even as he hung on the cross.

In spite of their misery and sorrow, they remained faithful to God, trusting that He was still involved in their lives, trusting that their lives and what they were doing counted for something, and that He would work everything out to their good and His glory.

What's the Story?

In chapter 21 David begins his life as a fugitive. He goes to Nob where he meets Ahimelech the priest. David get food for his men (the bread of the Presence no less!) and a sword for himself (Goliath's!). He then flees to the king of Gath, Achish -- a Philistine. Remembering David's earlier exploits against them, Achish's men are wary of him being there and want to capture him. To avoid this, David pretends to be mad and is allowed to go.

Chapter 22 records David's flight from the town of Gath and his escape to the cave in Adullam. There, all the discontented, distressed and the indebted of Israel come to join up with David. In addition, David's brothers and his whole household come to be with him. David goes to the king of Moab and requests that his parents stay there until God has decided what to do with David. He then flees to the forest of Hereth to hide at the advice of the prophet Gad. In the meantime, Saul goes to Nob to search for David. Ahimelech is of no help to Saul, so Saul has Doeg, the Edomite kill Ahimelech and all the priests of Nob. One of the priests escapes, however, and goes to find David to tell him of everything that has happened. He is Abiathar, son of Ahimelech.

In chapter 23, we find David, with the blessing of the Lord, saving the people of Keilah from the brutal Philistines. Saul hears of it an thinks God has given David to him by trapping David within the town of Keilah. David inquires of the Lord as to what will happen if Saul comes to Keilah. God reveals that he will be captured if he stays. Thus, David leaves Keilah and travels from place to place to avoid Saul and his army. David eventually meets up with Jonathan at Horesh and they renew their oath of friendship. The Ziphites tell Saul where they think David is hiding so he commissions them to go before him and seek him out. Saul's men are closing in on David's forces, when at the last minute Saul is forced to leave the area in order to go fight the Philistines.

By Chapter 24 Saul returns from fighting the Philistines and finds out that David is hiding in the Desert of En Gedi. He takes 3000 men and goes there to search for David. As Saul searches in a cave where David happens to be, David cuts off a piece of Saul's robe secretly. Later, out of a guilty conscience, David, from a distance, reveals to Saul the piece of the robe and tells him what might have happened but didn't due to his respect for God's anointed. Saul realizes the Lord is with David and agrees to give up the chase. Saul returns to Gibeah while David returns to his stronghold.

Just the facts...

* David flees to Nob to get food and the sword of Goliath.
* He then goes to the Philistine king of Gath, Achish.
* David goes to the cave in Adullam and gathers his band of men.
* David leaves his parents with the king of Moab for a while.
* Saul kills all the priests of Nob except one. Abiathar, son of Ahimelech escapes to tell David.
* David saves the people of Keilah from the Philistines.
* David flees to the Desert of Ziph, then to the Desert of Maon, and finally to the Desert of En Gedi.
* David cuts off a piece of Saul's robe, reveals it to him, and Saul agrees to end the pursuit.

So what?

* We need to respect those in authority, especially God-ordained authority (1 Cor 13), even if we disagree with it. David could have killed the evil king, Saul. His men even encouraged him to do it! David chose not to out of respect and reverence for God's anointed. Like David, we need to live our lives based on God's will and not by our friends or companions will.
* We are not to be surprised (though we are to mourn) when the innocent die at the hand of the guilty. Ahimelech did right and paid for it with his life. We must pursue what is right simply because it is the right thing to do and be willing to pay for it. Look at Jesus. Cf. 1 Peter 2:18-25.
* Don't despair or give up during the hard times when Satan has us on the run. It's okay to doubt, question, cry or pour out our souls to God when we don't understand what's going on or when we just don't get it. David did, and God answered him with ultimate victory. God will listen. God will watch. He'll strengthen us. He'll lift us up to win over the unrighteous. Read Psalms 18.