1 Samuel 21 – 24 part 10
In tonight lesson we will learn about how David is on the run and along the way we will learn about situation ethics, humility, and mercy. So lets us begin a journey by starting in,
1 Samuel 21:1 Now
David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he
met David, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one is with
you?" 2 So David said to
Ahimelech the priest, "The king has ordered me on some business, and said
to me, 'Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you,
or what I have commanded you.' And I have directed my young men to such
and such a place. 3 "Now
therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in
my hand, or whatever can be found."
4 And the priest answered David and said, "There is no
common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least
kept themselves from women." 5
Then David answered the priest, and said to him, "Truly, women have
been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the
young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it
was sanctified in the vessel this day."
6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no
bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the LORD, in
order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.
Here we learn that David
is on the run and his hungry. Now this priest was afraid when he saw David
alone and he wants to know why isn’t anyone with him? Now why was this priest
afraid? Well, we are not told for certain in the text but based upon the
question he asked him I believe he was afraid because he thought something bad
was going on when the King son-in-law was out and about by himself. You see it
not normal for David to be out by himself. David face and demeanor may have
also made the priest think something was wrong, but whatever the reason we quickly
see David responds with a lie.
He claims the King had
sent on this mission and he wants food for him and these other men that he
would meet up with latter. The problem is the only food available is this holy
bread. Now this priest basically makes the claim that these men can have the
holy bread but only if they have kept themselves from women. Of course David
response is somewhat humorous because he basically is saying that the men have
not been with women for at 3 days because they hadn’t been around any women for
3 days. That kind of like saying a drug attic is clean because he had no access
to drugs for 3 days.
Well, we see that the
priest buys into this lie and gives him the showbread. Now when some look at
this text they would say, “well, in this instance David was hungry and he
needed food and even though lied at the holy bread it was ok in the situation”.
This is what is known as situation ethics. Well, let see if the rest of the
Bible can shed give us more information on weather or not it was ok for David
to lie and to eat this holy bread.
Proverbs 19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he
who speaks lies shall perish.
John
8:44 tells us the devil tells us that the devil is the father of lies. In other
words he the originator of lies. So anytime someone lies they are being worldly
and like the devil. That it why John teaches us in Rev. 21:8 that all liars
will have there part in lake which burns forever and ever. When you look at the
examples of the faithful Christians and the apostles in the 1st
century you do not find them telling lies to save their life or to feed there
bellies. For instance one example is when Peter and John were arrested they
were told not to speak in the name of Jesus anymore. Now if they had wanted to
defuse the situation they could have lied and said “ok, we won’t” but instead
they said this.
Acts 4:19 But
Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the
sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 "For we cannot but speak
the things which we have seen and heard."
No matter how hard you
look you cannot find a situation that may arise that will justify lying in the
site of God. Well, what about showbread was that ok? Again, I would have to say
no. Now I believe the priest made this personal judgment call only because
David was Kings son-in-law. Surely in the back of the priest mind he knew that
it wasn’t lawful for anyone other than a priest to eat this bread because the
law makes this point very clear.
Leviticus 24:9 And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and
they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him from the
offerings of the LORD made by fire, by a perpetual statute."
To further show that it
was unlawful for David or anyone like him to eat the showbread Jesus tells us,
Mark 2:25 But He said
to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and
hungry, he and those with him: 26
"how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar (a-by-uh-thar) the
high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the
priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"
Now
surely we can see from these verses that no situation exist that makes lying
acceptable to God and that it was sin for David to have eaten this showbread
because it was only for the priest.
1 Samuel 21:7 Now a
certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before
the LORD. And his name was Doeg (doe-egg) , an Edomite, the chief of
the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.
8 And David said to Ahimelech, "Is there not here on
hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons
with me, because the king's business required haste." 9 So the priest said, "The
sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the
David realizes that
one of Saul servants has seen him and apparently David doesn’t have a weapon so
he ask for one because he knows that Doeg is going to tell Saul where David is.
Now we don’t know for sure why it says Doeg was detained before the Lord. But
some have suggested that maybe he was under some sort of vow. Now lets continue
on.
1 Samuel 21: 10
Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish (a-kish) the
king of
From this text we see the
David has become an actor and he is playing the role of an insane man. Can you
imagine seeing David acting this way? Going around scratching on the doors and
allowing is spit to drop down on his beard. What a show that must have been.
Well, all his crazy acting paid off and this king didn’t want to have anything
to do with David and so he was able to escape from that place and then he met
up with brothers and many other men at Adullam.
1 Samuel 22:2 And
everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and
everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over
them. And there were about four hundred men with him. 3 Then David went from there to
Mizpah of
Now we see that David has
a small army but they were in hiding and apparently David was afraid that Saul
might attack his father and mother so he asked King Moab to keep them safe.
1 Samuel 22:5 Now the
prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go
to the
David his word from
God and he and is mean go to
Well these words
that Saul spoke caused Doeg to speak up,
1 Samuel 22 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite,
who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, "I saw the son of Jesse
going to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. (a-high-tub) 10 "And he inquired of the
LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the
Philistine." 11 So the
king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's
house, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king. 12 And Saul said, "Hear now,
son of Ahitub!" And he answered, "Here I am, my lord." 13 Then Saul said to him,
"Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you
have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he
should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?" 14 So Ahimelech answered the king
and said, "And who among all your servants is as faithful as David,
who is the king's son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in
your house? 15 "Did I
then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king
impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For
your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much."
It interesting to me that
Doeg had not spoken about this incident until now. Doeg did not want to found
guilty of keeping information back from King Saul. No Ahimelech was in the hot
seat and proclaimed is innocence in that he didn’t know about this situation
with David and he was only doing what he thought was right. Did you notice is
says that he didn’t inquire to God about David? Again, this shows us the
decision he made about the Holy bread earlier was his own decision and not the
Lords. But now watch happens.
1 Samuel 22:16 And the
king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's
house!" 17 Then the king
said to the guards who stood about him, "Turn and kill the priests of the
LORD, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when
he fled and did not tell it to me." But the servants of the king would not
lift their hands to strike the priests of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg,
"You turn and kill the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite turned and
struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen
ephod. 19 Also Nob, the city
of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women,
children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep -- with the edge of
the sword.
King Saul Jealousy and
hatred for David had driven him to have all the priest killed all because
Ahimelech helped David out without knowing the situation. Of course we see that
the King himself didn’t do it nor would his servants do this despicable act.
But, Doeg seem to have no problems carrying out Saul’s orders as he killed all
the priest with his sword and he didn’t stop their he killed men, women,
children and many animals in at Nob.
1 Samuel 22:20 Now one
of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, (a-by-uh-thar) escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that
Saul had killed the LORD's priests. 22
So David said to Abiathar, "I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there,
that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the
persons of your father's house. 23
"Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with
me you shall be safe."
Because of David’s lie these
priests and the people of Nob perished that day. Whoever invented the phrase “
a little white lie doesn’t hurt anyone” obviously had never read what happened
to these people at Nob because of David’s little white lie. This should teach every
one of us a great lesson and make us really think twice about telling lies
because not only can they cause us problems they can cause other people
problems as well.
Now in chapter 23:1-6 we
find out that the people of Keilah are
being attacked by the Philistines and God tells David and his men to go defeat
the Philistines and they do. But now Saul is going to try and take advantage of
this situation.
1 Samuel 23:7 And Saul
was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, "God has delivered
him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates
and bars." 8 Then Saul
called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David
and his men.
Is it interesting that Saul
actual thought that God had given him this opportunity to kill David even
though the Spirit of God had left him? Well Saul went on his way thinking he
was going to trap David but we learn that David finds out about his plan and
David ask God if Saul is coming and also wants to know if these people he just
rescued would give him over to Saul. Well the answer to both of these question
was yes and so David and his men left that place spoiling Saul’s plans once
again.
1 Samuel 23:14 And
David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in
the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him
into his hand. 15 So David
saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the
Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. 16
Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in the woods and
strengthened his hand in God. 17
And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not
find you. You shall be king over
Saul had not given up on
pursuit to kill David. But at least we learn that Jonathan and David were able
to speak to another again. I am sure that neither one of them thought they
would see each other every again but this certainly was not the best of
circumstances. Now we see that Jonathan is confident that Saul wont find David
and the he Saul know that David will be the next King and Jonathan plans on
being next to his side when this happens.
Now in verses 19 – 26 we
learn that the Ziphites are going to help Saul find David and his men and they
began to approach them. David’s men were one side of the mountain and Saul’s
men on the other. They were so close to one another but something happens that
keeps David and his men safe as we read in,
1 Samuel 23:27 But a
messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hasten and come, for the Philistines have
invaded the land!" 28
Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines;
so they called that place the Rock of Escape.
29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at
En Gedi.
Now to me this seems like
the providence of God at work. It amazes me that Saul actually broke his
pursuit to go fight the Philistines but he did and this gave David and his men
the time they needed to escape the clutches of King Saul. They even called that
place the Rock of escape.
Now in chapter 24 we are
going to a great act of mercy and of humility.
1 Samuel 24:1 Now it
happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was
told him, saying, "Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En
Gedi." 2 Then Saul took
three thousand chosen men from all
David had his chance here
to kill King Saul but he didn’t. Instead he just cut a piece of his robe off.
David could not bring himself to strike a man who had been anointed by God and
so he showed him mercy.
1
Samuel 24:8 David also arose afterward, went
out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, "My lord the king!"
And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and
bowed down. 9 And David said
to Saul: "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Indeed David
seeks your harm'? 10
"Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into
my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my
eye spared you, and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my
lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'
11 "Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of
your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did
not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in
my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take
it. 12 "Let the LORD
judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall
not be against you. 13
"As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Wickedness proceeds from the
wicked.' But my hand shall not be against you.
14 "After whom has the king of
Here we
see a great example of humility. Even though David was being told to kill Saul
he did not and by this very act he was proving to Saul that he was not out to
harm him or take his kingdom from him. He makes the point that he no more
dangerous than a dead dog or a flea and he wants Saul to allow God to make the
judgment call. This concept was also taught by Paul.
Romans
12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it
is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
Sometimes we try to take matters into our own hands
when we really should have left in the hands of the Lord. This merciful act for
a moment anyway really struck the heart of Saul as we see his response.
1
Samuel 24:16 So it was, when David had
finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is this
your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 Then he said to David:
"You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good,
whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 18
"And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the
LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 "For if a man finds his
enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with
good for what you have done to me this day.
20 "And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king,
and that the
Saul
broke out in tears realizing how horrible he had been and how righteous David
was. Saul know for sure that David will be the new King and he makes him swear
that he will not cut off Saul’s descendents in the future. David agrees and for
now Saul goes back home but David stay hidden in a stronghold. This tells me
that David doesn’t completely believe Saul’s Word and take the precaution of
remaining in a stronghold and rightly so as he witnessed first hand Saul
flippant behavior.