Today’s reading is from 1 Samuel 21-22.
There are also two extra credit reading assignments for Psalm 34 and Psalm 52.
The reading from 1 Samuel chronicles Davids flight from King Saul. We read about three separate places he went after parting ways with Michal, Samuel, and Jonathan in yesterday’s reading. He first goes to the priests at Nob, then he goes to the Philistines, and finally finds himself in the cave at Adullam.
Chapter 21 begins with David alone and hungry. Where does he go (21:1)? What two things does he receive there (21:4-9)? Where do you go in times of need?
David goes to Nob. This was a town of priests. It seems that the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant (not to be mistaken with Noah’s ark) were kept at Nob at this time.
When he arrives he is given help from the priests. They provide him with food and also the sword of Goliath that was kept at Nob.
This was a place of God. It was a holy place. It was through the ark of the covenant that God revealed himself to his people in the days of Moses and up to the time of David. It only makes sense that in this time of need, David would go to the place of God to seek refuge and strength.
Each Sunday morning the Church gathers in the presence of God for worship. This is to be a place where the people of God find strength and refuge. The world is a hard place. It is filled with all sorts of challenges and difficulties. In many traditional churches the place where worship takes place is called a sanctuary. I love that name! For that one hour on Sunday morning when we are together with God’s people, gathered in his name, sharing the body and blood of the Savior we are experiencing sanctuary from all that would bring us harm.
Where does David go next (21:10-15)? Who was from Gath (see 1 Samuel 17:4)? Compared to what David gained by going to the priests, what does he lose by going to the Philistines?
The next place David goes is Gath. The irony here is that Goliath was from Gath. Gath was a Philistine city. David must have felt safer in the lands of his enemies of Israel than he did in the land of King Saul.
How desperate David must have been in this moment to go to the Philistines. His faith was wavering. It is important to note that the text nowhere says David consulted the Lord with this decision. David does what he thinks is best, with the mindset that he has no other options. I wonder if he had consulted the Lord and asked God what he thought if he would have made the same decision.
It did not work out very well for David to go to the Philistines. When David had gone to Nob, the priests helped him out. When he went to the Philistines he gained nothing but grief. What is more he was not true to himself or who God had called him to be. David acted like a mad-man in the presence of the Philistines. If you find yourself faking it, then there is a very good chance you are not were God would have you be.
Where is the third place David goes to (22:1)? Describe a time you felt you were in a deep dark cave? Who came to David in that place (22:2)? What do you think they were looking for in David? Who would these people become (see 2 Samuel 23:8-39)?
David now goes the cave at Adullam. He had gone to the house of God for help. He then went to his enemies for shelter. But David still finds himself on the run and completely alone at this point in time. He goes into hiding. He has no one to help him. It would have probably been a very depressing time for David.
But here when David is at his lowest, what might have been the single darkest moment of his life, God comes through. It is through the pain that David discovers God’s provision. David’s family, mostly likely persecuted by Saul, discovers he is at the cave and come to him. What happens next is most interesting:
1 Samuel 22:2 (NLT)
2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.
God sends people to David in his time of distress to help him. But the people who are sent by God are not the most obvious people to help. It does not say these were mighty warriors, trained for battle. These were a bunch of misfits. They were people who were down and out. I wonder if David had not been so down and out himself, if he would have accepted these people. Sometimes we need to go through the valley ourselves so that we can minister to others who are walking through the valley.
These people were looking for hope. They were looking for someone to lead them. They were looking for someone who understood their struggles. David was that man. David would lead them.
These were people God would use. Later many of these men who rallied around David would become known as his mighty men. They were recognized for the great feats which God accomplished through them. They became men of renowned.
In our times of need it is good to retreat to the places of quiet. These are the places where God will speak to us and refresh us. He will send us what we need. Notice it was not David who went out and found these men, it was God who sent these men to him.
One title that is given to the Lord is Jehovah Jireh. This means the Lord will provide. God will send us everything we need at the right time. This was the case for David and this is the case for us as well. But don’t expect it to come before we get on our knees and humble ourselves before him recognizing we have no where else to turn. David had no other options. The only one he could turn to was Yahweh. Who will you turn to?
What does the killing of the priests at Nob tell us about Saul (22:6-18)?
There is no depth that Saul would not stoop down to have David killed. He shows his utter contempt for the Lord Yahweh and his servants. Saul has long passed the point of no return. The priests were men to be treated with respect, but instead of holding them in high esteem, Saul had them murdered.
David felt guilty for Saul’s actions (22:20-23). Have you ever felt guilty for another persons actions? Was it appropriate for David to feel guilty? Why or why not?
David felt guilty because Saul had the priests killed. The real reason Saul had the priests murdered was not because they helped David, but because Saul was intent on evil at this time. Saul was not interested in following the Lord or honoring the Lord in anyway. Saul was out to destroy David.
Many live with guilt. We suffer from guilt of things we have done and guilt from action we failed to take. Guilt will eat us up inside. David might have felt guilty that it was his fault the priests at Nob were killed. He might have regretted not consulting the Lord before going to Philistia. He might have felt guilty he had not defended the town and the priests. He might have felt guilty that they had all died because he lived. Guilt is common feeling.
In those times we ask for God’s covering over us. We ask for a covering of forgiveness when our actions went against his will. We ask for the covering of faith to know that he is sovereign when our actions are without guilt yet bring harm to others. It is only God who can save us from our guilt. We cannot turn back time as much as we might want to. So instead of looking back, lets look to Jesus. Let’s look ahead to where he would lead us.
