2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
God leads me to continue with the story of how David’s covenant of friendship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, transcends generations in their families. When we left off, David and his men had gotten food from the priests of Nob and had undergone a dangerous encounter with the Philistine King Achish. A couple of intriguing details are mentioned, namely the return of the same sword that Goliath had used against David to him [1 SAM 21: 9] and the presence of Saul’s chief herdsman, Doeg, [1 SAM 21:7] during David’s stop at Nob.
As 1 SAM 22 begins, David has fled from Gath and stops to find shelter in a cave near the town of Adullam. There the people had been oppressed, in debt, and dissatisfied. At David’s arrival a group of about 400 of them made him their leader. This is further evidence of God’s presence with David. David’s family had also joined him there. David’s next stop was at Mizpah in Moab, where he left his parents with the king there for their safety as long as he was hiding out in the cave. The prophet, Gad, warned David not to remain there, but instead, to go to Judah. David left and went to the forest of Hereth ( 1-5).
We get a view of the desperate nature of Saul’s situation in (6-8). Saul was in Gilbeah sitting under a tamarisk tree on a hill. He and his men were told that David’s location had been detected. He said to his men in 1 SAM 22: 7-8, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Do you think that David will give fields and vineyards to all of you, and make you officers in his army? Is that why you are plotting against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made an alliance with David. No one is concerned about me or tells me that David, one of my own men, is right now looking for a change to kill me, and that my son has encouraged him!” Knowing what we already know about the covenant agreement David had made with Jonathan and about David’s own faithfulness to God, Saul’s view of this was entirely perverted. That is the nature of mental illness, a total departure from reality. God’s truth was nowhere to be seen in Saul’s mind.
Doeg, who by this time had returned to Saul, overheard this conversation and reported to Saul that the priests at Nob under Ahimelech had given David food and Goliath’s sword (9-10). An enraged Saul sent for Ahimelech and the priests of Nob to come to him. When they arrived, Saul confronted them. After a short colloquy in which Ahimeleh denied doing anything wrong, reminded Saul that David was his own son-in-law, and referred to him as a highly respected captain of Saul’s own body guards, Saul sentenced Ahimelech and the priests of Nob to death (11-17). 1 SAM 22: 18-19, “So Saul said to Doeg, ‘You kill them!’-and Doeg killed 85 priests who were qualified to wear the ephod [special symbol of the priesthood]. Saul also had all the priests, put to death: men and women, children and babies, cattle, donkeys, and sheep-they were all killed.” What an ungodly and atrocious over-reaction to his situation this was! One can only imagine God’s teeth on edge.
Once again we see the hand of God and His presence in protecting David in 1 SAM 22: 20-21, “But Abiathar, one of Ahimelech’s sons, escaped and went and joined David. He told him how Saul had slaughtered the priests of the Lord.” At this time in mankind’s history there was no modern technology for communication, and yet, it is somehow carried out. I am reminded of Christ’s words here in MK 10: 27, “This is impossible for man but not for God; everything is possible for God.” The obediently trusting, faithful soul and loving heart of David is shown in 1 SAM 22: 22-23. Note David’s reaction here: “David said to [Abiathar], ‘When I saw Doeg there that day, I knew that he would be sure to tell Saul. So I am responsible for the death of all your relatives. Stay with me and do not be afraid. Saul wants to kill both you and me, but you will be safe with me.” What we see in the contrast between Saul’s attitude and David’s is the clash between man-centered and God-centered belief systems. One of the most salient lessons in this part of the series of events leading up to David’s relationship established with Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, is an idea of the magnitude of that “transformation brought about by the renewal of one’s mind” [RO 12: 2] that only God, through the Holy Spirit, can bring about. It is one thing to know such things exist. It is another to have some idea of the magnitude of this Godly accomplishment. Since David is born an ordinary man and we knew he has a checkered life, it is appropriate to assume that God can carry out this transformation with any ordinary man willing to allow it. That is why we don’t waste our time meditating on how this amazing fact impacts our own lives today.
PRAYER: O Lord, as we examine the series of events in 1 SAM 22, we are able to see such a wide contrast with regard to the value of righteousness between Saul and David. There is no doubt that David had a lot of blood on his hands, so much so that You decided his son, Solomon, and not he should build Your Temple. Yet there is such a difference between the killing David did which was a part of Your plan and the uncontrolled anger that Saul exhibited that led to such atrocities as the slaughter of Ahimelech and the 85 priests of Nob with their families and animals. Our own legal system distinguishes between premeditated murder and self-defense in an effort to deal with this reality. You gave David a conscience, which caused him pain and made him take responsibility for the slaughter that happened, even through he didn’t carry it out personally. Saul had no such conscience. This makes us realize that part of becoming spiritually mature is taking responsibility for one’s own actions. Immature and unrighteous people always take the part of the victim, blaming others, just as Saul did when blaming his men for not telling him about the covenant between David and his own son, Jonathan. With this story, You challenge us to become spiritually mature, seek righteousness, and to take responsibility for our own actions. You have given us the gift of a conscience and make Your teachings known to us, so we will act on Your leadership in our lives. For that and so much more, we humbly approach Your altar to offer You our worship, adoration, trust, obedience, loyalty, diligence, glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
I hope you agree with me that this series of events deserves our close examination for all the wonderful lessons to be mined from it. In an effort to better understand the nature of our covenant relationship with God and how it transcends generations, I am led to discuss more of the events of Saul’s pursuit and persecution of David in tomorrow’s message. David was encased in a kind of supernatural protection which resulted from his tenacious adherence to his faith in God. Our Abba has enough love to give for each of us and affords us that same protection due to our covenant relationship with Him. There is no other source from which this depth of consistent love comes to us. All He asks of us is that we remain obedient and faithful. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn