July 1, 2010
David flees and goes to the priest Ahimelech for some bread. He leaves there and goes to Gath. To protect himself he acts as if he is crazy. David is on the run. He had to flee to save his life. He had done nothing wrong. He left Gath and fled to a cave. His relatives heard he was there and went to see him. I Samuel 22:2 - "Everyone who was in trouble, or who owed money, or who was unsatisfied gathered around David, and he became their leader... about 400." Interesting. It doesn't say trouble-makers, it says "in trouble." It doesn't say who took money, it says "who owed money." It doesn't say people who were content with the status quo, it says "people who were unsatisfied," who knew there was something missing. These weren't misfits.
It's been really interesting to watch as God has brought all sorts of people into our lives. People who have been betrayed by those they trusted. People whose life circumstances have caused them pain. People who are no longer willing to just talk the talk. God has given us so many opportunities to share HIS story. He has surrounded us with people to help, and with people who have been a help to us.
David was on the run, but he was not alone. He knew God was with him and sought to "learn what God is going to do for me." (I Samuel 22:3) Saul on the other hand would stop at nothing, even ordering, "Go and kill the priests of the LORD because they are on David's side." So blinded. He accused priest Ahimelech of things he didn't do then ordered the destruction of all the priests and their families. Saul knew they were "the priests of the LORD," yet he ordered them killed. Sin absolutely blinds you and gives you tunnel vision.
Addendum: 1/16/14 ~ I like what our friends told us their son said after finally returning to the Lord after years of rebellion. "Sin makes you stupid." I concur.
It is interesting to see who Saul used (and who was willing) to destroy the priests of the LORD. He originally ordered his officers to do it but they refused. But then Doeg, the chief of Saul's shepherds, agreed to follow Saul's orders and he went and killed 85 priests and the people of Nob (the city of the priests). By the time he was done he had killed men, women, children, babies, cattle, donkeys, and sheep. Who was this Doeg guy? Why was he willing to do what others refused to do? He was at Nob when David went to see Ahimelech the priest. Why was he there? I Samuel 21:7 - says he "had been held there before the LORD." Not that he went there to worship the LORD, but that he was held there before the LORD. The KJV says he was "detained" before the LORD. He was evidently being disciplined for his behavior. Now, he is back with Saul. When Saul wanted someone to do his dirty work he was right there, ready and willing. And he didn't stop at killing just the priests. He also killed men, women, children, babies, and animals. Obviously there was no change of heart and no fear of the LORD.
God provided Saul with a way out (the officer's refused to kill the priests), but when Saul refused to change his heart and insisted on following his own ways and not God's ways, then he finds someone who also refused to change his heart to help him continue on with his evil plan.
Next Entry: I Samuel 23:1 – 24:22
David flees and goes to the priest Ahimelech for some bread. He leaves there and goes to Gath. To protect himself he acts as if he is crazy. David is on the run. He had to flee to save his life. He had done nothing wrong. He left Gath and fled to a cave. His relatives heard he was there and went to see him. I Samuel 22:2 - "Everyone who was in trouble, or who owed money, or who was unsatisfied gathered around David, and he became their leader... about 400." Interesting. It doesn't say trouble-makers, it says "in trouble." It doesn't say who took money, it says "who owed money." It doesn't say people who were content with the status quo, it says "people who were unsatisfied," who knew there was something missing. These weren't misfits.
It's been really interesting to watch as God has brought all sorts of people into our lives. People who have been betrayed by those they trusted. People whose life circumstances have caused them pain. People who are no longer willing to just talk the talk. God has given us so many opportunities to share HIS story. He has surrounded us with people to help, and with people who have been a help to us.
David was on the run, but he was not alone. He knew God was with him and sought to "learn what God is going to do for me." (I Samuel 22:3) Saul on the other hand would stop at nothing, even ordering, "Go and kill the priests of the LORD because they are on David's side." So blinded. He accused priest Ahimelech of things he didn't do then ordered the destruction of all the priests and their families. Saul knew they were "the priests of the LORD," yet he ordered them killed. Sin absolutely blinds you and gives you tunnel vision.
Addendum: 1/16/14 ~ I like what our friends told us their son said after finally returning to the Lord after years of rebellion. "Sin makes you stupid." I concur.
It is interesting to see who Saul used (and who was willing) to destroy the priests of the LORD. He originally ordered his officers to do it but they refused. But then Doeg, the chief of Saul's shepherds, agreed to follow Saul's orders and he went and killed 85 priests and the people of Nob (the city of the priests). By the time he was done he had killed men, women, children, babies, cattle, donkeys, and sheep. Who was this Doeg guy? Why was he willing to do what others refused to do? He was at Nob when David went to see Ahimelech the priest. Why was he there? I Samuel 21:7 - says he "had been held there before the LORD." Not that he went there to worship the LORD, but that he was held there before the LORD. The KJV says he was "detained" before the LORD. He was evidently being disciplined for his behavior. Now, he is back with Saul. When Saul wanted someone to do his dirty work he was right there, ready and willing. And he didn't stop at killing just the priests. He also killed men, women, children, babies, and animals. Obviously there was no change of heart and no fear of the LORD.
God provided Saul with a way out (the officer's refused to kill the priests), but when Saul refused to change his heart and insisted on following his own ways and not God's ways, then he finds someone who also refused to change his heart to help him continue on with his evil plan.
Next Entry: I Samuel 23:1 – 24:22
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