January 16, 2013
David the Fugitive
1st Samuel 21:1-22:23
I David Seeks Help 21:1-9
II David in Hiding 21:10-22:5
III Saul's Wrath 22:6-23
David went from being a hero in the court of Israel to a wanted fugitive almost overnight. His future had been bright and promising. Samuel had anointed him to be the future king of Israel, even though it had been done in secrecy, in front of no one but his father and his brothers. He had been the armor bearer and chief musician of King Saul. He had married the princess-----Michal----the king's daughter, which elevated him to a place of honor. And his best friend was the crown prince----the one who should have been heir to the throne. He should have been treated with respect and honor, in a way that befitted his royal status-----but David found himself being treated like a criminal, who was running for his life. In what seemed like a split second, adversity and hardship had become his constant companions.
God intended for David to have a glorious future-----he would, eventually, make him king. And God would make a covenant, especially with David, that insured that the Lord Jesus would be one of his descendants. But before that could happen, David had to learn to trust God, during the times of affliction in his life, as well as during the times of blessing.
David had some growing to do and God had some lessons to teach him-----the way that David responded to the adversity that came crashing down on him, is what developed the godly character in him, that he needed to rule over Israel and to be a man after God's own heart. David had been on the mountaintop----he knew what that felt like-----but he needed to know what it felt like to be in the valley too----we all know what that feels like, because we can't stay on the mountaintop all the time----it may be breathtakingly beautiful----but the air is thin and the foliage is sparse, and the trees grow far apart, and the water supply is often scarce------so, we need to spend time in the valley----- because that's where most of our growth happens------the grass is lush there and the cool clear river or creek water, full of the nutrients from the top of the mountain, runs through it, and the trees are close together and give us shelter and shade from the sun and the rain----and we may have to work hard, but we can see and enjoy the fruit of our labor.
God created us, so He knows that, in our lives, we need both mountaintops and valleys----other-wise we would become complacent or self-satisfied or indifferent, and wouldn't appreciate the value of either one. It truly does take one, to appreciate the other.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote the phrase, "into each life, some rain must fall." This statement is painfully true, because each one of us, at any point in time, has to face and walk through difficulties and heartache and trouble and injustice. Sometimes, only a little rain falls and sometimes, it pours. Often, we struggle to manage our problems, and we look for those we can admire and emulate, who have survived even greater hardships.
There is one Christian inspirational speakers organization----which lists 39 different speakers for the category, "Overcoming Adversity". Some of these speakers, are survivors of cancer, tragic accidents or horrible crimes. Some of them are former POW's, terrorist victims, or individuals who suffer from disabling diseases. The initial circumstances may be different, but each speaker has faced some type of adversity and has come through it, with a deeper appreciation for life, a stronger character and a greater understanding of the faithfulness of God. Its important, for us to hear, what people have to say about what the Lord has done or is doing for them----its important for us to be those people who are doing the telling.
Marty said Sunday, in the early service, that the joy in our hearts, that floods our souls, like the sea billows roll, should be so strong, that it knocks people down spiritually----the way ocean waves knock us down physically-------
because, as believers, we know what we've been spared----(which is hell)----and we know, Who will never leave us or forsake us and Who will walk with us, though every valley, giving us courage, and the will to survive, and an unwavering hope in the future-----
Before David could become the Lord's chosen king-----he needed to walk through the valley and have some rain fall into his life. God wanted David's time, as a fugitive, to teach him how to face adversity and hardship head-on-----
and He didn't let him do it by himself-----when we read the Psalms, we can clearly see that God was with him every step of the way and that David never lost sight of that fact---even though he lamented sometimes, about the circumstances he found himself in, and wondered why God let him get into them in the first place----- he always came back around to God, being ever in control, and ever faithful, and ever merciful. God also gathered a group of mighty men around him---to protect him, who would fight with and for him--- and He gave him a priest to advise him, give him scriptural counsel, who would keep him accountable to God. God wanted David to learn trust Him and to honor His will, no matter what storm was raging around him-----to hold onto Him, because, the reality is, there was nothing else that He could hold onto------and there is nothing else we can hold onto either----
Adversity is always painful, but the Lord can turn it into something that is useful or even beautiful.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus taught that believers will be blessed when they are persecuted because of righteousness---Matt 5:10-12 says---that when people lie about us or insult us, or are mean to us, for the Lord's sake, we are to rejoice in Him, anyway, because He already has our reward in heaven.
James in 1:2-4, tells us to consider it "pure joy", when we face trials of many kinds----because the testing of our faith though adversity builds perseverance and faithful perseverance builds godly character.
Peter reminds us on 1Peter 1:6-7 that we may suffer grief in different kins of trials, but these hardships and difficulties come in order to prove our faith genuine and to give "praise, honor and glory" to Jesus.
Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 1:5 that if we remain faithful in suffering, then we will be counted "worthy of the kingdom of God."
And in 2 Timothy, Paul says that God will surely vindicate those who suffer for him.
Jesus, suffering on the cross for you and me, is the most precious truth, that we have to cling to, when we're experiencing adversity-----everything else, pales, in comparison-----if we will look deep into His eyes and cling to His hand---we will get through anything, not just somehow, but victoriously, with overwhelming peace and overflowing joy---- and we will be refined, and fit for the purpose, that He created us for, in the process----
(A little piece of wood once complained bitterly because its owner kept whittling away, cutting it, and filling it with holes. But the one who was cutting it so remorselessly, paid no attention to it's complaining. You see, he was making a flute out of that little piece of ebony, and he was to wise to stop just because the wood didn't understand and kept complaining. He said to the little piece of wood --- "without these holes, and all this cutting, you would be a black stick forever----just a useless piece of ebony. What I'm doing now may make you think that I'm destroying you, but instead, I will change you into a flute, and your sweet music will charm the souls of men and comfort many a sorrowing heart. My cutting you is the making of you, for only then can you be a blessing in the world.")
I David Seeks Help 21:1-9
David had no choice but to flee from Saul's court. He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Saul was determined to kill him. God had great things in store for David, but God knows what it takes, to make us into the people that He needs for us to be, so that He can use us----and it's different for different people, that's why our life experiences are so different, and why He gives us chance after chance after chance----and why, because there is only way to Him, He will allow many ways to Jesus.
God knew what it would take, to turn David into the man after His own heart, who could be the king that He desired for him to be, to rule His people. God knew that David needed to learn how to stay faithful in trusting Him, when he faced hardship and adversity.Throughout this time of running and hiding and scrounging for food and for shelter and safety----David had to learn to live and to relate by faith, trusting in God's purposes and His will----in spite of his own popularity with the people and and his skill as a warrior. (He reminds me of Robin Hood, in how the people loved him and made him a hero, while, at the same time, he was being hunted down by the king as a common criminal). He needed to believe and to trust, that God would save him from Saul and make him king, with all the honor and blessing, that that would bring, at the right time and the right place, with the same kind of faith that he had, that the sun would come up in the morning.
When David climbed out the window of his house, running for his life, he headed to Nob, a sanctuary town, where the priests lived and where parts of the tabernacle, appear to have been taken to, after the Ark of the Covenant was relocated to Kiriath-Jearim. (after it had been misused by the Israelites, captured by the Philistines, and then retrieved by the Israelites during the days of Eli).
David had been to Nob before, and had sought advice from Ahimelech, the high priest, there.
But when he got there, this time, he made Ahimelech nervous, because he arrived by himself and he was obviously in a hurry and was unprepared for his mission. And Ahimelech's suspicions weren't helped by the fact, that David was vague in his requests and in his response, to the priest's two questions----"Why are you alone and why is no one with you? David was creative in his answers----he told Ahimelech, that the king had charged him with a private matter, and, he implied, that it was such a secret mission, that even his men couldn't know about it and had to be left at an undisclosed location.
Technically, David didn't tell Alimelech a bold-faced lie, because he didn't use Saul's name and he didn't describe what the private matter was----but he didn't tell him the whole truth either-----so, any way you look at it---he deceived him----because a half-truth, is a whole lie. We don't know why David lied-----it could have been that he was afraid that Ahimelech wouldn't help him if he knew that Saul was chasing him, or maybe he thought, that the less Ahimelech knew about him and his plans, the safer the priest and his family would be, if Saul came to question him. But, regardless of his reasoning, his lie, put everybody in even greater danger. (Lying is never the right answer, and there will always be consequences to answer to when the lie is uncovered.)
The Holy Spirit had fallen on David, but that doesn't mean that he was sinless. He had fears and shortcomings that tempted him to yield to sin, just like the rest of us do. According to the theologian Gene Getz, who wrote David: Seeking God Faithfully, David's behavior in this situation, indicated that he didn't trust God, to be able to protect and deliver him from Saul. Instead, he tried to take matters into his own hands. I personally think that David believed that God could, but I'm not sure that he believed that God would. I've been where David was, and I know each of you have too, at some point in time-----and I've made the same kind of mistakes that he did------but I'm learning to seek the Lord, for guidance and for patience and for insight and for wisdom and for protection and for security, instead of my own experience and ability or the advice and experiential knowledge, of someone else-----I'm learning to say, like the father, of the boy with a demon, that Jesus cast out in Mark 9:14-29 said, "O Lord, I believe, help my unbelief", and then, to trust that He will. Pamela Reeve says, "that, believing, is resting in the fact, that God has an objective, in leaving us on the scene, even when we feel like we're useless to Him and a burden to others" and "that believing, is engaging in the deepest joy, of the promise of heaven, knowing and trusting God's unfathomable love for us, as we walk through the thorny desolate now…" and, that believing, is speaking truth in love, even at the cost of position or relationships."
David asked Ahimelech for 5 loaves of bread. But the only bread on hand, was the 12 loaves of consecrated bread, that symbolized the presence of God, among His people, as well as His loving care, that met all their physical needs. The specially made loaves were set before the Lord every Sabbath. And the old loaves that were removed, were only supposed to be eaten by the priests. Because of David's human need, the priest gave him the bread. (His only stipulation was, that David and his men be ceremonially clean----meaning that they hadn't had sexual relations within 24 hours-----because their law stated, that any loss, of emission from the body, like blood or semen, needed 24 hours to be restored, and that they were ceremonially unclean, until that 24 hours had passed, and couldn't participate in any ceremonial rites, until then. David assured him that they were, that they never went into battle, ceremonially unclean, they treated every mission as a holy one.
Ahimelech had to go against the Law to give the bread to him, but he put David's need and his life, ahead of religious ceremony. This upheld God's higher law of love----centuries later, Jesus referred to this incident, and he made it clear, that it was the right thing to do-----that it is always right, to do good and to save life, and that life and human need, always take precedence over legalistically, following the law. This isn't teaching us that Jesus condones disobedience to God's laws, its teaching us that we have to use compassion and discernment in enforcing God's laws.
David was not the only servant of Saul, at Nob, that day. Doeg the Edomite (descendant of Esau) was also there. Scritpure says, that he was Saul's head shepherd----but that must have involved more than just watching the sheep-----it must have been some position of leadership, because later on in the story, we know that he used military skill to kill a lot of people. We aren't told why he was detained before the Lord, just that he was.
Ironically, from our perspective, but not circumstantially, from God's----David, who needed a weapon, because he had escaped unarmed, ran straight to the place, where the first sword, he had ever used, was kept. Goliath's sword was kept behind the ephod, which was the special vestment that the High Priest wore, when he was serving on ceremony days, that was made with two pockets, containing the urim and the thumin, which the Israelites used to discern God's guidance and His direction. David may or may not have known the sword was there, but he asked Ahimelech for a weapon, perpetuating the lie, that his mission was so urgent, he hadn't had time bring one of his own. Ahimelech reminded him, that David had cut off Goliath's head, with the only sword that was stored, had at the tabernacle. David was thrilled to take it.
At Nob, God provided David with food and a means for his protection. When we are in the middle of a crisis, way too often, we forget, that God, hasn't gone anywhere. If we lose a job or face an illness or experience a broken relationship or have to engage in tough love----we immediately worry about how we are going to get through the difficulty or the heartbreak------but we have to learn, to consciously remind ourselves, that God is faithful. We need to learn to trust Him in the good times and the bad ones; on the mountaintops and in the valleys, and whether we're in the wilderness or in a crowd-----We have to remember that He's always the same and He's always good, and He always has our best interests, in the center of His heart. Difficult times can deepen our trust in Him. In Matt. 6:33, Jesus gently reminds us,"not to worry about what we will eat or what we will drink or what we will wear, instead, He call us, to seek God's kingdom first, and then all the other things will be given to us."
II David in Hiding 21:10-22:5
David's next stop, in his flight from Saul, was to go to Gath. It was one of the 5 major Philistine cities and it had been Goliath's hometown. It was about 23 miles from Nob. We aren't really given the reason why he went there. Maybe he went there because he thought it was the last place Saul would look, and he would be safe there; maybe he thought he could form an alliance with the king there, whose name was Achish----because sometimes it works really well, when 2 former enemies unite to fight a common enemy. Maybe he thought he could lose himself in a place where nobody knew him, until he could figure out what to do----kind of like hiding in plain sight-----he had no way of knowing that his fame had spread so far, that not only did King Achish' s servant recognize him------but they even knew the first victory song, that the Israelites had sung about him and Saul-----"Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousand….". They knew that he was "the" David, who was viewed as a leader of the Israelites and had killed many Philistines, the biggest one being Goliath.
Technically, the servants had mistaken David as "the king of the land", giving laud to his military prowess. Saul did still rule in Israel-----but ironically----in this situation, we can see God's sense of humor and His sense of justice----- David had been anointed as the next king, secretly-----and eventually He would become King of the Israelites, publicly, and he was going to become the king, who would defeat the Philistines once and for all. David didn't know it and neither did the Philistines, but God was preparing him through his crazy hardships, to be king over the entire Promised Land, including the Philistine cities.
Scripture says that David heard and paid attention to the servants words------and that hey made him afraid------David decided to take the initiative and pretended to be insane. He made marks on doors and drooled into his beard. I don't know how long it took, but the ruse worked. Achish chastised his servants, for allowing an insane man, into their midst, insisting that they get rid of him. In the ancient middle east, this type of insanity was considered to be the result of divine possession or affliction, so it was the custom, not harm mentally unstable people. Fortunately for David, Achish didn't regard threat has a threat, to him or his people, so he let him live----and David was able to escape from another king, by the skin of his teeth.
There is something sad about this part of the story to me-----David wasn't trusting God-----so, not only did he run to a place and a people, who could never help him and who didn't know or care about his God, but he had to resort to demeaning behavior, so that he could escape. His behavior was a far cry, from the behavior of the courageous young man, who had stood up to Goliath. David needed to get beyond his fear and find his faith. He was confused and he was running for his life, but if he had stopped and just listened for a minute, he would have heard that voice behind him, saying----"this is the way, David, walk in it…" (Isaiah 30:21)
But, in spite of everything----and our lesson commentary says, because of everything, David was beginning, with each new hardship, to trust God just a little more----it was during the time at Achish's court, when he was pretending to be insane, that he wrote Psalm 34----I love verses 19-20 from that Psalm----"the righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time, for the Lord protects the bones of the righteous, not one of them is broken."
When David left Gath, he went east, into the hill country of Judah, and hid in the Cave of Adullam. It was about 10 miles from Bethlehem, David's hometown, so, when his brothers and his father's household, got wind of where he was, they followed him there. I'm sure that they came to comfort David and show their solidarity, but they must have been scared of what Saul might do to them, too----this tells me, that they must have had faith in David's ability to lead them---- and that, in the long run, David would be the victor.
Scripture also says that David began to grow a band of followers that grew to 400 men in a very short while, It was made up of men who were in trouble, or in debt or discontented. They were outcasts who could only improve their lot by helping David become the king. David's control over this group of men, shows his resourcefulness and his ability to lead and to motivate other people. Its hard enough to build an army out of good men, but its even harder, and takes even greater leadership, to build one, out of the kind of men, who came to follow David. Out of this group of unlikely people, God began to form David's kingdom----they were no longer individual tribes, with a loose alliance to each other; they had begun to be, one united kingdom. (This is a precursor to the kingdom of God----when Jesus walked on the earth, the outcasts of society were drawn to Him too----and even now, the downtrodden and the discounted are looking for another way----when they recognize their sin----they come to the Lord Jesus, seeking His forgiveness, rejecting the world and desiring to be a part of His kingdom.)
David left the cave to go to Mizpah, in Moab, to ask the king there, if he would grant asylum to his mother and father, until he knew God's will for his life. He was banking on the king honoring his request because his great grandmother Ruth, was from Moab. What a good boy he was-----in the middle of his uncertainty, he made sure that he had his parents taken care of and in a safe place, protected from Saul and his anger against him-----David wasn't perfect, but we can clearly see the purity of his heart, as he met the needs of the people, that he loved, and who were under his care.
When he left Moab, he went to a place that was called "the Stronghold"---some scholars believe that it was, the fortress, Masada-----the Jews celebrate Hannakah, even today, because of the miracle that happened there---when their lamps burned for 8 days and never ran out of oil----but nobody really knows. While he was there, the prophet Gad came to him and told him that God had said that it was time to leave and go to Judah.
And David went---- he didn't hesitate, and he set up camp in the forest of Hereth, which was located just west of the Dead Sea. The implication was, that this place, was the one that God had chosen to provide for and protect David and his family. David's quick obedience to move himself and his family to a place that took him close to Saul, shows us, that he was trusting God, more and more.
III Saul's Wrath 22:6-23
This passage describes one of the greatest tragedies that happened in the history of the Israelite monarchy. Saul's jealous, personal vendetta against David escalated into the unjust murder of the faithful priests at Nob, their families and the destruction of all of their possessions. We can see how Saul's sinful conduct stands out, in clear contrast, to David's growing faith and trust in the Lord.
Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree, which is the kind of place, where ancient tribal chieftains would sit and mete out justice to their people. But Saul was so far removed from being able to hand out justice that I don't think there was anyone but Doeg, the Edomite, who would take anything he said seriously.
First, Saul turned his own officials against himself, by accusing them of allowing Jonathan to make a covenant with David, to kill him. Everybody could see how distorted Saul's thinking was-----they knew David was in hiding from Saul's relentless pursuit. David didn't want to kill Saul----at the point, he was still a loyal servant to Saul.
Doeg didn't have any qualms, about telling Saul, that he had seen David talking to Ahimelech at the sanctuary in Nob. He let Saul's bitter anger and jealousy blow the information out of proportion in his mind---made him think that David was conspiring against him with the priest----when the reality was, that David, even though he was young, immature and spritually impatient, was seeking protection and guidance from the Lord----Doeg must have been trying to elevate himself in Saul's mind and in his army. His selfish ambition, sent Saul over the edge and caused the destruction of a whole family.
Based on Doeg's testimony, Saul summoned Ahimelech and his entire family to him----and he accused him of conspiracy and treason. Ahimelech was an honorable man----he defended himself and his actions by defending David. He listed 5 points about David's character that Saul could not dispute-----he was Saul's servant; he was loyal; he was the kings son-in-law; he was the captain of Saul's bodyguard and he was highly respected in Saul's household. For Ahimelech, it was impossible conceive of David as being a traitor who would rebel against Saul and want to take his life-----he knew David---he had gone to see Ahimelech, many times before this, to seek the Lord's counsel and direction. He hadn't known that there was anything going on between David and Saul-----David's lie should have protected Ahimelech, but Saul was not a sane man, so he couldn't trust the truth of Ahimelech's words.
So, Saul gave the order to his bodyguards to kill Ahimelch and all his family and everybody in the town of Nob, but they refused---they were David's friends and they were followers of the Lord----that task would have been odious to them----but Doeg was happy to carry out the destruction. He killed 85 priests and all their families and all their livestock and he destroyed all their possessions. He was as evil and demented as Saul.
Saul didn't succeed in obliterating the line of Ahimelech----because Abiathar, his son escaped and fled to David. It had to have been an emotional moment when Abiathar told David what Saul and Doeg had done. The new depth of David's character and the painstaking growth, of his faith in God, is stunningly apparent in David's response to the sad and tragic news. Instead of blaming Saul and Doeg for the tragedy, David accepted the responsibility for the needless deaths. And he comforted Abiathar and invited him to stay with him, where he would be safe. Abiathar escaped to David with an ephod housing a urim and a thummim. The ephod was probably the only symbol of the priesthood which survived Saul's raid and made it into David's cap. Saul thought he had destroyed Israel's priesthood, but when david became king-----he installed Abiathar as the high Priest and he remained in that position during david's entire reign.
(David wrote Psalm 52 after this incident, and he gives insight into Doeg's motivation and what eventually happened to him------the contrast between the two men described in the Psalm, is clear----Doeg trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others, but was eventually destroyed himself-------but David trusted in God's unfailing love, even in the middle of uncertainty and tragedy and was eventually elevated to a position of great leadership and authority)
Treasures
One by one God took them from me
all the things I valued most
till I was empty handed
every glittering toy was lost
and I walked earth's highways
grieving in my rags and poverty
until I heard His voice inviting
"lift those empty hands to me."
And I turned my hands toward heaven
and he filled them with a store
of His transcendent riches
till they could contain no more
and at last I comprehended
with my stupid mind, and dull
that God could not pour His riches
into hands already full.
Heavenly Father, our souls cry out in pain and grief during times of trial and adversity. Please give us the strength to hold onto you and make it through. Please help us to remember that when we trust in you, during our hardships and pain, we are changed--- we grow and godly character is built. And please, teach us what we need to learn about helping others in times of pain and sorrow---so that we can be a blessing to them, and make sure, that we point them, always to you, as the only source of comfort and wisdom and direction. Thank you that Jesus was obedient to You and went to the cross to suffer in our place and to show us, that the only way to walk through our own suffering----is to keep our eyes on you. Please help us to follow His example, so that we will draw closer to you, and so that will be counted worthy to be one of your children, and so that we will be a good example for people, who are watching us during our trial.
And Father, please may our faithful response to suffering, be a witness to the saving power of the Lord Jesus-----that will lead anybody who's watching, to a saving faith in Him. In the precious, holy name of Jesus, Amen.
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