{Psalms from the fugitive years: Psalms 7, 11-13, 16-17, 22, 25, 31, 34-35, 52-54, 56-59, 63-64, 142-143. Psalm 18}
1 Samuel 22:1-5
David survived this little detour into Philistine territory and went to a cave Adullam which is in Judah about 10 miles east southeast of Gath and about twenty miles southwest of Bethlehem. Adullam means refuge; this cave was a safe place but only so far as a place to seek the Lord. The Lord wanted to be David's refuge and it was during these years as a fugitive David learned to find solace, peace and refuge in the Lord.
Psalm 57 and Psalms 142 were songs written about David's time in the cave. It is believed that this cave is very close to where David killed Goliath. What a contrast these two days are and how confusing this must have been to David to be hiding in a cave after he was a successful military man and a anointed king.
David ends up with a group of loyal followers of discontents, debtors and distressed. These were broken and disillusioned men; not bad people, just those who have felt the effect of sin in their life and see it for what it is. It is these kinds of folks that God can use. These men needed leadership and God gave them to David and vice versa. David became captain over them. God turns this band of misfits into 'mighty men'.
David goes down to Moab to find asylum for his friends and family; they went there until David was able to see what God was going to do. Almost as an answer to 'what God will do' the prophet Gad shows up and sends David back He rebuked David for the sin of the census. The prophet Gad was with David many years and was close to David. It was Gad who came to David when he sinned with a census and the Lord punished him.
1 Samuel 22:6-8
Saul is speaking to his tribe and upset at their lack of loyalty. We see a sort of pathetic paranoia in Saul. He's a sad man who has trusted in his ways and his strength and things aren't going his way. He stands with a spear in his hand; which would have kept everyone on their toes. Saul attempts to buy their loyalty promising them possessions and authority. Since no one revealed to him that there was a covenant between David and Jonathon, he is calling them co-conspirators.
As Saul confronted the Benjamites a spy spoke up and told him that the priest had helped David. Saul called the priests to him. Ahimilech didn't know anything about the division between Saul and David. He saw David as a faithful servant of Saul and helped him like he would anyone else. But it matters not to Saul; anyone who helped David is automatically an enemy. He orders his men to kill the priest but they wouldn't do it. This is fascinating; and each of these men were risking their life in denying this. Its not hard to imagine that David was a bit of a hero among the ranks of the army. He was the leader they craved and the military experienced much success at David's leadership. They know that Ahimilech was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Saul wanted these men dead, starting with Ahimelech and Doeg, the Edomite, steps right up. It's fascinating that Saul was so reluctant to kill the enemies of God when he was instructed to do so and now has no problem killing all these men. Doeg obliges the kings wishes and proceeds to kill eighty-five priests. We see a prophecy fulfilled in that Eli the priest was told his house would be judged.
Abiathar fled to David and told him all that happened. We see David reveal that he was suspicious of Doeg when he saw him that day. He had a feeling that guy was trouble. Read Psalm 52.
©2015 Doug Ford
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