I Samuel 22
Wednesday, 9th August 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
When David was out of his options, he went to his enemy and pretended to be insane. But the end of men is the beginning of God, David decided to go back to Judah, the promised land God gave to him, but he was still hiding, he hid in the cave of Adullam.
V1-2 ‘David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.’ Even though he was still at his low points, but things began to change, his family and people who knew him went to look for him and follow him. David had an orphan’s heart, he was the youngest in the family and was not looked up to when he was young. But now, his father and his brothers all went to him and followed him. God exalt David in the place he was at his lowest. When we are willing to turn back to God, God’s favours will come back to us. God will let us get up again at the place we fall.
God will bring us back to where we fail, He will train us under the Tree of Life, so we learn to humble, to obey, to deny oneself and to benefit others. When David’s family came to follow him, he must learn to accept them, and to change his attitude about them. God has been testing His people, Abraham, Moses, even Jesus, because God wants our mind and soul to be exalted. The people who had problems in their lives went to David, and David became their leader.
V3-5 ‘Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. Now the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.’ God will raise us up even when we are a nobody. When our hearts are in the right place, God’s favour will come, God will bring back people and honour, and we are not longer orphans. David was related to the people of Moab, and he kept the relationship with them. We must not forgot our family and where we come from. David loved his parents, and he knew it was safer for them to be in Moab. Do we rely on our parents more than relying on God? God wants us to honour our parents but not let them stopping us from hearing the Word of God.
David was willing to wait upon God, and he was willing to let God take care of his parents. God wants to see if we are willing to walk with Him, and if we do, He will let the environment and the people to help us and lead us. He will exalt us, when we change our way and come back to God.
V6-8 ‘When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered—now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him— then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day.”’ But on the other hand, Saul walked further and further from God. When he heard about David, he was angry and upset. David had many followers, but Saul felt no one was on his side, even his own son. God’s presence had left Saul, he had no peace, and he could not trust anyone.
V9-10 ‘Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”’ Saul could not trust his own people that he had an Edomite to be his close servant. Doeg was cunning, he knew want Saul wanted to hear. Ahimelech was Eli’s grandson, and Saul called all the family of the priest because he was angry at God.
V14-15 ‘So Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.”’ Ahimelech was trying to speak for himself, he tried to push away all the responsibilities, and he emphasised to Saul that he didn’t know anything. But he actual brought disaster upon himself, because if he really had been praying and caring for the house of Saul, then why would he now know about his relationship with David? As a priest, he didn’t seek God for Israel, and he didn’t seek God for Saul’s household. Therefore he didn’t know anything, and he didn’t watch over the people of God.
V20-23 ‘Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. So David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house. Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe.”’ There was no priest in Saul’s kingdom anymore, because the last family member of the priest went to seek protection from David. David was willing to accommodate the servant of God, he has changed, through his low point, he would seek God. Even though he seemed to be a nobody at the time, but God exalt him. Let us also turn back to God, completely rely on Him, completely submit to Him, and put God first, He will let us arise and shine again.