David the Fugitive

1. David the Fugitive 1 Samuel 21 - 23

2. David the Fugitive (1 Samuel 21:1 - 9) David was on the run from Saul’s murderous rage. He fled to Nob, the site of the tabernacle and met Ahimelech, the great-grandson of Eli. Ahimelech fearfully asked David why he had come. David lied, claiming that he was on a special mission for King Saul. David’s lie would later result in tragedy as Saul, believing that they were traitors, would murder Ahimelech and the other priests.For his part, David would later admit to Ahimelech’s son: “I am responsible for the death of your father’s whole family.”

3. David the Fugitive (1 Samuel 21:1 – 9) Once again, Samuel’s prophecy about the suffering that would fall upon Eli’s family comes to fulfillment (1 Samuel 2:27-36). David asked Ahimelech for consecrated bread (the bread set apart during worship for God, look up: Leviticus 24:5-9) to feed his hungry men. Ahimelech went against the letter of the Law to give it to him. By placing David’s needs and very life about religious ritual, Ahimelech upheld a higher law, the spirit of the Law, the ethic of love and mercy.

4. David the Fugitive (1 Samuel 21:1 – 9) On the worksheet for #1: Draw a line to Nob. Write: “David sought refuge from Ahimelech but he lied about his situation. Ahimelech the priest provided shelter, food and the sword of Goliath.”

5. David Flees (1 Samuel 21:10 – 11) David also asked Ahimelech for something else — a weapon, and the priest offered Goliath’s sword. As fugitive from King Saul, David has no choice to be go into the land of Israel’s enemies—Gath. He hoped the enemy king Achish would welcome him as an enemy of Saul so he allowed himself to be captured. But the servants of Achish said: "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: " 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?"

6. David the Madman? (1 Samuel 21: 12 – 15) David quickly realized that he was not safe in Gath. He was forced to do something very degrading in order to get away from the Philistiines. The hero of Israel, the man after God’s own heart, acted like a raving lunatic. He began drooling, babbling and randomly marking all the doors. And so the Philistines let him go. David’s behavior was motivated by fear. Fear caused him to lie, to ask for a weapon, to flee from Saul, and to pretend to be insane. Read Psalm 56 to get more insight into how David wrestled with fear and ultimately trusted in God.

7. David the Fugitive (1 Samuel 21:10 – 14) On the worksheet for #2: Draw a line to Gath. Write: “David let himself be captured by King Achish but Achish’s servants realized who David was. David faked insanity in order to be set free.”

8. David: In Hiding (1 Samuel 22:1 – 5) The years of testing ahead would mature him into the man God would place on Israel’s throne. David ran from King Achish back to Israel & hid in the cave of Adullam, where his family visited him. Many who were unhappy or in trouble sought him, until he became the leader of about 400 men. He prayed while in that cave, pouring out his grief as he wrote Psalm 142. As fear lessened and assurance grew, he penned the words of praise to God found in Psalm 57.

9. David In Hiding (1 Samuel 22:1 – 2) On the worksheet for #3: Draw a line to Adullam. Write: “David escaped from Gath to the cave of Adullam. His family and friends came to visit him there. Eventually he became the leader of 400 men who supported him.”

10. Saul & the Priests (1 Samuel 22:5 – 8) Warned by God through the prophet Gad not to stay in Adullam, David and his men went east into the forest. Meanwhile, Saul was headquartered in Gibeah, “spear in hand” (22:6). Hearing David had been discovered, Saul reminded his Benjamite men that David — of the tribe of Judah — would do them no favors. He accused them all, including his son, of disloyalty and conspiracy against him.

11. A Lie, An Accusation (1 Samuel 22:9 – 13) This tirade prompted Doeg the Edomite to tell Saul he had seen Ahimelech, the high priest, give David provisions and the sword of Goliath. Doeg did not say that David misled Ahimelech; he made it sound as if the priest had conspired against Saul. As a result, Saul summoned all the priests at Nob. When they arrived, Saul rudely accused the high priest, next in rank under God to Israel’s king, of plotting with David.

12. Evil Deeds (1 Samuel 22:14 – 23) Ahimelech defended David as well as himself, provoking the evil spirit controlling Saul to rave that all the priests must die. Saul’s guards refused to commit this sacrilegious massacre, so he ordered the godless Edomite, Doeg, to do it. He gladly obeyed. By God’s grace, Ahimelech’s son Abiathar escaped the massacre and fled to David, who realized his actions had brought on this tragedy. He assumed full responsibility. Read Psalm 52 to get further insight into how David made sense of this tragedy.

13. The Rescue of Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1 – 6) Contrast David’s behavior with that of Saul. David, running for his own life, was told that his fellow Israelites were being vandalized by the Philistines. As king, Saul should have helped the men of Keilah, but he only cared about finding David and killing him. David, however, sought God’s will. The Lord indicated that David was to help the people. David’s men resisted but he reassured rather than forced them and his army went, saving the people of Keilah.

14. The Betrayal of David (1 Samuel 23:7 – 13) Saul heard that David & his men were in Keilah, and wrongly thought God had given David into his hands. David sought God’s guidance through the priest, Abiathar, who with his ephod determined God’s answer. David learned that even though he risked his life to help the Keilahites, yet they would betray him and turn him and his men over to Saul. David fled to the Desert of Ziph — a desolate wilderness between the hill country and the Dead Sea. There he hid while Saul searched for him.

15. Jonathan Returns, Saul’s Insincerity(1 Samuel 23:14 – 23) God prevented Saul from finding David. Yet Jonathan had no trouble locating him and coming to encourage him. It was the last time the two friends would see each other, as Jonathan would die in the same Philistine battle that took his father’s life. This time the Ziphites told Saul where David was, and offered to surrender him to Saul. Saul insincerely used God’s name to bless them, then asked them to spy on David, and reported to Saul so he could capture him.

16. God Intervenes (1 Samuel 23: 24 – 29) When he heard Saul’s plans, David and his men moved to the wilderness. Saul pursued him. David was in a tight spot; only the Lord could save him. At this time, he wrote Psalm 54. How did God deliver him? David was on one side of the mountain, Saul on the other. Capture seemed likely. God intervened by sending Saul an urgent message: the Philistines had raided Israel. Even Saul recognized that the nation’s safety is more important than vengeance on one man, he left, and David was delivered.

17. Homework (Due Tuesday, March 23rd) BLOG ON 1 SAMUEL 21 – 23 (“Trust in the Lord”) USE YOUR PRAYER JOURNAL. LEARN THE MEMORY VERSE. (Proverbs 3: 5 – 6)