1 Samuel 21
This chapter begins the phase of David’s life where he is a fugitive. He is hiding from Saul to stay alive. He will ultimately become a kind of warlord, still a fugitive, but with his own small army. He will stay in this state until Saul dies.
21:1-6
David Flees To The High Priest
After his meeting with Jonathan, David left Gibeah andwent to Nob. Nob was south of Gibeah. The Tabernacle was there. Many priests lived there.
David approached the priest, Ahimelech. He was the high priest and, therefore, in charge of the tabernacle. He seemed troubled by David’s appearance, although we are not told why.
David lied to Ahimelech. He invented a story about Saul giving him a secret mission. He was going to meet some young men and needed food. He demanded five loaves of bread or whatever was available.
Ahimelech told David all he had was the “holy bread”. By that, he meant the shewbread, or Bread of the Presence, that was kept in the Tabernacle.
God’s instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings included a table made of Acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It was placed in the outer room, the Holy Place.
Included in the items placed on the table was the Bread of the Presence. (Exodus 25:23-30; 37:10-16) There were 12 loaves, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Fresh loaves were set out every Sabbath day. The priests ate it in a holy place.
So, Ahimelech should have told David he could not have the bread because only the high priest and his sons could eat it. Instead, he said he could give it if David’s (non-existent) young men had kept themselves from women. This may come from Leviticus 15:18, which says that, when a man and woman have sex, they are ceremonial unclean for the rest of the day (until evening).
David assured Ahimelech that his imaginary young men were ceremonially clean. So, the priest gave him the holy bread.
Although David was God’s man, he was not a perfect man. He had just seen God miraculously deliver him from death by causing Saul and his men to prophesy. Yet, he now does not trust God to provide for him and lies to get what he needs and puts the priests in danger.
A Foreshadow of Trouble
21:7
The writer inserts here that Doeg, the Edomite, was present. He was a servant of Saul. This is to foreshadow later trouble.
The Second Lie
21:8-9
David also felt that he needed weapons to protect himself from Saul and his men. So, he lied again, saying he left in haste without his weapons. The priest gave him the sword of Goliath.
Misadventure to Gath
21:19-15
David left Nob and went on an even stranger expedition. He went to Gath, the Philistine city. It was the hometown of Goliath, whom David slew. It does not seem like a likely place to take him in.
The king’s servants recognized David as the warrior who fought against them. They even referred to him as the king of Israel.
They repeated the words Israel’s victory song which praised David for how many Philistines he slew in battle.
When David heard that he was recognized, he acted like he was crazy. So, Achish, the king of Gath, sent him away and he escaped.
Psalms 34 and 56 are written about this incident. The titles to both psalms make this clear.
Psalm 34 is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving for God’s protection. Even though David made a big mistake, God acted to protect him. David wrote that the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. (15) He also wrote “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all”. (19)
These are good words of encouragement to all believers as they face problems and trials in their lives.
Psalm 56 is in the form of a lament. David wrote of having an attacker and enemies. But, when he becomes afraid, David trusts in God. (4) He remembered that God was form him. (9) He vowed to trust God and resist being afraid, saying what can man do to me? (10-11)
Takeaways
Worry and anxiety are natural traits for most of us.
But the Bible tells us not to do this.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus taught that we should not be anxious because God will provide for our needs when we seek his kingdom first.
Paul, in Philippians 4:6-7, tells us not to be anxious, but rather to pray about our needs. That will bring us peace.
In 1 Peter 5:6, Peter tells us to cast all our anxieties on God because he cares for us.
God even saves us from ourselves, preventing us from getting into difficulties because of our decisions.
If we seek to live for God through Christ and trust him, he will lead us, provide for us, and protect us.
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