First Samuel 22:4

The Bible says in First Samuel 22:1-4, “David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.[2] And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.[3] And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.[4] And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.” David’s life was in danger. Even though David had to go from one place to the next, he kept finding places of safety. The Lord does the same thing for each one of us. This is a dangerous world. We could run into the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it usually does not happen. Why not? God is protecting us just like He was protecting David. God not only protected David, but God gave him many people who were like-minded to help comfort and protect David. God uses people to accomplish God’s goal. Notice that David went to the country of Moab and found refuge. No doubt everyone knew that David’s great grandmother, Ruth, was a Moabite woman. Ruth was born and raised in Moab. O how marvelous is the plan of God. Every detail of our lives including our parents and grandparents and great grandparents is all a part of God’s plan for us.

The Bible says in First Samuel 22:5-8, “And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.[6] When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)[7] Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye 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;[8] That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” We see in this passage some of the things that corrupt politicians do. Even in countries that are not democracies, kings and dictators still need the support of the people. Notice that King Saul tried to buy the people’s favor. Saul told the people in verses seven that he would be able to get land and promotions for them, which David would not be able to do: promises, promises. In verse eight the big strong man, King Saul, wants people to feel sorry for him. He has a persecution complex because he is overly focused on himself. Of course, Saul has turned against his own son because Jonathan is trying to help his friend who is an innocent man. Saul is the one trying to capture and kill David, and yet Saul accuses David of doing that to him. That is exactly what is happening today among politicians.

The Bible says in First Samuel 22:9-18, “Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.[10] And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.[11] Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.[12] And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.[13] And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?[14] Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?[15] Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.[16] And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.[17] And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.[18] And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.” Why did Doeg do all the horrible things here? It was because he wanted to gain the favor of King Saul. Make sure that your number one priority is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. If you go the way of man, it is no telling how far you will fall. It says in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

The Bible says in First Samuel 22:19-23, “And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.[20] And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.[21] And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.[22] And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.[23] Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.” When all the priests were killed by King Saul, only one son of Ahimelech escaped being killed. That was God making sure that one of the priests survived, and then that priest became aligned with King David. God is involved in all things. Why did Abiathar survive such a terrible disaster? It was God’s will. God had a purpose for Abiathar and so he needed to live longer than the others. Sometimes we see only a few people survive some modern disaster such as a plane crash. They survive for the same reason that Abiathar survived: God still has a purpose for their lives. God controls life. He gives it, and He takes it away when He chooses. Be ready for the end of life by trusting in Christ as your Savior.

The Bible says in First Samuel 23:1-4, “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.[2] Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.[3] And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?[4] Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.” Verse two tells us something very important. It says, “David inquired of the LORD.” David asked the Lord what he should do. David had an idea of what he might do, but David wanted to know the Lord’s will. One of the biggest problems for Christians is when they make decisions without inquiring of the Lord and asking God for His will to be done. Jesus told us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Bible says in First Samuel 23:5-13, “So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.[6] And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.[7] And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.[8] And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.[9] And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.[10] Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.[11] Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.[12] Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.[13] Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.” In verse seven it says that Saul thought that finally he had David captured. One would think that Saul would have learned that God is in charge, and that Saul was never going to harm David. David sought wisdom from the Lord, and the Lord communicated with David to leave that city before Saul arrived. No wonder things worked out so well for David: David always asked for the Lord’s leading. No wonder David was able to write the twenty-third Psalm. He lived it before he wrote it. David wrote in Psalm 23:1-4, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.[2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.[3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

The Bible says in First Samuel 23:14-18, “And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.[15] And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.[16] And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.[17] And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.[18] And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.” We are not surprised that one more time God delivered David out of Saul’s hand. The Lord has already done it many times. God does not change. What He has done for you in the past, He will do for you again. Jesus forgave your sins in the past. He knows who you are. He will forgive you once again. It says in First John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Notice that verse sixteen says that Jonathan strengthened David’s “hand in God.” That means that Jonathan said words that encouraged David in David’s faith in God. That is the value of Christian fellowship. A Biblical church has the following elements to it: 1. Bible preaching and teaching. 2. Prayer with and for one another. 3. Singing songs of and to the Lord. 4. Christian fellowship. There are some things that you will learn and experience only through Christian fellowship. It is very important. Every Christian has one or more spiritual gifts. We benefit from each other’s gifts in fellowship with one another. Just like Jonathan did with David, Christian fellowship involves talking with each other about the Lord and about the things of the Lord.

Notice also that David said in verse seventeen, “Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.” Jonathan was right about his first statement that Saul would not find David. Jonathan was also right when he said that David would be king over Israel. But Jonathan was not correct when he said, “I shall be next unto thee.” It does show that he was willing to be second under David. But Jonathan did not know one thing that none of know: when he would die. You do not know when you will die. If you are not saved, turn to the Lord Jesus today. Serve the Lord while you have time.

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