Part 3:

David asked the priest for five loaves of bread. But there was no common bread available—only the hallowed bread in the priest’s possession. Still, David was able to relieve the priest’s concern and obtained the bread to satisfy his hunger. A new danger now appeared. Doeg, the chief of Saul’s herdsmen, who had professed the faith of the Hebrews, was there in the place of worship fulfilling his vows. When David saw him, he knew he must leave quickly and find another place of refuge. He also felt the need to secure a weapon, in case he would be forced to defend himself.

David asked Ahimelech for a sword, but the priest told him that he had none except the sword of Goliath, which had been kept in the tabernacle as a memorial. David replied, “There is none like it; give it to me.” 1 Samuel 21:9.

As he grasped the weapon he had once used to destroy the Philistine champion, David’s courage revived. Yet he knew he could not remain there, and he fled to Achish, king of Gath, believing he would be safer among Israel’s enemies than within Saul’s dominion.

But Achish soon learned that David was the man who had slain the Philistine champion years before. The one who had come seeking refuge now found himself in serious danger, surrounded by those who remembered his victories. In desperation, David pretended to be insane, deceived his enemies, and escaped with his life.

David’s first mistake had been his distrust of God at Nob, and his second was his deception before Achish. He had shown noble traits of character, and his integrity had won him the respect of the people. Yet when intense trial pressed upon him, his faith wavered, and human weakness appeared. He began to suspect danger everywhere, seeing spies and betrayers in those around him.

Still, David had once faced his greatest crisis with a steady eye of faith. He had looked to God without hesitation and defeated the Philistine giant. He trusted in the Lord, went forward in His name, and saw God give him victory. But as David was hunted and persecuted, perplexity and distress nearly hid his heavenly Father from his sight. Even so, this painful experience was teaching him wisdom, leading him to recognize his weakness and to feel more deeply his need of constant dependence upon God.

How precious is the gentle influence of the Spirit of God as it comes to discouraged and despairing souls—comforting the fainthearted, strengthening the weak, and giving courage and help to the tried servants of the Lord. What a gracious God is ours, who deals tenderly with those who have erred, showing patience and compassion in adversity, and sustaining us when we are overwhelmed with deep sorrow. Even when we fail, He does not cast us off, but draws near to restore and strengthen the heart that turns to Him.

Every failure among God’s children comes from a lack of faith. When shadows surround the soul and we long for light and direction, we must look upward, for there is light beyond the darkness. Instead of yielding to fear and uncertainty, we are invited to trust the One who sees the end from the beginning. David should not have distrusted God for even a moment, for the Lord had already proved His faithfulness to him again and again.

David had every reason to trust in the Lord. He was the Lord’s anointed, and in moments of danger he had been protected by the angels of God. God had given him courage to accomplish great things and had strengthened him to do what no human power could have done. If David had only turned his mind away from the distressing circumstances surrounding him and fixed his thoughts on God’s power and majesty, he could have rested in peace even while walking through the shadow of death. With confidence, he could have repeated the Lord’s promise: “For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the LORD, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10.

Among the mountains of Judah, David sought refuge from Saul’s pursuit. He successfully escaped to the cave of Adullam—a place that, with a small group, could be defended even against a large army. “So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.” 1 Samuel 22:1.

David’s family could not feel safe for long, knowing that Saul’s unreasonable suspicions might at any moment be turned against them simply because they were related to David. By this time they had learned—what was becoming widely known throughout Israel—that God had chosen David to be the future ruler of His people.

They felt it was safer to stand with David, even though he was a fugitive hiding in a lonely cave, than to remain exposed to the unstable fury of a jealous king. And there in the cave of Adullam, the family was reunited, bound together in sympathy, love, and faithful affection. The son of Jesse could now lift his voice with the harp and sing, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1.

He had once felt the bitterness of being distrusted by his own brothers, but now the peace and harmony that replaced former discord brought deep comfort and joy to his heart in exile. It was here that David composed Psalm 57. Before long, others also began to join David’s small band—men who longed to escape the harsh demands and oppressive rule of the king.

Many had lost confidence in Israel’s ruler, for it was clear that he was no longer guided by the Spirit of the Lord. So “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.” 1 Samuel 22:2.

In this way, David formed a small kingdom of his own, where order and discipline were maintained. Yet even in his mountain refuge he did not feel secure, for he continually saw evidence that Saul had not abandoned his murderous purpose.

David found shelter for his parents with the king of Moab. Then, after receiving a warning of danger from a prophet of the Lord, he left his hiding place and fled to the forest of Hareth.

The experiences David was passing through were neither needless nor wasted. God was shaping him through discipline, preparing him to become not only a wise leader in battle, but also a just and merciful king. As he led this band of fugitives, he was learning to carry responsibilities that Saul—because of his reckless passion and blind decision-making—was becoming completely unfit to bear.

No one can reject God’s counsel and still retain the calmness and wisdom needed to act with justice and discretion. There is no madness more fearful or hopeless than following human wisdom while refusing the wisdom of God. Saul had been preparing to trap and seize David in the cave of Adullam, and when he discovered that David had already fled that place of refuge, the king was filled with fury.

David’s escape was a mystery to Saul. The only explanation he could accept was that traitors within his own camp had warned the son of Jesse about his plans and how near he was to being captured. Suspicion filled the king’s mind, and he insisted to his counselors that a conspiracy had been formed against him. Then, offering rich rewards and positions of honor, he attempted to bribe them into revealing who among the people had shown kindness to David, and who might still be secretly supporting him.

At last Doeg the Edomite became the informer. Driven by ambition and greed, and also by a bitter hatred toward the priest who had reproved his wrongdoing, Doeg reported David’s visit to Ahimelech. He twisted the facts and presented the matter in such a way as to stir up Saul’s resentment and inflame his rage against the servant of God.

The words of that deceitful tongue—stirred by evil—awakened the darkest passions in Saul’s heart. In a frenzy of rage, he declared that the entire family of the priest must be destroyed, as though their lives were worthless and their service to God meant nothing.

And this terrible decree was carried out. Not only was Ahimelech put to death, but also the members of his father’s house—“eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod”—were slain at the king’s command by the murderous hand of Doeg. 1 Samuel 22:18.

Then Doeg went even farther. “Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep—with the edge of the sword.” 1 Samuel 22:19.

This was the cruelty Saul became capable of under Satan’s control. When God had commanded him to execute judgment upon the Amalekites, Saul claimed to be too compassionate to obey fully. Yet now, without any command from God, he could mercilessly destroy the innocent and shed blood without restraint.

When God declared that the iniquity of the Amalekites was full and commanded Saul to destroy them completely, he considered himself too compassionate to carry out the divine sentence and spared what had been devoted to destruction. But now—without any command from God—Saul, guided by Satan, could slaughter the priests of the Lord and bring ruin upon the innocent inhabitants of Nob.

Such is the perversity of the human heart when it refuses the guidance of God. This deed filled all Israel with horror. The king they themselves had chosen had committed this outrage, acting like the godless rulers of surrounding nations. The ark was still among them, yet the priests they once consulted had been killed with the sword. What would come next?