1 Samuel 21:1-15
21:1 David travels to Nob, to a priest named Ahimelech. Ahimelech is worried at the prospect of David traveling alone. It was not usual for a commander of any army to travel in such a way. Ahimelech does not know that David has separated himself from Saul's house and is hiding from him.
21:2-3 David arrives under the pretense that he is on an a secret mission for Saul. This sets David up for two things: to keep his presence in Nob a secret and to acquire provisions for continued travel. He asks Ahimelech for bread.
21:4-6 The only bread Ahimelech has is bread which has been reserved for worship, bread symbolic of God's provision. But Ahimelech is willing to give David this bread if he has followed the custom leading up to the sacrifice. Indeed David has abstained because he has been rather busy fleeing for his life.
It is fitting that David would consume this consecrated bread and that no other bread was available. David's faith has made him a person who only does consume what God provides. The bread is symbolic of David's faith remaining pure and wholly focused on God's will.
21:7-8 David asks a servant named Doeg for a spear or sword. David explains that he has no weapons because he left in a hurry (although he was not actually on the king's business).
21:9 Doeg tells David that he can take the sword of Goliath the Philistine. And God will always put the power of the enemy into His child's hand. No matter how fierce they are, God will debilitate them on behalf of a righteous child. He will transfer their power and influence to His child, that they may wield it for good.
21:10-11 David travels then to Gath but he is recognized by a servant.
21:12-14 David therefore begins to disguise himself by acting like a madman. He is widely known as a brilliant and stable leader and the act of crazy reduces him to some random, raving lunatic.
David is in a desperate situation and likely does not see a way through. We read the account of his life from beginning to end but he was exactly as we are: he could not see a minute into the future. Life was happening to him but he could not yet see the orchestration of God over the events. In his moments of desperation, David turned to God. It made all the difference. The following Psalm was written by David to God:
David is in a desperate situation and likely does not see a way through. We read the account of his life from beginning to end but he was exactly as we are: he could not see a minute into the future. Life was happening to him but he could not yet see the orchestration of God over the events. In his moments of desperation, David turned to God. It made all the difference. The following Psalm was written by David to God:
Psalm 34
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
