Reading

• 1 Sam. 22:6-23
• Psalm 52
• 1 Sam. 23:1-14
• Psalm 63
• 1 Sam. 23:15-25
• Psalm 54
• 1 Sam. 23:26-24:22
• Psalm 57
• 1 Sam. 25:1a

Devotional

A man named Doeg told King Saul how David had gone to see the priest Ahimelech. Saul sent for Ahimelech and his family. Saul asked Ahimelech why he had conspired against him by helping David.

Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, even the king’s son-in-law, who is captain over your guard, and is honored in your house? Did I just begin to inquire of God for him today? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any of the household of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all of this whole affair.”
(1 Sam. 22:14-15 NIV)

Hearing this, Saul commanded his guards to kill Ahimelech and his entire family. But they wouldn’t kill the priests of GOD. So Saul ordered Doeg to kill them, so he did. Doeg killed 85 priests on that day, in addition to the town of Nob, including the women. Only one son of Ahimelech survived. His name was Ahitub, and he fled to David for protection.

Saul continues pursuing David in order to kill him, but GOD protected David time and again, ensuring his safety. At one point Saul stopped to relieve himself in a cave and it happened that David and his men were inside the cave. David’s men tried convincing him to kill Saul but he wouldn’t. Instead, David crept up and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. … Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”

So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Therefore swear now to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.” So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
(1 Sam. 24:8-22 NKJV)

GOD chose to save David from Saul. He chose to allow Saul to kill Ahimelech and his family. It might seem to some as unfair that GOD would save one man but not an entire family and town. Life is not fair. But GOD is just, righteous and loving, and He is perfectly wise, always choosing the best path. We can never have the knowledge that He has or the ability to see the future. GOD allows bad things, and sometimes even death to happen to good “innocent” people. Although we may ask “Why?,” we must remember to place our trust in GOD and wait patiently on Him. One day He will right all wrongs.