Grab your running shoes today. David is on the run. I hope you will follow me from place-to-place that David moves to on the run from King Saul. After he departs from Jonathan, the shepherd nature of David kicks in quickly. Survival. What do I need to survive?
The first stop is Nob the city of priests between Jerusalem and Gibeah. David seeks out food and self-defense. The priests give David the bread of the Presence which is the holy portion set aside for the Lord in the temple. This is not done lightly. Then David asks for a sword of defense. It is a quick mention in 21:7, but Doeg is someone mentioned later that tells us his loyalty is to King Saul.
Next stop, Gath. David is here for a hot second because Achish the king of Gath picks up that the demeanor of David has weakened. This could be due to the death threats and close calls escaping the hands of Saul. That would diffuse me a smidge. Out of fear, David acts crazy so that he can safely escape to the next spot. Now, in Adullam I think something special happens. Up to this point, I imagine David on his own. Alone.
In Nob, David asks for the bread for himself and the sword for his protection. The strategic placement of Adullam is important to call out which is halfway between Gath and Bethlehem based on my precise measuring of using my fingers on the map key. This cave is a central location. It is in Adullam we see an army of 400 men form around David where he becomes the commander, without asking! This puts wind in David’s sails. He now has 400 men alongside him. As the story continues, this army grows and is referenced as “mighty men”. The loyalty is unbelievable.
Moving on, David and his men make a pit stop in Mizpeh to drop off his elderly parents. Do not confuse Mizpeh with Mizpah because they are different. The pit stop feels random until I connect the dots that Mizpeh is in the territory of Moab which is where David’s great-grandmother Ruth is from. Maybe that is why the King of Moab takes care of David’s parents while he remains in the stronghold of the city until the priest Gad instructs David to flee into the forest of Hereth. It is important to call out the word stronghold in Hebrew is “matsuwd” which means castle, fortress, or tower. Imagine with me a tall, solid stone or brick tower at the edge of the city walls. These strongholds will be part of David’s journey throughout his life.
Q: What is my stronghold that provides safety and refuge to rest and re-center my life? (Ex: hiking, bubble baths, family-style meal with friends, prayer, reading the Bible out loud)
The story breaks here to pan back to King Saul in 22:6-23. He is in Gibeah which is close to Nob where the priests filled David with the bread of the Presence and the sword of Goliath. Who was in the room when this happened? Doeg. Who is he loyal to? King Saul. After Doeg spills everything that happened at Nob, King Saul is enraged. I think he goes off the handle because King Saul feels the kingdom of Israel physically slipping away from him as more people give favor to David. I cheered when I read verses 14 and 17. Then my excitement deflated. Although the men in the room faithful to God remained faithful to God against King Saul’s command, Doeg killed all the priests of Nob. Does this mean the enemy wins? No! It was a huge loss for God’s people, yet David ends the chapter with greater confidence when he tells Abiathar to not be afraid because they are in safekeeping. Why? Look at every way God has provided for David in provision, escape, and refuge.
Next stop, maybe the fifth (I am losing count), is Keilah. David gives an urgent plea before God. Do I go or do I stay? We have not seen David cry out to God in a while. However, we see the same heart David had against Goliath comes out here. David obeys God. He does not act on his own. God provides a stronghold for David to escape for refuge (23:14) and flees again for the hundredth time from an attack by Saul. The rest of the chapter is a nail biter. The sequence of how things play out is important. First, Jonathan comes out to meet David to “strengthen his hand in God’ which I like to say puts wind in David’s sails. The time together is brief in 23:15-18, but God provides that moment I think to prepare David for what comes next. God is really kind to place friends, mentors, and neighbors in our lives at just the right moment. Do you notice that?
And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
1 Samuel 23:16
In verses 19-29, the people of Ziph devise a plan with King Saul to kill David. The enemy does not relent, but God’s provision is greater than anything the enemy throws at us. David lives that out. We can testify that God is provider. He proves to remain faithful. The scene escalates quickly as David is on one side of the mountain and King Saul closes in on the other side of the mountain. Anyone else feel their heart pulsing or hands start to sweat? Just me, cool. What feels like the absolute last second, a messenger arrives to redirect King Saul’s path. God makes a way. He turns Saul away from killing David to a battle with the Philistines. God protects His servant David from the enemy. God provides a stronghold at Engedi for David to retreat for safety. David hides in so many different strongholds, but the link that joins all of them together is what the strongholds represent. God makes a way to protect David, to shield David, to remove David from danger.
King Saul exerts all his energy into taking out David. Saul feels threatened. Why did Saul not choose to repent and surrender to God so that he could work together with David? Saul could not lay down his pride, admit jealousy, and confess his insecurity. Saul lost sight of the vision God has for His people Israel. In chapter 24, Saul finally admits defeat. Read the chapter to see how God uses the humble heart of David (v.5-10) to bring out confession from Saul (v.17-21).
The division between Saul and David sounds bizarre, but many families, communities, and churches go through this very thing. We are not far removed from this story. It takes a handful of steps of prideful ambition and conceit to arrive at King Saul’s despair. What is the good news? It takes one action of humility for God to reconcile and restore the broken pieces.
Q: Do you regularly practice confession and repentance before God and others? If not, why? Ask the Lord for refuge in Him today.
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