18. David Fleeing: Perseverance And Trials Series

David Fleeing: Perseverance and Trials

July 9, 2025

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

1 Samuel 19-21

Introduction

When God’s anointed walks through the valley of trial and betrayal, the Lord provides His presence, His people, and His providence to sustain him for His purposes.

Life as God’s chosen servant isn’t always easy. David had been anointed king, but instead of ascending to the throne in triumph, he found himself running for his life. These chapters remind us that God often allows His people to endure seasons of hardship to shape their character and prove His faithfulness. As we walk with David through betrayal, covenant loyalty, and divine provision, we’re invited to trust the same God who carries us through our valleys.

1. Betrayal and Escape (1 Samuel 19:1–24)

1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself.

God preserves His servant despite human schemes.

“But David fled and escaped that night.” (19:10)

David had done nothing to deserve Saul’s rage. In fact, he had served Saul faithfully, defeating Goliath and delivering Israel from the Philistines. But Saul, consumed by jealousy and fear, made David his enemy.

Jonathan’s intercession (vv. 1-7): Jonathan warns David of Saul’s plot and pleads with his father. Saul listens—for a moment.

Saul’s renewed attempts (vv. 8-10): When David’s success continues, Saul once again tries to kill him. David escapes from Saul’s spear.

Michal’s deception (vv. 11-17): David’s wife, Michal, helps him flee by lowering him out a window and creating a ruse with a household idol in his bed.

God’s sovereign protection (vv. 18-24): David flees to Samuel. When Saul sends messengers to capture him, the Spirit of God overwhelms them, causing them to prophesy. Even Saul himself is overcome by God’s Spirit.

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (John 15:20)

God’s Spirit can sovereignly intervene to protect His purposes.

Even when others fail you, God never will: (Psalm 27:10)

For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. (Psalm 27:10)

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; 2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. (Psalm 59:1–2)

Question: How should you respond when someone you love or serve turns against you?

2. Covenant Loyalty in Uncertainty (1 Samuel 20:1–42)

16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord take vengeance on David’s enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul. (1 Samuel 20:16–17)

God provides faithful relationships for encouragement in trials.

David’s flight leads him to seek clarity from Jonathan: Why is your father trying to kill me? Jonathan struggles to believe his father would do such a thing, but he commits to discovering the truth.

Reaffirming the covenant (vv. 12-17): Jonathan and David renew their bond, recognizing that their friendship is knit together by God.

Testing Saul’s intentions (vv. 18-34): Jonathan devises a plan to signal David depending on Saul’s response.

Painful farewell (vv. 35-42): When Saul’s hatred is confirmed, Jonathan warns David. Their parting is filled with grief as they recognize they may never see each other again.

Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’ ” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. (1 Samuel 20:42)

God often sustains us through covenant friendships in times of pain (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Faithful friends encourage us to trust the Lord in uncertainty.

Sometimes obedience to God leads to heartbreaking separations.

Who are the “Jonathans” God has placed in your life for encouragement? Are you being a Jonathan for others?

3. God’s Provision in Flight (1 Samuel 21:1–15)

Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” 6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. 7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s herdsmen. (1 Samuel 21:1–7)