Fugitive- Confrontation And Confession Series

Series: Israel’s 2nd King- David [#7]

FUGITIVE- CONFRONTATION AND CONFESSION

1 Samuel 22:10-23

Introduction:

David had already been anointed as King; but instead of being the acting King, he was a fugitive. For many chapters, we watch David run and hide. This is the 4th of 4 weeks looking at David, the fugitive. This morning, we are going to look at the confrontation and confession that David experienced.

Just when you think that this is all over, it’s not. There’s a loose end hanging that needs to be tied up. What happened to Doeg the Edomite and what happened to Ahimelech? Back at the village of Nob, things were different- 85 priests had died. Their wives and children were dead. The whole village had been wiped out. What happened here?

Doeg the Edomite told Saul that he had seen Ahimelech give the sacred bread to David. Saul called in Ahimelech and accused him of treason for helping David. Ahimelech had believed David when he said he was on a mission for Saul. He had acted out of patriotism. He had no way of knowing it was a lie; and he paid with his life. When Saul ordered the priests killed, his own soldiers wouldn’t do it. They wouldn’t kill the servants of the Lord; but Doeg was an Edomite, a foreigner- Priests meant nothing to him. So, the whole village was wiped out.

Only 1 man lived to tell the story- His name was Abiathar. Somehow, he found David and told him the story.

1 Samuel 22:22

David thought he got away with it; but he didn’t. David was confronted with his own sin. He knew Doeg was there and he knew he would tell Saul, and he didn’t do anything about it. He was so wrapped up in himself that he didn’t even warn Ahimelech. Who killed the priests of Nob? Who is the real culprit of this tragedy? Not Doeg, not Saul, but David. David was responsible. The progression of sin- There is fear, then a lie, then desperation, then compromise, then humiliation, and finally disaster. The saddest part is that David never intended for things to end up like this. He lied to get food for his men. It seemed justifiable at the time. If David had known, if David had stopped to think, if he had even dreamed of such a thing, he never would have told the lie.

Numbers 32:23

Galatians 6:7

Lessons to learn:

1. No one ever gets away with sin.

Sin is always punished. David had to find this out the hard way.

Proverbs 28:13

2. When confronted, the wise confess their sin.

You find out what a man is made of when he is confronted with his sin. Saul was always blaming others; but David admitted to his sin. This is the difference between David and Saul. David made a lot of mistakes and his mistakes hurt a lot of innocent people; but at least, he could admit when he sinned.

3. When we sin, someone is going to pay the price.

In this case, an entire village of innocent people paid the price. For us, Jesus paid the price for our sins- This is the Gospel. It is about mercy and grace.