Parents, how many of you got, or still get, a lot of WHY questions from your kids? It’s a good idea for parents to know how to respond to these why questions from their children; It’s okay to say you don’t know of course, but we should explain why we don’t know.
Never stop an inquisitive person! And this applies to adults as well; they will ask us: Why can’t you believe in evolution? How can you believe in God and the devil? Why aren’t there any large dinosaurs anymore? If God is such a loving God, why are there so much suffering? Why are things the way they are today in our world? Why are you against same sex marriages?
God of course has all the answers! Sadly, as God does state it in His Bible, not every person will believe in God; therefore, simply, the world is free for all, including same sex marriage, because not everyone believes in God! What’s even sadder than transgenders and same sex marriages? - the worst is yet to come!
By the way, as a side note; if the world is getting messier because of unbelief in God, what are we Christians doing to help people believe in God? Are our lifestyles truly indicative of belief in God?
If you have never studied or understood the significance of Genesis 1–11, I encourage you to study it and learn the answers to many questions about God, people, and why the world is the way it is today; email me if you’re interested in studying with me! A major verse, our Scripture verse for the week, is Genesis 3:15.
After leading Adam and Eve to sin against God, Satan the devil was told by God, And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
This is God’s promise! Until God says enough is enough, there will be evil and wicked people on earth, even after Jesus Christ suffered and died for man’s sins. Just listen to the news, and you will hear wickedness in our midst. But here’s the point and a biblical principle in our passage today, God will allow evil for a while but His plans and promises will happen! Keep this in mind as we read our passage today. Open your bibles to 1 Samuel 22….
We continue to learn from God through 2 men of opposite agendas. We already noted how wicked King Saul has become as he continues to turn away from God. On the other hand, we will learn more and more how to be godly as David become more and more dependent on God. Read along with me 1 Samuel 22:6-23….
What can we note about Saul in v6-8?
v6: we note spear in hand, seated up on a hill, officers standing around him! = an egotistic dictator!
v7: Saul assumed that David bribes as he does!
How many times do we hear the word me in v8? – me, me, me, me, me! = self-centered!
And what do we note in v9-10??
Doeg spied/snitched for King Saul!
And where was Doeg from? – Edom! show map; Edom was not part of Israel!
Doeg was not Jewish! Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. The Israelites and the Edomites actually hated each other!
What does this say about King Saul??
Saul was so wicked he hired and trusted an enemy of his country!
Now, before we note what Saul did to Ahimelech, what did Ahimelech knew and did not know about David from v14-15?
- Ahimelech knew that David was a loyal servant of Israel, King’s son-in-law, captain of king’s bodyguards, and highly respected in Saul’s household!
- Ahimelech knew nothing about taking sides!
Ahimelech and his family were innocent people living in truths!
But what did King Saul do??
v16-19: King Saul was so wicked, he accused all the priests and the entire city of lying and had them killed including all the women and children!
Now look again at v20….
v20: One of the priests, Abiathar, escaped!
This may seem insignificant, but you know Abiathar should also have been killed! Does anyone know who Abiathar’s grandfather was??
Phinehas, one of Eli’s evil sons, was Abiathar’s grandfather. We noted earlier in the Book of 1 Samuel that God will judge all of Phinehas’ descendants! And so, we note 2 very significant things in 1 Samuel 22:16-20:
1. God’s promise of judgment, through evil Saul, occurred at the priest town of Nob!
2. God’s grace was given to Abiathar, the only priest left!
God’s love was given to Abiathar! God kept a remnant of the priests and as we note in v23: the continuation of the priesthood was now with David
And let us not miss the great truth that happened in v22! What happened in v22??
v22: David confessed his sin, lying to the priest Ahimelech, which he realized impacted the entire city! And because of admitting his sinfulness, God called David a man after God’s own heart!
What Biblical principles can we apply for our lives today?
First of all, until Jesus returns, there will always be wicked people going against God.
1. Let us not be surprised of wickedness around us! 1 Peter 5:8-9…. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
2. Because of sins of people, including our own, innocent people will suffer.
3. Nothing can stop God’s plans and promises:
a. God will judge wicked people and nonbelievers of God Jesus Christ!
b. God will always show His love but all must profess their sins!!
Just like David, every person on earth must believe in God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), confess sins, listen and follow God’s instructions.
How do we personally respond to these Biblical truths? Please take a moment to quietly think and pray about your response….
