Series: Israel’s 2nd King- David [#4]
FUGITIVE- DECEPTION AND FEAR
1 Samuel 21:1-9
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. Over the next 4 weeks, we are going to look at David, the fugitive. This morning, we are going to look at the deception and fear that David experienced.
1 Samuel 21:1-2
Fear caused David to…
1. Lie.
When David arrived at Nob, Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling. Ahimelech was trembling because news of Saul’s desire to kill David had spread so that the people of Israel did not want to give refuge to a fugitive on the run from the King. So, Ahimelech said to David, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?”. A man of David’s position did not travel alone, and Ahimelech was immediately suspicious.
Ahimelech’s trembling helped David know that he was not getting a warm welcome- David panicked. In the chapter before, David told Jonathan to lie on his behalf regarding his location. Now, David resorted to lying again. He told Ahimelech that he was on a secret mission for King Saul.
1 Samuel 21:3-6, 8-9
Fear caused David to…
2. Ask for a favor.
David asked for 2 favors- David asked Ahimelech for bread; and he asked him for a weapon. David asked for 5 loaves of bread or whatever he had. Ahimelech explained that he had no common bread on hand; he only had holy bread. That is, the bread on hand was the bread of the Presence, which was set out each Sabbath and replaced the following week with fresh bread. The older bread was given to the priests for them to eat. It was part of the ceremonial law regarding God’s worship. Ahimelech said that he would give the bread to David if David’s men had kept themselves from women. David said they had, which was in fact another lie because David had no men with him. So, Ahimelech gave David the holy bread.
David’s 2nd favor to ask of Ahimelech was for a weapon. Do you remember when David went out to fight against Goliath, he refused Saul’s armor? At that time, David’s trust was in the Lord, and he simply went into battle with his sling and 5 smooth stones. Now, David’s fear of Saul had overtaken his faith in the Lord, and he resorted to using the weapons of the world- Goliath’s sword. Here is the lesson for you- Never let fear make you abandon God’s methods.
1 Samuel 21:7
Fear caused David to…
3. Let his guard down.
Doeg the Edomite, was there. Doeg told Saul that David was in Nob; and told him about the bread. The result was that Ahimelech, his family, all the other priests, and even the cattle were killed. At least 85 people were killed. What seemed insignificant actually turned out to be disastrous for others. In fact, David later said that he knew that Doeg would tell Saul about his presence at Nob; but did nothing to intervene.
The lesson here is- Fear may paralyze you. We get ourselves into difficulty and we become afraid; but rather than correct our error, we do nothing because we have become paralyzed- This paralysis may actually hurt others.
Conclusion:
Fear causes us to do things that we would not normally do. Is fear keeping you from being obedient?
