The Fugitive Series

David is on the run for his life. He received a clear signal from his friend Jonathan that his father King Saul is bent on killing him.

[Read] 1 Sam 21:1-9 – NOB

David went to NOB and met a priest Ahimelech. He has nothing with him so he requested for bread and for a weapon to defend himself.

• David wasn’t perfect. He was pressurised to keep his whereabouts secret and so he lied about his purpose being there.

• There wasn’t any bread available except the bread of the Presence (showbread) which was just replaced in the Holy Place (weekly). The priest gave them to him.

Jesus made reference to this event when he was questioned about eating grain on a Sabbath (Luke 6:1-5):

1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"

3 Jesus answered them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." 5 Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

The Law was given for the benefit of man, and not as a bondage. The focus is not on keeping the rituals but in honouring God.

• There was a real need here (as with the disciples in Jesus’ time), and the LORD PROVIDES.

• David left also with a weapon he needs to defend himself. He took the sword of Goliath that was there.

1 Sam 21:10-14 – GATH [Look at the Map]

David went to Gath where he tried again to keep a low profile but was recognised by the servants of the King of Gath (Achish).

• He was terrified, believing that his life was threatened and so pretended to be a mad man. It wasn’t his great acting skills that saved him.

• Psalm 34 reveals that the LORD DELIVERED him. 34:2 “My soul will boast in the Lord.” 34:4 “He delivered me from all my fears.”

[Read] 1 Sam 22:1-5 – ADULLAM

• 22:1 - David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His family got news that he was hiding there and came to see him. (Most likely because Saul was coming after David’s family, in trying to look for David).

• 22:2 – Many of those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became the leader of 400 men.

• 22:3-4 – His elderly parents couldn’t be staying with him in the cave, so he made arrangement for them to get a refuge Mizpah in Moab.

• 22:5 - the prophet Gad said that he should not stay there but go back to Judah. David obeyed and went to HERETH. The LORD DIRECTS.

David may be running for his life as a fugitive, but the Lord is with him. He provides, He delivers and He directs him.

How do you think David felt? Hard to see from historical records like 1 Samuel but we can read it from the psalms.

• Throughout this ordeal, David kept up his conversations with God. He wrote quite a few psalms during this time – 1 Sam 19 (his house) Psalm 59, at Nob Psalm 52, in Gath Psalm 34, while hiding in Adullam cave Psalm 57, 142, and later in Keilah (1 Sam 23) Psalm 54.

• He is on the RUN but not without God. He is “running with God”.

Psalm 57 was his prayer to God when he was in the cave at Adullam.

For the director of music. [To the tune of] "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfils [His purpose] for me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah

God sends His love and His faithfulness.

4 I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts - men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They spread a net for my feet - I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path - but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah