Love and Loaf a Nob and Knowledge

1 Samuel 20

- David leaves Naioth of Ramah perhaps while Saul is naked and lying on the ground babbling, David realizes that Saul not going to stop coming after him. David tries again to get to the bottom of Saul’s hatred for him and why he wants him dead, what did he do?

- David returns and Johnathan and him meet to come up with a plan to get to the bottom of this once and for all.

- David and Jonathan make a covenant with one another out of love and respect for each other and their families.

- In verse thirty we finally get some insight into Saul’s hatred for David. Saul knows as long as David lives Jonathan’s kingdom (Saul’s name) will not continue. Also look at Saul’s reply to Jonathan, you son of a perverse, rebellious woman. Saul obviously doesn’t hold his wife, Ahinoam Jonathan’s mother in very high regard. Saul states that Jonathan’s actions has brought shame on himself and the nakedness of his mother, which means to Saul himself. The nakedness of the wife is her husband and vice versa.

- A few things to remember, (1) Saul knows Samuel told him the LORD has torn the kingdom from him and given it to another. (2) Despite this fact he has chosen to go against the LORD’s will and tries to solidify his dynasty by doing whatever is necessary, even the murder (thou shall not kill) of David in order to make Jonathan his heir and the next king of Israel. Saul will see this through, by hell or high water, even if means killing GOD’s anointed. Saul is fighting a losing battle, but he is not going to stop trying.

- Does this ring a bell? The Adversary not only wanted and has taken dominion over this present age (earth), he desires to put his throne above the stars of the north and the throne of GOD (in the heavens). He has tried on multiple occasions throughout history to kill anyone who he thought was the heir apparent, the anointed one of GOD. Including right up to the time of the incarnation. The adversary is also fighting a loosing battle, but he’s not going to stop and like Saul he hopes that he can stall long enough to win. That doesn’t work for Saul and it certainly won’t work for the Adversary. Is the life of SNext – Mercy and a wise Womanaul another attempt to show the enemy and followers the error of their ways? Dunno, but it’s certainly interesting.

1 Samuel 21

- David and his men stop in Nob and get the Bread of the Presence from the Priest Ahimelech also David takes the sword of Goliath that had been stored there. Jesus used this incident when making a point to the pharisees that GOD  desires mercy not sacrifice. David and his men just needed food.

- Next David tries to hide out in Gath, but some of Achish’s servants think David could be the same person that is loyal to Saul and was credited with killing 10,000 of which would have been their fellow Philistines. When David realized he could be in danger he pretended to insane. King Achish didn’t want any more crazy people, apparently he had enough of them and didn't want to add another to his household. This is somewhat funny if not telling about the Kingdom of Achish.

- David flees to the cave of Adullam where he starts to build a following, his brothers (some of which were previously among Saul’s army) and all his kin, those who were in distress, those in debt, those who were discontented with Saul’s rule.

- David desired to keep his parents safe and took them to Moab and asked the King of Moab to give them asylum.

- The prophet Gad told David not to remain in the strong hold at Adullam, but to go to the Forest of Hearth in the land of Judah.

-Saul finds out through Doeg the Edomite that Ahimelech the Priest of Nob unwittingly helped David and his men. Ahimelech pleads with King Saul that he had no idea what was going on between David and the King. In Saul’s anger he commands his servants to kill Ahimelech and all the priests with him and they refuse to strike down the LORD’s priests. He then asks Doeg to do it and he willingly complies. Eighty five people were killed that day, Saul also had all the people, men, woman and children and all livestock the city where the priests lived, killed by the sword. Doesn’t this sound exactly like what an enemy of GOD would do, who is the real Nob. (slur intended) 

See 1 Kings 18:4 for another example.

- Abiathar the grandson of Ahimelech escaped and found refuge with David and told him everything Saul had done. David blamed himself for this, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul.” Foreknowledge unfortunately doesn’t give us the authority to end someones life because of what is known.

1 Samuel 23

- The city of Keilah is a GOoD example of the foreknowledge GOD.

David goes to Keilah to help them against the philistines, but David first inquires of the LORD whether they should go. GOD tells him to go and save the people of Keilah. David’s men were afraid and questioned the this idea, so David inquired of the LORD a second time. GOD said “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” GOD foreknew David and his men would be successful.

- Saul finds out that David and his men are in Keilah and he gathers his men to get ready and go and trap them there at Keilah. During his time there David find out that Saul knows where he is and he inquires of GOD through Abiathar the priest if Saul will indeed come to Keilah after him and also if they stay will the men of Keilah surrender him and his men to Saul. The LORD answers David that yes Saul will come and yes the men of Keilah will give them up to Saul. David and his men escape from there and go back to hill country of Ziph to the stronghold.

- In this example GOD foreknew two things that would happen, but didn’t come to pass. What GOD foreknows is not necessarily predestined to occur or another way to look at it is because GOD knows all possible outcomes he can help those that trust in him, who seek his guidance to navigate the outcomes to the furtherance of GOD’s plan and kingdom.

Takeaway – learn to trust and inquire from the the one who sees all the possibilities, his plans and kingdom building will never fail despite all the sabre rattling from the enemy.  

Next – Mercy and a wise Woman