20 “Now one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. 22 So David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house. 23 Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe.”
1 Samuel 22:20-23
The terrible slaughter of the town of Nob had been total—well, almost. One man escaped and ran to David. His name is Abiathar. He brought the report to David of the complete massacre of everyone. Abiathar also identified Doeg the Edomite as the murderer.
David has a soul searching, reflective response to this news.
This intrigues me. “I knew…” and “I caused…” David now realized his actions had terrible consequences. He voices his complicity out loud. In his heart he sees his guilt (at least partially). This dark murder would change him.
His sin was lying to the high priest.
David deceived him. Doeg also saw David manipulating Ahimelech and Doeg remembered this. In a sense David in his awful duplicity created death for the priestly city of Nob. In his heart, he understood what he had done.
We must realize how our evil has ramifications.
It’s like throwing a rock in a still pool. Concentric waves happen as a result, and they cannot be stopped. Consequences to sin affect others and often we never realize it. But here we see David seeing it and responding like he did.
David seems to have a tender heart to respond to what he has done. It becomes the impetus of Psalm 52 which was written during this time. Here we can read what he was thinking. Here’s the title and verses 1-3.
“To the Chief Musician. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem. A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”
“Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness. You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.”
Psalm 52:1-3
It’s quite apparent that David survives his guilt, and that is a powerful lesson for us. There are things that must be turned over to God. There is forgiveness for the evil we have done. We must give that to God.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:12
