Category: Word

War Crime: Aftermath

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

“Until I know what God is going to do for me.”

“Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” 

4 So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.”5 “One day the prophet Gad told David, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” So David went to the forest of Hereth.” 

6 “The news of his arrival in Judah soon reached Saul. At the time, the king was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers.”

 1 Samuel 22:3-6 

David and 400 (“the 3D men”) are together in the Cave of Abdullam waiting for what, I do not know. I suspect they didn’t know either. For any of us who are in a “holding .pattern,” David’s stay can be understood. But God hasn’t forsaken you, not a bit. Waiting on God is never easy. Every disciple goes through this. 

David takes up this time to care for his parents. You see they followed David out into the wilderness. I’m pretty sure that were prime candidates for blackmailing David. They could be easily taken as hostages by Saul, to manipulate David who is hiding. 

Now there is a reason that they went to Moab. David’s great-grandmother Ruth was a Moabite (Ruth 4:18-22, 1:4). That would mean that one of his parents could claim that Ruth was a grandma to one of them. It’s said that “blood is thicker than water.” That proverb has a powerful theological meaning. 

As David arranges for their safety with the king of Moab, he makes a curious statement, “until I know what God is going to do for me.” That phrase encapsulates David’s heart and mind. David doesn’t know how or why; he has no idea what is going to happen next. 

In his heart he’s taking it one step at a time, and he really doesn’t know what the next step is going to be. He’s walking by faith, not by sight. And you know that is how God works out His will. We don’t always understand, but we do obey. 

Gad the prophet steps up and speaks the word of God to David. He must return to Judah. That is probably not what David wanted to hear; after all, it’s moving toward danger. King Saul rules Judah, and David must be thinking that he would be moving into peril. 

King Saul hears of this and he’s waiting for David.

The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will. Perhaps it’s here that David pens this verse. David is learning that the Cave of Adullam is not a safe place, he must understand his real safety is in the Rock of God. 

 “The  Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; 
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. 
He is my shield, the power that saves me, 
    and my place of safety.” 

Psalm 91:2