Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

1 Samuel 22 Devotional

Safe with the Hunted King

“Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.””1 Samuel 22:23 (BSB)

David gathers a band of about four hundred men who are troubled, in debt or discontented (22:2). Meanwhile Saul sits at Gibeah, spear in hand, accusing his own servants of conspiracy (22:7-8). Doeg reports what he saw at Nob. Ahimelech answers that he knew nothing of any plot (22:15). Saul orders the priests killed. His guards refuse to raise a hand against the LORD's priests, but Doeg does it, killing eighty-five of them, and then strikes down the whole town, children and animals included (22:17-19).

The chapter records this horror without softening it. It shows how far a king turned from God will go. One son of Ahimelech, Abiathar, escapes. David admits he knew Doeg would talk and takes responsibility (22:22). Then he tells Abiathar to stay with him and not be afraid, for he will be safe there (22:23). Even in the wreckage, God preserves a priest and shelters him with the anointed king. When the powerful do great evil, the safest place is with the King God has chosen.

To think about: When you see injustice you cannot fix, how does it help to know that God shelters his people with his chosen King?

About 1 Samuel 22: Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

David gathers a band of about four hundred troubled men at Adullam, shelters his parents in Moab, and moves into Judah at the prophet Gad’s word. Acting on Doeg’s report, Saul has Ahimelech and the priests of Nob killed, and Ahimelech’s son Abiathar escapes to David, who admits his own part in their deaths.

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