Desperate Times…
Notes
Transcript
God Provides (21:1-9)
God Provides (21:1-9)
David makes his way to Nob and meets Ahimelech the priest there. When Ahimelech comes out, he’s “trembling.” The fact that David is alone has tipped him off — something is up.
So, David comes up with a story — Saul sent me away on a top-secret mission under strict orders to tell no one. But, I am meeting up with some others (v.2).
And, on top of it all, David is hungry. “What do you have on hand?” (v.3) he asks. Well, the priest doesn’t have any “common bread,” only that which is “holy.” We’ve talked about this bread before, Kyle taught us about the shew bread during our Christ and the Tabernacle series, and we were reminded that the bread of the presence was set out as a silent witness that God supplies the needs of His people and sustains them throughout life. There was one caveat, however: typically only the priests could eat this bread. However, on this occasion, Ahimelech is willing to share the holy bread “if the young men have kept themselves from women” (v.4). He didn’t want this holy element to be given over for unholy use.
David lets him know that they’ve been kept from women: that’s his policy whenever he’s “on an expedition,” even if it is “an ordinary journey” (v.5). Assured that they were fit to eat the bread, Ahimelech gives it to David. We may pause and say, “Wait. He’s not allowed to do that.” However, Jesus would use this very story to remind the religious leaders of His day that mercy is greater than sacrifice and that love for neighbor is one of the two commands that ground all of the law (Matt.12:3-8; Matt. 22:34-40).
Just as we begin to breathe a sigh of relief, verse 7 smacks us across the face and raises the tension of the story again — Doeg the Edomite, a servant of Saul, is there as the whole interchange takes place. He’s the creepy spy bad guy in the corner of the room, hidden by the shadows, with beady eyes and cruel intentions sitting in the corner alone, watching it all take place. Put him in the back of your mind, like a lurking villain, because he will rear his head again, though not in this chapter.
Back to David, and his story is…starting to sound fishy? It’s the lie that becomes unbelievable because you start adding too many details. He continues speaking to Ahimelech, “Umm…by the way, do you have a sword or spear? I left in such ‘haste’ that I left mine behind” (v.8). What type of soldier leaves his weapons of choice behind when he’s sent on mission? Nevertheless, the priest has Goliath’s sword and David’s like, “Awesome! It’s the best!” (v.9).
David’s tale is strange indeed. Maybe he spins this tale out of a desire to protect the priest, or maybe he’s at his wit’s end with the constant threat on his life, maybe both or something else completely, still God is at work. And remember, that’s a question we need to be asking — what is God up to?
In a word: provision. They need food; God provides. They need protection; God provides.
Now, there might be the temptation to say, “Yeah, but David lied. Is he really deserving of God’s provision?” But to this we respond, “Then who among us would eat?” Are there any of us who are truly deserving of God’s provision? Everything we have is by His grace and mercy, not our worthiness.
And in this we find instruction on how we relate to God.
God feeds not only the birds of the air, but His creation as well. So, let us count our many blessings, name them one by one as the hymn instructs us.
Let us humbly thank God, because we remember that He graciously provides. It’s not our merit that earns God’s blessing. Grace is actually God’s unmerited favor. Therefore, in humble thanksgiving, let us worship Him.
God is Praiseworthy (21:10-15)
God is Praiseworthy (21:10-15)
Honestly, this is one of the more head-scratching episodes for me in Scripture. And, if there is a moment that spells out and shows us just how deep David’s desperation dwells, it’s here. Here’s what’s going on.
David flees to Achish, the king of Gath. Remember Gath? That’s where Goliath is from. So, it’s a Philistine land…pretty much Israel’s sworn enemy at the time. You heard the one about the 18-point deer walking through the middle of hunting camp, right? No, and there’s a reason why! But David, downtown Goliathville…and he shows up carrying Goliath’s sword to boot! Honestly, what’s ol’ Dave thinking? Maybe that Saul’s champion would be welcomed with open arms if he defects to Gath? Maybe?
But, Achish’s servants, they don’t let him just waltz in there. And, even if they didn’t have a problem with it, those 200 Philistine veteran widows we read about a few weeks back probably would. So Achish’s servants come to him and say, “This is the king of the land. This is the guy they sing songs about, you know…‘David his ten thousands.’” They’re basically asking, “You sure you want to let this guy in” (v.12). The king likely didn’t need reminding that most of his victims had been members of his own army…Philistine soldiers.
So David, he doesn’t stroll in exuding confidence. No, he comes afraid because he knows what the people are saying. He took their “words to heart and was much afraid” (v.12). It seems that no matter where David turns, he’s in danger. If he stays in Saul’s court, death. If he stays with Ahimelech, well creepy Doeg is there, one of Saul’s servants. Here in the land of the Philistines, the stories are already spreading. So he comes up with a plan: act like a madman (v.13)! When all else fails, throw an alka-seltzer in your mouth, let it start foaming down your beard, and start smearing stuff on the walls. Works every time!
Apparently David is as skilled at acting as he is writing music. His ruse works, and Achish basically tells his servants, “I’m overrun with madmen as it is. Get him out of here!” (v.14-15).
Seriously, such a strange story in Scripture. And, you may be wondering what any of this has to do with our point: when we’re in desperation, praise God. After all, nothing of the sort happens in the passage. Well, even though we don’t get a record of it here, David does worship God in the midst of all of this. Turn with me to Psalm 34, and when you get there, notice the heading — it’s written during this exact episode. Then David goes on to pen these words:
Psalm 34:1–5 “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”
and drop down to verse 8…
Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
He also writes about about this episode in Psalm 56. These vvs. are on the screen for us.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
For the believer, what a reminder that even in the midst of the hardest of times, when it seems as if death is pressing in all around us, and even in the moments when we are not at our best, nevertheless God is worthy of our worship, for we are not abandoned. His presence, even in troubled times, is all the more reason to declare His praise.
God is Providential (22:1-4)
God is Providential (22:1-4)
Whereas before, we looked at God’s specific provision, here we are more concerned with God’s overarching guidance and care. Now, David finds himself in “the cave of Adullam” (22:1). But God, in His providential sovereignty, brings to David “his brothers and all his father’s house” along with “everyone who was in distress.” It truly was a motley crew, and as a side note, how interesting that the lesser David gathered to himself people who were weary and heavy laden while the Greater David calls the same to Himself. Notice Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28–30 (“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” )
(GOSPEL MOMENT)
Continuing on, God’s providence isn’t in these soldiers. No, it’s much broader, much larger in scope. Notice how God has orchestrated history to provide for David in this moment. It seems like a small detail, and insignificant matter, but is it really? Where does David go for help with his parents, looking for a refuge for them while Saul seeks his demise? He goes Mizpeh, the king of Moab (v.3). This seems like an insignificant matter, but I want us to think back in David’s genealogy. David is the son of Jesse who is the son of Obed who is the son of Boaz. Anyone remember who Boaz married? If you guessed Ruth, you’re right. But, dig a little deeper. Ruth was from what country? Moab…she was a Moabitess.
Now, the text doesn’t specifically say that David went to his great grandmother’s family, and it doesn’t remind the reader that she was from Moab. But, Scripture often doesn’t make those connections for us. It instead invites us to make those connections as the Spirit of God intentionally makes connections like this.
With this in mind, now think back on the book of Ruth. Remember Naomi’s trial and her family’s deaths. Remember Naomi facing poverty. Remember her daughter-in-law’s faithfulness and the divinely orchestrated events that brought her to Boaz’s attention.
A century before David arrives, God is orchestrating history in David’s favor. But, that’s just like God, who writes the end from the beginning…who purposed the death of Christ before the foundation of the world…and who sent Jesus “at the right time” to die for the ungodly (Romans 5:6 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”)
We draw comfort from this truth. When we understand that God is at work in the grand scope of history, working all things according to the counsel of His own will, what peace it brings, especially when life seems spiraling out of control. It is a reminder that, as Paul Tripp reminds us,
Even when the world seems out of our control, it is not out of control.
Our God rules over all, and His sovereignty should lead us to humble worship and absolute trust in will. Therefore, let us humbly trust and submit to Him.
God Speaks (22:5)
God Speaks (22:5)
This final verse provides a subtle yet powerful reminder: David has the instruction of the Word of God. Gad shows up, and delivers a message to David. And notice, Gad is what? a prophet (v.5). Is this a big deal? Yes, especially in light of what we see with Saul. David is given instruction and direction through the prophet, speaking God’s word. Saul, however, did not enjoy such privilege. Think about what we saw in chapter 18:
Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.
and couple it with what will happen in 28:6.
And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
Saul was on his own, left to his own wisdom and devices, wandering without direction from YHWH. David was not. In grace, God gave David His word through the prophet’s voice, and even in desperate times, David was not left alone. To be desperate is one thing, but to be desperate and left alone, a terrifying thing altogether.
And so it is in this world. Sin wrecks the world and wreaks havoc on a daily basis. All of us find ourselves in desperate situations from time to time. Yet for the believer, we have the blessing of the Word of God and the Spirit of God who guides us into all truth. Imagine suffering without the life-sustaining truth of God’s word, without the inner voice of the Holy Spirit leading, guiding, and directing our steps.
If God has so blessed us, why would we not treasure and constantly consume His truth, following His leadership, especially when disaster lurks just outside the door?
Conclusion
God remains faithful—providing, protecting, guiding, and speaking to His servant. When David was hungry, God supplied bread; when he was desperate, God preserved him; when he was uncertain, God directed him; and through it all, God was shaping a king after His own heart. These scenes remind us that God’s grace does not depend on our worthiness but on His steadfast mercy. He provides for our needs, deserves our praise in hardship, rules providentially over every detail of our lives, and speaks through His Word to lead us in truth. Therefore, like David, we can rest in the assurance that even when life unravels, God’s faithful hand still holds, feeds, guides, and speaks—calling us to humble trust and wholehearted worship.
Will you today answer David’s call that we saw earlier from Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”?
