1 Samuel 21

1 Samuel 21:1

2. Ahimelech’s Kindness to David (Chap. 21)Even great men have feet of clay. David is no exception. This sad chapter records his lies before the tabernacle, now situated in Nob (vv. 1-9), and his pretended lunacy before the Philistines (vv. 10-15). 21:1-6 David had gone to Samuel (chap. 19) and to Jonathan (chap. 20), and now he comes to the high priest in his flight from Saul. Ahimelech was afraid of David, and wondered why he was traveling alone. (He did have a few companions with him who were waiting elsewherev. 2; Mat_12:3.) David lied by saying that he was on a secret mission for the king. Then David asked for some bread. But all that was available was showbread, the holy bread used in the tabernacle for worship. The priest offered it to David, provided that his men were not ceremonially unclean through having sexual relations within the past few days. David said that his men were not only clean, but that they were holy (set apart) by virtue of their special mission. Shakespeare was right: “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!” The showbread that had just been taken from the holy place was given to David. In Mat_12:3-4, the Lord Jesus approved this unlawful use of the showbread, presumably because there was sin in Israel and David represented the cause of righteousness. If David had had his rightful place on the throne, there would have been no need for him to be begging bread. The law, which forbade the profane use of the bread, was not intended to forbid a work of mercy such as this. 21:7-9 Doeg, a servant of Saul, was detained before the LORD in Nob at the time. Though an Edomite, he had converted to the Hebrew religion, and was detained by a vow, by uncleanness, or by some other ceremonial requirement. He naturally observed Ahimelech’s collaboration with David and carried the report back to Saul. Meanwhile, David made a second request, this time for weapons. Again he lied, saying that he was on an urgent mission for the king. Goliath’s sword was produced and David eagerly took it, exclaiming that there was none other like it. He had trusted in the Lord to slay the giant, only to lapse into confidence in the sword of his slain enemy. 21:10-15 Then David left Israel and fled to the city of Gath, Goliath’s hometown. Here he, the anointed king of Israel, sought refuge among the enemies of God’s people. When the Philistines became suspicious of him, he was forced to act the madman to save his life. DeRothschild notes that David knew well “that the insane were held inviolable, as smitten but protected by the Deity.” And so the psalmist of Israel stood drooling in his beard as he scribbled on the doors of the gate. Because of the callousness of God’s people and David’s own lapse of faith, he was reduced to this disgraceful behavior. But David learned some valuable lessons through this ordeal. Before going on to the next chapter, read Psalms 34, which was written about this time. In this psalm we gain new insight into David’s character. He possessed a remarkable resilience which enabled him to grow in his knowledge of God despite his failures.