Today’s passage: 1 Samuel 21:1-15
Helpful thoughts:
- Word had probably spread of Saul’s pursuit of David. Ahimelech didn’t want any trouble.
- It could be possible that the “King” to whom David was referring was the Lord (1 Samuel 8:7). Or, David was simply lying. We tend to try to find reasons to excuse any or all of David’s actions (And/or other OT figures, such as Abraham or Moses). But, David was not without sin.
- The bread that David received was reserved for the sons of Aaron. However, there were times when matters of importance required understanding the spirit of the Law over the letter of the Law.
- Leviticus 1:12-20 gives the example of Aaron’s son not eating the meat that was given for their own sin offering. They simply didn’t think it would be right to eat the meat that was offered for their own sin.
- After Jesus was criticized for healing on the Sabbath, he reminded the Jews that they also circumcised on the Sabbath (John 7:21-24).
- Jesus also mentions this very occurrence in Matthew 12.
Questions to consider:
- Was David any safer in Gath than he was in Israel? According to man’s perspective? But, what about God’s? Did it really matter where David went? What had God promised?
- What did the servants call David in verse 11? What was the perception of Israel’s leadership outside of Israel?
- How must David’s heart have felt after having to run away from Saul, begging for bread, and acting insane to escape the king in Gath? How bad must things have seemed to him to want to go to the Philistines in the first place? (Psalm 18:1-2)