11 David As A Fugitive

The seeds of jealousy have been growing in the heart of Saul as we studied last study. And jealousy knows no reason. Saul has already tried killing David once by his own hand, and two more times by the hands of the Philistines. However, God has been protecting him and watching over him. Now what does Saul do?

1 Samuel 19:1
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

  • Once again, no good reason to kill David. The Bible just tells us that Saul intends to kill him. And he enlists the help of his son Jonathan and also his servants.
  • However we read last study that Jonathan and David had become really good friends.
  • What does Jonathan do?

1 Samuel 19:2-3
2 But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.

  • He quickly tells David and then seeks to speak to his father on David’s behalf.

1 Samuel 19:4-7
4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

  • What Jonathan says about David is not false. He’s not trying to just speak the good things of David. But all this really happened.
  • David really had done nothing wrong against Saul. He really did kill Goliath the Philistine. And the Lord really did work through David all this time.
  • So Saul relents and David comes back into the kings presence again.

1 Samuel 19:8-10
8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

  • Saul tries to kill David again with his own javelin. Why? What is the reason? He got jealous again because David went out to war and he killed a good many number of God’s enemies. It’s jealousy, pure jealousy. The hatred that is growing in the heart of Saul for David knows no reason.
  • David had gone out to war and the praise that he was getting from the people for the slaughter stirred heart of Saul. It was probably the same phrase that the women were singing in the previous chapter. Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.
  • Because of this, day by day, from the winning of the battles, to the wise way that David was conducting himself, Saul was becoming more afraid of David because it was clear that he was a good choice to be the next king. And because David was walking in God’s ways and Saul wasn’t, there was a clear contrast between the two in character and even leadership.

So what does Saul do next?

  • 1 Samuel 19:11-17
    11 Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. 12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. 14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. 15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. 16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. 17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
  • Even Michal, Saul’s daughter, is protecting and watching out for David. Of course, she is David’s wife. But both Jonathan and Michal are on David’s side.
  • What does David do next?

1 Samuel 19:18-24
18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

  • The Spirit of God comes upon the messengers of Saul three times. Three times he sends different messengers and three times they are all filled with God’s Spirit and are helpless to do anything to David. And finally when Saul comes, he also is controlled by God’s Spirit as well.
  • Here was a clear message from God to Saul. Even God was protecting David. It wasn’t because Samuel was there and was casting a spell on Saul and his messengers. Clearly God was with David. God was sending a very clear message telling him to leave David alone. Saul was helpless to do anything to David when God’s Spirit came upon him.

After this incident, David does not remain there with Samuel. Though it might have been wise to do so, David moves on. What does he do next?

  • 1 Samuel 20:1
    And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
  • David is seeking for an answer why. He himself does not know why Saul is trying to kill him. He’s desperate and he certainly does not like the situation that he is in – having to look over his shoulder constantly.
  • So David comes up with one final test to see whether or not Saul really hates him and wants him dead or not. He doesn’t believe that his change in heart at Samuel’s place was a permanent change.
  • What is the test?
  • 1 Samuel 20:5-8
    5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. 6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. 7 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. 8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
  • There was a yearly feast at the king’s palace. And David was going to pretend that he was going to his parent’s place in Bethlehem. If Saul was at peace it then David would know that he had changed and was not going to kill David anymore. However, if Saul would react in an angry way, then David would know that Saul was still going to attempt to kill him and that he would have to run like a fugitive.

So what would happen?

  • 1 Samuel 20:24-26
    24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. 25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
  • On the first day of the feast, Saul didn’t say anything. He just thought that David was sick.
  • However, what would happen on the second day?
  • 1 Samuel 20:27-31
    27 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem: 29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table. 30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
  • Once again David is absent from the feast. And this time Saul shows his true colours. He is angry to the point that he wants to kill David.
  • He tells Jonathan that his love for his friend has made him confused. He tells him that he wants to kill David so that he, Jonathan, can have the right to the throne after him. But we all know that that is not the reason for his anger and hatred against David. He is jealous for his own cause.

How does Jonathan respond?

  • 1 Samuel 20:32-34
    32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
  • When Jonathan tries to defend David, Saul in his rage throws the spear at his own son. It was now obvious to Jonathan that his father was never going to change his mind and also what he thought to do to David also.
  • In pity for his friend, Jonathan leaves to go and tell David about it.
  • 1 Samuel 20:41-42
    41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
  • This would be the last meeting and last words between the two friends. They would never meet ever again as Jonathan would eventually die in battle with his father.

So off David would go as a fugitive.

  • 1 Samuel 21:1
    Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
  • David first comes to the city of Nob and to the priest Ahimelech.
  • Upon seeing David alone and filled with terror and anxiousness, he asks David the reason for such a visit.
  • What does David say?
  • 1 Samuel 21:2-3
    2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
  • 1 Samuel 21:8-9
    8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste. 9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
  • David lies to Ahimelech. He doesn’t know who to believe since his life was being hunted by the king. He asks him for food and also a weapon.
  • But had he told the truth to the priest, the priest would have had a better understanding on how to reply the king when he came. You see, there was someone else there observing all that was taking place between David and the priest.
  • 1 Samuel 21:7
    Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

    • Doeg was watching this encounter.
  • And when Saul came to the priest, it was Doeg that stepped in and told the king what had happened, as if he was in league with David.
  • 1 Samuel 22:9-10
    9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
  • As a result the king would order all the priesthood there to be killed. And amazingly none of Saul’s troops would dare to kill any of the priests. So Doeg would step in and do the work of slaughter.
  • All this happened just because of David’s lie.
  • We know not how far such a small sin would affect the lives of others. We need to be so careful to be faithful to God in every particular, no matter the situation that we are in.
  • Maybe we could say to ourselves that David’s lie was excusable. We would probably say things like, “I would have done the same thing if I were in David’s situation.”

But was David’s lie really excusable? Was it really such a small thing?

  • Definitely not.
  • God had intervened for David so many times. David had seen the obvious had of God in his life.
  • God had guided him and been with him when David fought Goliath.
  • God had saved him from the hand of Saul many times.
  • God had protected him when he went to war against the Philistines.
  • God had shown him that he had nothing to be afraid of if he was faithful to him.
  • But in his moment of despair and anxiety, he let go of God and it caused the death of many of the priests of God.

Not only did David lie to the priest. But there was one more thing that he did that showed his distrust in God.

  • 1 Samuel 21:10-11
    10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
  • David thought that he could find more safety in going to the enemies of God than being amongst his own people. But David was famous already. Even the enemies knew of David’s fame as a soldier. He had slain his ten thousands.
  • On hearing that, what does David do?
  • 1 Samuel 21:12-15
    12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. 14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? 15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
  • David deceived the king of Gath by pretending to be crazy and thus was able to make his escape.

How low a person can stoop to in times of discouragement, persecution and trial? None of us are immune to that.

  • Yet somehow God would still be with David. He did not abandon him at this time.
  • And it’s not that God approved the actions of David. It cost the lives of many of the priests there at Nob. Only one priest escaped with his life and joined himself to David. What horror the whole of Israel were filled with. That the king would bring himself so low as to kill the priests of God.
  • But this experience became a valuable lesson to David. To be faithful in every circumstance.
  • But it also showed what a merciful God that we serve who will not throw us off simply because we made the wrong decision in passion or haste. God is patient and tender with us, especially when overcome with sorrow and discouragement.

But let us not be mistaken. Every failure on our part is because of a lack of faith. It is because we let go of God that we lie or deceive others.

  • We must never blame the circumstance or situation that we are going through. We must learn to overcome every situation and not allow any circumstance to have mastery over us.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13
    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
  • God is able to help us to overcome. He will make a way of escape for us if we trust Him and hold on to Him by faith. He will help us to be more than conquerors.

So no matter the situation that you are going through today, let us learn to trust God. Let us not give excuses for our failures but let us run to God with all our troubles. He will help us, He will carry us, He will sustain us. Only, let us hold on to Him by faith. Let us not allow the billows of life to separate us from Him.

God has a reason for every situation and we can’t always discern the reason why. But there is comfort to know that He makes room for us when we stumble to pick us up and help us to learn the lessons that He wishes for us to grow in. Thank God we serve a merciful and long-suffering God today.

Let’s trust Him ever more and hold our faith steadfast in Him today.

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