Facing Your Enemies

1 Samuel 21-24

David is running for his life from Saul. The run down:

1. David first goes to the priest, Ahimelech and asks for bread and a sword.
David could have used this time to "spill the beans" on Saul and let Ahimelech know what a jerk Saul is. He tells him nothing of the sort, just takes the bread and runs.
2. David comes to Gath. He hears the people talk about what a great man he is in that he has slain in ten thousands. I guess this makes him afraid that they will take the opportunity to kill him. So he acts like a mad man....I love this description....

21:13
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.

Lesson...if you feel your life is in danger, act like a looney...surely they will leave you alone as they did in David's case.

3. David flees to the cave Adullum, and his friends and family come to him. What a motley crew of people....

22:2
And every one [that was] in distress, and every one that [was] in debt, and every one [that was] discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

I laugh about this. Here David is trying to run for his life, now he's in charge of a whole group of people with issues while running for his life. Isn't that how leadership comes. David wasn't looking for a position as leader, but the people were looking for someone who could understand them, and they were willing to fight for someone who was "in their shoes." Perhaps, this kept David from getting too discouraged because he was taking care of some other people to besides himself.

4. Saul finds out David was found when going to Ahimelech. He is ticked. He rebukes his servants accusing them of being disloyal.
What a stark contrast of the leader David was. Saul demanded loyalty because they were servants. David earned loyalty because they wanted to be servants.

5. Saul confronts Ahimelech, and he is so mad at him that he has all the priest killed---85 of them. Even women, children, and animals were killed, too, in the city of Nob.
What a sad realization of what anger and bitterness does to someone. Innocent people are killed because Saul is so blinded by bitterness and vengence.

5. One of Ahimelech's sons escape and tell David what has happened. David's army flees and then they are told by God that he will deliver the Philistines into their hand in the land of Keilah. They do destroy the Philistines.
Though David had a personal battle going on, the battle for the Lord still raged. He couldn't just put down defending the Lord to be able to defend himself.

6. David's army is in Keilah. Saul's men feel this is their golden opportunity to besiege him. Instead, God puts Saul in David's path. In the cave, David cuts off a small piece of Saul's robe as he is sleeping.

7. David feels so incredibly guilty for just doing that although Saul sought his life. David still calls Saul "my lord". David chose to remember the good of Saul. He decided not to reward evil for evil. Even Saul recognizes that....

24:17
And he said to David, Thou [art] more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

Saul realizes God's blessing is truly on David.
Wow. I would hope that I would be as valiant as David. My opportunity so show true righteousness is not when I am treated well, but rather when evil delivered to me. Reward evil with good. Help for hurt. Blessing for cursing. Love for hate. Help me Lord to rememeber when evil does comes...it is not just a trial but an opportunity to show true righteousness.