Where My Help Comes From (1 Samuel 21-23)

Early in our marriage, Sarah and I lived in a part of our city that was known for high-crime rates. Around this time, there were rumors that a local pastor had been kidnapped at a nearby gas station. 

Not long after, we were getting ready to travel out of town. I had just gotten home from helping out at our church plant, and Sarah had gone grocery shopping and to fill up the car with gas. I expected her to beat me home, but she still wasn’t there. So I called her, but no answer. Ten minutes go by, still haven’t heard from her, so I call her again. Still no answer.  

About thirty, forty minutes later, I start wondering: Why isn’t she home yet? Why won’t she answer her phone? Did something happen to her? What if someone took her? What if I never see her again? 

So I call her like 3 times in a row. Pick up! Nothing. So I grab my keys and start walking outside. At this point, I’m thinking, What if I can’t find her? Where do I start?  

Just as I get to my car, I see Sarah turn down our street. At this point, I’m on the verge of tears and anger. She pulls up and says, “What’s wrong?” “What’s wrong?? What’s wrong with you? I thought you were gone. Why don’t you answer your phone?!”  

To this day, she still doesn’t answer my calls…  

Where do you look for help in times of trouble? That’s where we find David this morning.   

The last time we saw David, King Saul wanted to end his life, but thanks to the help of Jonathan, Michal, and even the Lord, David was able to escape. He’s already run to Samuel and Jonathan. Where does he run to next?  

[1 Sam. 21:1] – Then David came to Nob, [which was the city of the priests] to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?”  

Why would Ahimelech be afraid of David? Well, the fact that one of Saul’s military generals is travelling alone is strange. I’m sure the priests at Nob saw David countless times, but always with a group of his men. The fact that he’s alone could mean that David’s in danger and whatever enemy’s in pursuit of David might not be far behind.  

[v. 2] – And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves ofbread, or whatever is here.”

Ahimelech’s like, “What’s going on, David?” And David says, “Oh, top secret stuff. I’m about to meet up with my boys. We gotta go see about a thing. You got any food?” If you’re Ahimelech, this just doesn’t sound right.  

[v. 4] – And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” 

David asks for food for his journey, but the only bread on hand is holy bread, which only the priests could eat. There was nothing within the Levitical system that permitted anyone else to eat the holy bread. But Ahimelech tells David, “You can have some as long as you’ve kept yourselves from women.”  

David lies to Ahimelech, but Ahimelech seems to bend the rules for David. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but let’s try to assume the best about them here. David probably thinks the less Ahimelech knows, the better, so that he won’t be accused of conspiring against Saul.  

At the same time, Ahimelech recognizes that David’s in trouble, so he chooses mercy over ritual. He’s not supposed to give David the bread, but he is supposed to honor God by serving the needy, and David’s clearly in need.^[1]  

[v. 6] – So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

Not only that, but Ahimelech gives David the sword he won from striking down Goliath, which will come in handy if David really is in danger. 

Now, right in the middle of this story, [v. 7] introduces us to a new character: Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul’s chief shepherds. And if you’re Team David, there’s something unsettling about Doeg, but you don’t know why. Remember that for later. 

[v. 10] – And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. [which seems like an odd choice] [11] And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,

‘Saul has struck down his thousands,     and David his ten thousands’?”

12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. So Achish sends David away.  

David’s on the run. He’s looking for refuge, but as he goes, it doesn’t really seem like David knows what he’s doing. But that’s what life in chaos feels like. We know this all too well. What threats are causing fear in your life, and where are you seeking safety? 

1. Don’t just run from danger; find refuge in God.   

I can imagine many threats in David’s life. I made a list of these, but let me give you three.  

#1: The Danger of Crisis – The greatest danger David faces is Saul. But it’s not just Saul. It’s what Saul represents. David’s own government and countrymen have turned against him.  

For some of us, that’s not just David’s story, that’s your story. Separated from family. Having to rebuild your life. When life feels uncertain and so much is out of our control, where do you go for refuge? That’s exactly where David finds himself. 

#2: The Danger of Isolation – The first question Ahimelech asks David is, “Why are you alone?” We know why David’s alone. David’s on the run, and anyone seen with him would be putting their life in danger too. Life on the run is lonely. 

But you don’t have to be far from home to be isolated. Plenty of people try to do life alone. There are many Christians who think they can follow Jesus on their own. They don’t want to be known. They don’t even see a need to be connected to a local church.  

Now, imagine: Let’s say one day you go by yourself to a nearby hiking trail. Every trailhead warns: “Caution: Tigers have been seen in this park. Stay alert and don’t hike alone.”  

But you’ve been on these trails dozens of times and never seen a tiger. Well, at one point, you wander off the trail, and badly injure yourself. You’re in so much pain, it’s hard to move. You’re getting hungry. You’re still far from the exit. 

Do you still feel the same way about the tiger? And at what point do you start wishing you weren’t alone? See, the Bible says we face an even greater danger than tigers:  

[1 Peter 5:8] – Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

And when are we most vulnerable to his attacks? When we’re isolated, whether we intended to be or not.  

See, the opposite of isolation isn’t proximity. You can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. That’s why marriage and family aren’t solutions to our loneliness problem. The opposite of isolation is being fully known and loved. And you can’t do that with everybody. But you should with somebody. Preferably somebody who’s going to strengthen you in the Lord. 

#3: The Danger of Habitual Sin – Now, David is God’s chosen King, but he’s not above correction. Throughout the past several chapters, we’ve learned that David’s a crafty guy. Sometimes that’s a great gift, like when he escapes Saul’s servants by tricking them into thinking David was sleeping in his bed.  

Or when he pretends to be insane to escape the threat of the 

Philistines. David’s craftiness was useful for his survival. But it’s a pattern worth keeping an eye on because there’s also a shadow side to his craftiness, like when David lies to Ahimelech at Nob.  

The question is: Who’s going to hold David accountable? Who gets to hold you accountable? I know I’m capable of making pretty good choices, but I’ve also spent enough time with myself to know I’m capable of making choices that could ruin my life.   

And David’s no different. If you know his story, you know he’s capable of great sin, and even uses his craftiness to cover it up. That kinda behavior doesn’t come out of nowhere. See, David Powlison says, “Things that grow in a secret garden always grow mutant.”  That’s the danger of habitual sin. Habitual sin is not an isolated mistake but an ongoing pattern of sinful practice that we need to learn to put to death. 

That’s one reason God gave us the local church. It’s meant to be a place of refuge where we can be known and loved and experience correction. God also gives us close friends to help spot these dangers in our lives, sometimes even before we do. But if no one’s close enough to speak into your life, hidden, habitual sin may continue to grow until it harms both you and the people around you.  

David’s lie ultimately drags Ahimelech right into the middle of his conflict in ways that are going to be devastating for Ahimelech. 

But just as important as recognizing the potential dangers in your life is knowing where to turn when your life is under attack. Again, where do you seek refuge in the midst of all your dangers?  

Do you hide in your work because it’s something you can control? Do you run to family or friends, thinking, “I just need someone to listen to me vent”? Do you escape into food or shopping or social media; anything to distract you for a few hours? 

See, the place David ultimately found his security was in the 

Lord. You say, “When does he do that?” Well, David wrote several Psalms during this season of his life, and Psalm 34 gives us a window into what’s going on inside of David.  

[Ps. 34:4] – I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears…[7] The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. The angel of the LORD is the commander of God’s armies. He encamps around me. He keeps me safe. [8] Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the manwho takes refuge in him!”

See, refuge in God wasn’t just a statement David said he believed. It was a present experience in his life. David was still confronted with all the same dangers as before, but isn’t that how you judge the quality of a fortress? That you have confidence in its ability to keep you safe amidst the ongoing threats of danger? See, don’t just run from your dangers; take refuge in God in the midst of them.  

As chapter 22 begins, we see people start picking sides between Team David and Team Saul. Team David is made up of the powerless and voiceless peoples of the kingdom; not exactly the people you’d choose to start an army. On top of that, David’s busy relocating his elderly parents.  

Meanwhile, the next time we see Saul, he’s in Gibeah with his fellow Benjaminites. And he’s become the embodiment of everything Samuel warned about when Israel first asked for a king. He’s using the people and the land as capital in service to his interests.  

[22:7] – And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, 8 that all of you have conspired against me?…None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son hasstirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.”  

The other week, I heard a story about a guy from another church who was angry with the church for putting too much responsibility on him for too long. He was exhausted and blamed the church. But when he shared that with someone on his serving team, the guy said, “What are you talking about? You only serve like once a month. The church has already given a bunch of your responsibilities away, and half the time you’re not even here.” 

I’ve seen the same kind of thing happen in conflicts. Person A has one version of the story. Person B has another. Each one’s convinced they’re the victim, the other person is at fault, and neither one of them can see the situation from the other’s perspective. 

These are good people who love God. How do we get there? And how do we change the narrative? 

See, we all have stories we’re living in. And we tell ourselves and other people these stories over and over again so much that we really believe them.  

But here’s the problem: We’re forgetful. We have selective memory. We don’t test our narratives, and sin is deceptive. It distorts the truth. 

But this is exactly what Saul’s doing. He’s just poor Saul. Look at all I’ve done for you, and yet you conspire against me. My life’s under attack and no one cares. Even my own son is against me.  

I don’t think Saul’s trying to be manipulative. I think he really believes that. But listen, Saul’s had to ignore a lot of truth to get there. He’s had to make some conscious decisions. See, God’s already made it clear that he’s rejected Saul as King. But instead of confessing his sin, he’s playing the sympathy card. He’s bought into the lie.  

And noone’s willing to challenge him on it. Some people even feed into the false narratives with more lies. [v. 9] – Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10 and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

Now, it’s true that Ahimelech gave provisions to David, but he didn’t inquire of the Lord for him. Doeg added that. And Ahimelech wasn’t trying to help David kill Saul. Doeg left out the part about David lying to him.  

But it fits the narrative, so Saul runs with it. [v. 11] – he summons…Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And heanswered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” Now remember, David told Ahimelech that he was on business for the King. He lied to him. But that’s not what Ahimelech focuses on. Instead, he speaks truth to falsehood. 

[v. 14] – Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15 Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” 

Which is all true. What are we talking about conspiracies for? David’s been loyal to you, even at risk of his own life. What are we talking about here? But Saul dismisses it because it doesn’t fit his narrative. 

2. Don’t just believe the lies; anchor yourself in God’s truth.

See, what makes us vulnerable to believe lies is when we take our eyes off God and focus inward on ourselves. When we become the center of our stories, we’ve distorted the narrative.  

God is the Author of our lives. So the question we all should be asking IS NOT: How does God fit into my story? BUT: What story is God telling, and how has he included me in it?  

See, when we write our own story, we make ourselves the main character and our priorities the ultimate goal. We replace the identity God has given us with the one we think we should have, and it leads us to prioritize our plans above God’s.   

But when God’s the Author, Christ is the main character and his mission the central goal. Our false narratives get replaced by the promises of God.  

• “I can’t do this” becomes “God has a purpose for my life.” 
• “This is too much for me” becomes “My help comes from the Lord.”  

We often live as though life is all about me: My career, my family, my plans. And those are good gifts from the Lord, but they’re not the center of the story. The question is: How do they fit into what God has purposed to do in and through me? 

That was Saul’s problem. Instead of submitting to God’s story, he tried to make God’s story serve his own. Instead of leading people toward God’s kingdom, he used them to protect his own power and comfort.

When we put ourselves at the center, we believe false stories about who we are and what life is really about. But when we’re anchored in the truth, we start to see how everything in our lives is meant to serve God and others. We become more fully ourselves.  

Ultimately, Saul hears the truth and rejects it. He tells Ahimelech in [v. 16] – “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.” So Doeg the Edomite struck down all the priests, killing 85 that day and also the entire city of Nob.  

But in God’s providence, one of the sons of Ahimelech escapes and finds David in the forest. [v. 21] – And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house. 23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”

See, where Saul is ruthless toward God’s servants, David takes responsibility for them and for the sin that contributed to their death. But where Saul’s final words are: “You shall surely die.” David’s final words are, “You will be safe with me.”  

That’s the promise Jesus makes to us. But how does David know that? Saul’s got all the land and all the men. David doesn’t even have a place to lay his head.  

David knows it because he’s anchored himself to the words of Life. David says of God in [Psalm 56:8] – You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know,that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

David’s saying, because God’s the author of our stories, He knows everything about our lives. He’s writing it. Not even a single tear goes unnoticed by Him.  

But because God’s the author of our stories, we know we can face every trial with resurrection hope. Whether you’re about to walk into troubles, you’re in the troubles, just out of the troubles—God will see you through. He’s promised great good for you. And did I tell you he’s the one writing your story?  

Life on the run’s not easy. It hasn’t been for David. Who would want his life? Even when things are looking up, another hardship comes.  

[23:1] – Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save

Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”  

David turns to the Lord and he’s able to strengthen the faith of his men. But strengthening the faith of others isn’t the same thing as your faith being strengthened. And, yes, God gave them victory over the Philistines, but listening to the Lord made David vulnerable to Saul’s attack. When Saul finds out where David is, [23:7] – Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

This shows how easily we can deceive ourselves into putting God’s name on our own plans, even when they contradict His. We should be careful in how quickly we say, “I’m just doing what God wants.” How do you know?  

I mean, Saul’s kinda saying: “Even though God’s against me, He’s blessed my decision to kill his chosen King.”  

On the flipside, David could’ve said, “I thought I was following God, but now Saul’s gonna kill me. Maybe God’s abandoned me.”  

But does that sound like God to you? Absolutely not. And thankfully, that’s not David’s response. Instead, he seeks the Lord and God delivers him from the hands of his enemies. So David escapes to the wilderness of Ziph. [v. 14] – …And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

See, Saul was wrong. And David trusted God, and God delivered him. Even still, David is exhausted. He’s discouraged. He’s hiding in the wilderness at Horesh. In this season of distress…[v. 16] – Jonathan…rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.”  

This is a crucial moment for David because even as he’s trying to trust God, his strength is failing.  

3. Don’t just strive in your own strength; rely on the God who saves.  

Last year, when I experienced great tragedy in my life, someone offered comfort to me by saying, “Well, at least your faith is strong. 

That will help you get through this.” Is that usually enough for you? That what will see me through the valley of death is my faith? 

One day, a father took his young boy swimming at the pool. But the boy couldn’t swim, so the father was always by his side.  

Well, as they’re holding hands in the pool, the son says, “Daddy, what if I lose my grip and let go of your hand?” But the father says, “Son, even if you let go of me, I will never let go of you.”  

The boy’s safety didn’t depend on his strength as a swimmer, but on the strength of his father to hold him, even in the face of danger. And the same was true for David.  

See, Jonathan comes to strengthen David’s hand in the Lord by reminding David that the source of your strength comes from God, not you. How does he do that? 

• First, he fights David’s fears with God’s promise of protection. 

He could’ve even said, “Look how God just delivered you at Keilah.”  

• Second, he reminded David of the certainty of God’s plans: You will be King. God will do what He’s promised.  
• Third, he told David even the Enemy knows the plans of God, and while he will do everything within his power to stop them, he will fail. God will save.  

And this was a timely word for David because the Ziphites are gonna go tell Saul where David’s hiding.  

[v. 24] – …Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon…[25]…And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. So as Saul closes in on David, he sends men on either side of them. They have David surrounded. They’re going to capture him until [v. 27] – a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi.

This is how we strengthen ourselves in the Lord today: By repenting and believing the gospel. We trust God to do for us what we could never do for ourselves.  

See, sometimes God leads us through seasons of great trouble, but he never leaves us to face them alone. He’s always there to protect, to comfort, to rescue. And we know this because of the gospel. 

I mean, just think about this: David gets betrayed, he’s surrounded by his enemies, there’s no way out, yet God always makes a way of escape. But David is a foretaste for Jesus.  

When Jesus comes he gets betrayed by one of his closest friends, his enemies surround him, and they put him to death. It looks like defeat. But we know Jesus came to overcome sin and death in our place. So on the third day, Jesus rose from the grave. And the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is now at work in everyone who puts their trust in Him. 

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^[1] Deuteronomy 15:7-8 

¹ Works Consulted:  

1 & 2 Samuel – Vannoy; 1 & 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary – Long; “His Craft and Power are Great” – Begg