1 Samuel 21, 22
Leaders Prep Section
Watch this video, read these notes, and send the pre-written email (below) to your group 2-3 days before you meet.
Notes
Leadership training: Leaders will be face desperation. Know it before it happens.
Group Guide Starts Here
Context of scripture
Jonathan, who was convinced he could keep his father from killing David, is convinced no more. Saul has attempted to kill Jonathan with his spear, probably the same one he hurled twice at David. Jonathan has signaled to David through a pre-arranged code that he needs to run for his life…right now!! David, the rightful king and heir to the throne runs from the city on foot and empty handed. For the next four chapters, a span of an entire year, David will be on the run from King Saul, his men, and nearly everyone in every town he comes to.
Read 1 Samuel 21: 1-6
It was customary for priests to be involved in the process of sending out troops before battle. David showing up alone and visibly in a mad hurry would have been very alarming to the priest. It’s also important to remember that no one knew David was the chosen king. His reputation was built on the blood he shed starting with Goliath and then the thousands of Philistines after that. He was the greatest warrior the nation ever had.
When leading on behalf of God, do you believe:
A) God will take care of your needs and make your paths straight?
B) God will take care of some things, give you a general idea of where to go, and leave part of it up to you?
C) God will put you in a situation where you have to give it everything you’ve got with no insight to anything?
Read 1 Samuel 21: 7-9
Doeg the Edomite comes from the line of Edomites, who have generally been dark characters in history. Esau – rival to brother Jacob and whose descendants attached Israel – was the father of the Edomites. It was Edomites who would later attack and loot Israel’s temple. Herod, ruler during Jesus’ time, was also an Edomite.
Read 1 Samuel 21: 10-14
Achish king of Gath is also a pivotal character we will run into later. Gath is the hometown of Goliath and the hundreds, if not thousands of men whom David slaughtered in battle 12 years earlier.
David runs into Goliath’s hometown carrying Goliath’s sword, then acts mad to get away. From all appearances, he has no idea where to go.
This will probably keep you up at night: If God is willing to let David run for his life with no idea where to go, how could we expect him to do anymore for us?
Read 1 Samuel 22: 1-5
With David’s family now safe, he admits he does not know what God will do for him. God never answers David directly; instead he gives David a prophet who tells him where to go.
Some believe that when something good finally happens, all the bad stuff they had to go through leading up to it is somehow justified. Do you believe that?
Read 1 Samuel 22: 6-23
Saul has crossed a new line allowing the slaughter of his own people.
But David, who started out running alone, is now on the run with a prophet and a priest.
If you think God was having David go through all of this to save his family, meet up with a priest and prophet, and let Saul start digging his own grave…why wouldn’t God just tell David that…or at least tell him everything is going to be OK? Why silence?