Yesterday we saw the start of David’s taking his departure from his friend Jonathan and fleeing from Saul. There are 11 chapters left in 1 Samuel, and most of them are taken up with various events in this cat-and-mouse game. The challenge is that not only must God preserve David’s life, but God also must preserve his reputation so that he can become king, starting a new dynasty. We’ll see, as is common in scripture, there is “no magic formula.” The means of deliverance are different every time.
He first goes to Ahimelech, the priest, who gives him the bread from the Tabernacle and Goliath’s sword when David tells him that he is on an urgent mission from King Saul (see 1 Samuel 21). Jesus even cites this event, referring to Ahimelech’s son Abiathar, who will join David’s band in the next chapter:
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” (Mark 2.23 – 26, ESV)
Then David goes to Achish, king of Gath, where, when recognized, he feigns madness!
“Oh,” said David, “there’s no sword like that! Give it to me!” And at that, David shot out of there, running for his life from Saul. He went to Achish, king of Gath. When the servants of Achish saw him, they said, “Can this be David, the famous David? Is this the one they sing of at their dances?
Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!”
When David realized that he had been recognized, he panicked, fearing the worst from Achish, king of Gath. So right there, while they were looking at him, he pretended to go crazy, pounding his head on the city gate and foaming at the mouth, spit dripping from his beard. Achish took one look at him and said to his servants, “Can’t you see he’s crazy? Why did you let him in here? Don’t you think I have enough crazy people to put up with as it is without adding another? Get him out of here!” (1 Samuel 21.10 – 15, MSG)
An inauspicious start for David as he flees from Saul. He lies to the priest and then pretends to be crazy in the presence of Achish (referred to as “Abimelech” in Psalm 34’s introduction). Those are two ways to escape!
We continue to look at David’s reactions to these events.
Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears…This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!…Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34. Introduction, 1 – 4, 6 – 8, 19, ESV)