In my 20 years in the US Air Force, I observed two types of senior leaders. Some would come to a unit and immediately work on transferring in people they had worked with before. Within a year, these leaders would have formed a team with people they had worked with, and possibly trained, before. Others would come in and build a team with what they had. Both types of leaders could be effective, but I always admired those who could work with what they had. Not all of us have the luxury of bringing in a whole new team.

What kind of leader was David? What sort of team did he build?

So David got away and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. When his brothers and others associated with his family heard where he was, they came down and joined him. Not only that, but all who were down on their luck came around—losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. David became their leader. There were about four hundred in all. (1 Samuel 22.1, 2, MSG)

“…losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. David became their leader.” Wow.

Back to Saul, NOT hiding in a cave:

Saul got word of the whereabouts of David and his men. He was sitting under the big oak on the hill at Gibeah at the time, spear in hand, holding court surrounded by his officials. He said, “Listen here, you Benjaminites! Don’t think for a minute that you have any future with the son of Jesse! Do you think he’s going to hand over choice land, give you all influential jobs? Think again. Here you are, conspiring against me, whispering behind my back—not one of you is man enough to tell me that my own son is making deals with the son of Jesse, not one of you who cares enough to tell me that my son has taken the side of this, this… outlaw!” Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, spoke up: “I saw the son of Jesse meet with Ahimelech son of Ahitub, in Nob. I saw Ahimelech pray with him for GOD’s guidance, give him food, and arm him with the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 22.6 – 10, MSG)

Recall that David lied to Ahimelech, who had no idea that David was on the run. No matter. Saul had Doeg kill him anyway, Ahimelech and his entire family except for his son Abiathar who escaped and joined David. (See 1 Samuel 22.11 – 22)

We have David’s reaction in Psalm 52:

A David psalm, when Doeg the Edomite reported to Saul, “David’s at Ahimelech’s house.”

Why do you brag of evil, “Big Man”? God’s mercy carries the day. You scheme catastrophe; your tongue cuts razor-sharp, artisan in lies. You love evil more than good, you call black white. God will tear you limb from limb…Pull you up by the roots from the land of life. Good people will watch and worship… And I’m an olive tree, growing green in God’s house. I trusted in the generous mercy of God then and now. (Psalm 52.Intro, 1 – 3, 5 – 8, MSG)

And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. (1 Samuel 22.2, ESV)