27 David thought, “Some day the powerful hand of Saul will destroy me. So the best thing I can do is escape. I’ll go to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop looking for me everywhere in Israel. His hand won’t be able to reach me.” 2 So David and his 600 men left Israel. They went to Achish, the king of Gath. He was the son of Maoch. 3 David and his men settled down in Gath near Achish. Each of David’s men had his family with him. David had his two wives with him. They were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel. Abigail was Nabal’s widow. 4 Saul was told that David had run away to Gath. So he didn’t look for David anymore. 5 David said to Achish, “If you are pleased with me, give me a place in one of your country towns. I can live there. I don’t really need to live near you in the royal city.” 6 So on that day Achish gave David the town of Ziklag. It has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since that time. 7 David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months. 8 Sometimes David and his men would go up and attack the Geshurites. At other times they would attack the Girzites or the Amalekites. All of those people had lived in the land that reached all the way to Shur and Egypt. They had been there for a long time. 9 When David would attack an area, he wouldn’t leave a man or woman alive. But he would take their sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and clothes. Then he would return to Achish. 10 Achish would ask, “Who did you attack today?” David would answer, “The people who live in the Negev Desert of Judah.” Or he would answer, “The people in the Negev Desert of Jerahmeel.” Or he would answer, “The people in the Negev Desert of the Kenites.” 11 David wouldn’t leave a man or woman alive to be brought back to Gath. He thought, “They might tell on us. They might tell Achish who we really attacked.” That’s what David did as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David. He thought, “David has made himself smell very bad to his people, the Israelites. So he’ll serve me forever.”

This Chapter tells a story of David in a time where he was prone to making bad decisions.

Firstly, he leaves Israel in fear of Saul, rather than trusting God’s anointing on him as the next King. Then he becomes the servant of an idol worshipping king who is a sworn enemy of Israel. He then maintains his existence by becoming a roving bandit, claiming the spoils of

victory for himself and paying tribute to Achish.

Although this is clearly a low point in David’s life, I love it as a biographical record of David’s life. Atheist scholars will argue that David’s life falls into the same “fable/legend” category of literature as Homer’s story of the Greek protagonist Odysseus. The story that is recounted in 1 Samuel 27 and many other parts of David’s life suggest otherwise: Characters of fable and legend  overcome their weaknesses

and opposition to become the Hero of the story, but here we see David acting in a very human way.

David’s life echoes the walk that most Christians experience, one of progress with numerous setbacks and experiences of failure. Ultimately, it is only through faith that we see David achieving his success.

Lord, help us to see David’s life as a shadow of the coming of Christ and grow our faith.

Written by Justin Ware

Then David went down into the Desert of Maon. 2 A certain man in Maon was very wealthy. He owned property there at Carmel. He had 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep. He was clipping the wool off the sheep in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal. His wife’s name was Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman. But her husband was rude and mean in the way he treated others. He was from the family of Caleb. 4 David was staying in the Desert of Maon. While he was there, he heard that Nabal was clipping the wool off his sheep. 5 So he sent for ten young men. He said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him for me. 6 Say to him, ‘May you live a long time! May everything go well with you and your family! And may things go well with everything that belongs to you! 7 “‘I hear that you are clipping the wool off your sheep. When your shepherds were with us, we treated them well. The whole time they were at Carmel nothing that belonged to them was stolen. 8 Ask your own servants. They’ll tell you. We’ve come to you now at a happy time of the year. Please show favor to my young men. Please give me and my men anything you can find for us.’” 9 When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal the message from David. Then they waited. 10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are running away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I give away my bread and water? Why should I give away the meat I’ve prepared for those who clip the wool off my sheep? Why should I give food to men who come from who knows where?” 12 So David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported to David every word Nabal had spoken. 13 David said to his men, “Put on your swords!” So they put their swords on. David put his on too. About 400 men went up with David. Two hundred men stayed behind with the supplies. 14 One of the servants warned Nabal’s wife Abigail. He said, “David sent some messengers from the desert to give his greetings to our master. But Nabal shouted at them and made fun of them. 15 “David’s men had been very good to us. They treated us well. The whole time we were near them out in the fields, nothing was stolen. 16 We were taking care of our sheep near them. During that time, they were like a wall around us night and day. They kept us safe. 17 “Now think it over. See what you can do. Horrible trouble will soon come to our master and his whole family. He’s such an evil man that no one can even talk to him.” 18 Abigail didn’t waste any time. She got 200 loaves of bread and two bottles of wine. The bottles were made out of animal skins. She got five sheep that were ready to be cooked. She got a bushel of grain that had been cooked. She got 100 raisin cakes. And she got 200 cakes of pressed figs. She loaded all of it on the backs of donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead. I’ll follow you.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal about it. 20 Abigail rode her donkey into a mountain valley. There she saw David and his men. They were coming down toward her. 21 David had just said, “Everything we’ve done hasn’t been worth a thing! I watched over that fellow’s property in the desert. I made sure none of it was stolen. But he has paid me back evil for good. 22 I won’t leave even one of his men alive until morning. If I do, may God punish me greatly!” 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey. She bowed down in front of David with her face toward the ground. 24 She fell at his feet. She said, “Please let me speak to you, sir. Listen to what I’m saying. Let me take the blame myself. 25 Don’t pay any attention to that evil man Nabal. His name means Foolish Person. And that’s exactly what he is. He’s always doing foolish things. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see the men you sent. 26 “Sir, the Lord has kept you from killing Nabal and his men. He has kept you from using your own hands to get even. May what’s about to happen to Nabal happen to all of your enemies. May it also happen to everyone who wants to harm you. And may it happen just as surely as the Lord and you are alive. 27 “I’ve brought a gift for you. Give it to the men who follow you. 28 Please forgive me for what I’ve done wrong. “The Lord will certainly give you and your family line a kingdom that will last. That’s because you fight the Lord’s battles. Don’t do anything wrong as long as you live. 29 “Someone may chase you and try to kill you. But the Lord your God will keep your life safe like a treasure that is hidden in a bag. And he’ll destroy your enemies. Their lives will be thrown away, just as a stone is thrown from a sling. 30 “The Lord will do for you every good thing he promised to do. He’ll appoint you leader over Israel. 31 When that happens, you won’t have this heavy load on your mind. You won’t have to worry about how you killed people without any reason. You won’t have to worry about how you got even. The Lord will give you success. When that happens, please remember me.” 32 David said to Abigail, “Give praise to the Lord. He is the God of Israel. He has sent you today to find me. 33 May the Lord bless you for what you have done. You have shown a lot of good sense. You have kept me from killing Nabal and his men this very day. You have kept me from using my own hands to get even. 34 “It’s a good thing you came quickly to meet me. If you hadn’t come, not one of Nabal’s men would have been left alive by sunrise. And that’s just as sure as the Lord, the God of Israel, is alive. He has kept me from harming you.” 35 Then David accepted from her what she had brought him. He said, “Go home in peace. I’ve heard your words. I’ll do what you have asked.” 36 Abigail went back to Nabal. He was having a dinner party in the house. It was the kind of dinner a king would have. He had been drinking too much wine. He was very drunk. So she didn’t tell him anything at all until sunrise. 37 The next morning Nabal wasn’t drunk anymore. Then his wife told him everything. When she did, his heart grew weak. He became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal down. And he died. 39 David heard that Nabal was dead. So he said, “Give praise to the Lord. Nabal made fun of me. But the Lord stood up for me. He has kept me from doing something wrong. He has paid Nabal back for the wrong things he did.” Then David sent a message to Abigail. He asked her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel. They said to Abigail, “David has sent us to you. He wants you to come back with us and become his wife.” 41 Abigail bowed down with her face toward the ground. She said, “Here I am. I’m ready to serve him. I’m ready to wash the feet of his servants.” 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and went with David’s messengers. Her five female servants went with her. She became David’s wife. 43 David had also gotten married to Ahinoam from Jezreel. Both of them became his wives. 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s first wife, to Paltiel. Paltiel was from Gallim. He was the son of Laish.

Imagine being in David’s shoes – having himself and his army in a position of need, yet still managing his troops well enough to prevent them looting others nearby who had plenty. He is understandably offended when Nabal is harsh and miserly towards him and his men.

David determines to seek revenge and is only stopped from doing so by Abigail’s intervention. 1 cialis canadian pharmacy Cor 10:13b tells us “God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will provide a way out so that you can endure it” Also, Romans 12:19 says“ ”It is mine to avenge. I will repay” says the Lord.”

Abigail was the escape provided by God, and God went on to avenge David. God is absolutely trustworthy.

Father thank you that you provide a way out from temptation. Please help me to look for it,

see it and take it, so I don’t fall into temptation. Help me to trust you to avenge me if necessary.

Written by Megan Cornell

15 David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph. There he learned that Saul had come out to kill him. 16 Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh. He told David that God would make him strong. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul won’t lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel. And I will be next in command. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant in the sight of the Lord. Then Jonathan went home. But David remained at Horesh. 19 The people of Ziph went up to Saul at Gibeah. They said, “David is hiding among us. He’s hiding in places of safety at Horesh. Horesh is south of Jeshimon on the hill of Hakilah. 20 King Saul, come down when it pleases you to come. It will be our duty to hand David over to you.” 21 Saul replied, “May the Lord bless you because you were concerned about me. 22 Make sure you are right. Go and check things out again. Find out where David usually goes. Find out who has seen him there. People tell me he’s very tricky. 23 Find out about all of the hiding places he uses. Come back to me with all of the facts. I’ll go with you. Suppose he’s in the area. Then I’ll track him down among all of the family groups of Judah.” 24 So they started out. They went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the Desert of Maon. Maon is south of Jeshimon in the Arabah Valley. 25 Saul and his men started out to look for David. David was told about it. So he went down to a rock in the Desert of Maon to hide. Saul heard he was there. So he went into the Desert of Maon to chase David. 26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul. Saul and his army were closing in on David and his men. They were about to capture them. 27 Just then a messenger came to Saul. He said, “Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking the land.” 28 So Saul stopped chasing David. He went to fight against the Philistines. That’s why they call that place Sela Hammahlekoth. 29 David left that place. He went and lived in places of safety near En Gedi.

“How important good friends are! David was under serious amounts of stress and in peril, and his good friend Jonathan comes to him to “help him find strength in God.” I find it very interesting that Jonathan took the initiative and went to David in Horesh. No doubt inconvenient and dangerous for Jonathan whose own father was hunting David down. And Jonathan makes his words of encouragement to David solemn and significant, considering them words of promise under the Lord himself.

I am very encouraged and inspired by this biblical example of friendship between two

people that could have been sworn enemies. I need friendships like this in my life. Friends like Jonathan, who take the initiative to care for and support me in times of distress. Friends who help me find strength in God. Friends that speak words of encouragement to me with all integrity – considering their words as if before

the Lord.

God, help me to be such a good friend to others, and God, grant me such high quality friends like Jonathan here is to David.

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and the other members of his family heard about it. So they went down to join him there. 2 Everyone who was in trouble or owed money or was unhappy gathered around him. He became their leader. About 400 men were with him. 3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab. He spoke to the king of Moab. He said, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you. Let them stay until I learn what God will do for me.” 4 So David left his parents with the king of Moab. They stayed with him as long as David was in his usual place of safety. 5 But the prophet Gad spoke to David. He said, “Don’t stay in your usual place of safety. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. 6 Saul heard that the place where David and his men were hiding had been discovered. Saul was sitting under a tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah. He was holding his spear. All of his officials were standing around him. 7 Saul said to them, “Men of Benjamin, listen to me! Do you think Jesse’s son will give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make some of you commanders of thousands of men? Do you think he’ll make the rest of you commanders of hundreds? 8 Is that why all of you have joined together against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son. None of you is concerned about me. No one tells me that my son has stirred up Jesse’s son to hide and wait to attack me. But that’s exactly what’s happening now.” 9 Doeg was standing with Saul’s officials. He was from Edom. He said, “I saw Jesse’s son David come to Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech is the son of Ahitub. 10 Ahimelech asked the Lord a question for David. He also gave him food and the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.” 11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub. He sent for all of the men in his family. They were the priests at Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Son of Ahitub, listen to me.” “Yes, master,” he answered. 13 Saul said to him, “Why have you and Jesse’s son joined together against me? Why did you give him bread and a sword? Why did you ask God a question for him? Now he has turned against me. He is hiding and waiting to attack me right now.” 14 Ahimelech answered the king, “David is true to you. In fact, he’s more true to you than anyone else who serves you. He’s your own son-in-law. He’s the captain of your own personal guards. He’s highly respected by everyone in your palace. 15 Was that day the first time I asked God a question for him? Of course not! “Please don’t bring charges against me. Please don’t bring charges against anyone in my family. I don’t know anything at all about this whole matter.” 16 But the king said, “Ahimelech, you will certainly be put to death. You and your whole family will be put to death.” 17 Then the king gave an order to the guards who were at his side. He said, “Go and kill the priests of the Lord. They are on David’s side too. They knew he was running away from me. And they didn’t even tell me.” But the king’s officials wouldn’t raise a hand to strike down the priests of the Lord. 18 Then the king ordered Doeg, “You go and strike the priests down.” So Doeg, the Edomite, went and struck them down. That day he killed 85 men who wore linen aprons. 19 He also killed the people of Nob with his sword. Nob was a town where priests lived. Doeg killed its men and women. He killed its children and babies. He also destroyed its cattle, donkeys and sheep. 20 But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, escaped. Ahimelech was the son of Ahitub. Abiathar ran away and joined David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “One day I was at Nob. I saw Doeg, the Edomite, there. I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. Your whole family has been killed. And I’m accountable for it. 23 So stay with me. Don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you wants to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

Things can go badly wrong in our lives

at times. People can completely misunderstand our intentions or choose to believe something about us that just doesn’t go with the evidence. These are terrible times – Saul believes that David wants to kill him. For David the strange things Saul has decided to believe leads to the death of people David cared for as well as responsibility for a whole bunch of people who were struggling too.

In the middle of all this David stuck to God – he acknowledged that he needed God’s help. He asked the King of Moab to look after his mum and dad until God had resolved the situation with Saul. He took the responsibility that was handed to him for all those around

him, those that joined him at the cave of Adullam and Abiathar, the only one to escape the slaughter of the priests. He didn’t give up or give in. He knew Saul was not right and that God had a plan.

Lord please help me to build my relationship with you so that even in the terrible times I look to you and trust that you have a plan.

Written by Therese Manning

20 David was in Naioth at Ramah. He ran away from there to where Jonathan was. He asked him, “What have I done? What crime have I committed? I haven’t done anything to harm your father. So why is he trying to kill me?” 2 “That will never happen!” Jonathan replied. “You aren’t going to die! My father doesn’t do anything at all without telling me. So why would he hide that from me? He isn’t going to kill you!” 3 But David took an oath. Then he said, “Your father knows very well that you are pleased with me. He has said to himself, ‘I don’t want Jonathan to know I’m planning to kill David. If he finds out, he’ll be very sad.’ But I’m very close to being killed. And that’s just as sure as the Lord and you are alive.” 4 Jonathan said to David, “I’ll do anything you want me to do for you.” 5 So David said, “Tomorrow is the time for the New Moon Feast. I’m supposed to eat with the king. But let me go and hide in the field. I’ll stay there until the evening of the day after tomorrow. 6 Your father might miss me. If he does, then tell him, ‘David begged me to let him hurry home to Bethlehem. A yearly sacrifice is being offered there for his whole family group.’ 7 Your father might say, ‘That’s all right.’ If he does, it will mean I’m safe. But he might become very angry. If he does, you can be sure he’s made up his mind to harm me. 8 “Please be kind to me. You have made a covenant with me in the sight of the Lord. If I’m guilty, kill me yourself! Don’t hand me over to your father!” 9 “I would never do that!” Jonathan said. “Suppose I had even the smallest clue that my father had made up his mind to harm you. Then I would tell you.” 10 David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you in a mean way?” 11 “Come on,” Jonathan said. “Let’s go out to the field.” So they went there together. 12 Then Jonathan spoke to David. He said, “I promise you that I’ll find out what my father is planning to do. I’ll find out by this time the day after tomorrow. The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness. Suppose my father feels kind toward you. Then I’ll send you a message and let you know. 13 But suppose he wants to harm you. And I don’t let you know about it. I don’t help you get away safely. Then may the Lord punish me greatly. May he be with you, just as he has been with my father. 14 “But always be kind to me, just as the Lord is. Be kind to me as long as I live. Then I won’t be killed. 15 And never stop being kind to my family. Don’t stop even when the Lord has cut off every one of your enemies from the face of the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with David and his family. He said, “May the Lord make David’s enemies accountable for what they’ve done.” 17 Jonathan had David take an oath again because he loved him. In fact, Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself. 18 Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the time for the New Moon Feast. You will be missed, because your seat at the table will be empty. 19 Go to the place where you hid when all of this trouble began. Go there the day after tomorrow, when evening is approaching. There’s a stone out there called Ezel. 20 Wait by it. “I’ll shoot three arrows to one side of the stone. I’ll pretend I’m practicing my shooting. 21 Then I’ll send a boy out there. I’ll tell him, ‘Go and find the arrows.’ Suppose I say to him, ‘The arrows are on this side of you. Bring them here.’ Then come. That will mean you are safe. You won’t be in any danger. And that’s just as sure as the Lord is alive. 22 But suppose I tell the boy, ‘The arrows are far beyond you.’ Then go. That will mean the Lord is sending you away. 23 “And remember what we talked about. Remember that the Lord is a witness between you and me forever.” 24 So David hid in the field. When the time for the New Moon Feast came, the king sat down to eat. 25 He sat in his usual place by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul. But David’s place was empty. 26 Saul didn’t say anything that day. He said to himself, “Something must have happened to David to make him ‘unclean.’ That must be why he isn’t here.” 27 But the next day, David’s place was empty again. It was the second day of the month. Finally, Saul spoke to his son Jonathan. He said, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal? He hasn’t been here yesterday or today.” 28 Jonathan replied, “David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go. Our family is offering a sacrifice in the town. My brother has ordered me to be there. Are you pleased with me? If you are, let me go and see my brothers.’ That’s why he hasn’t come to eat at your table.” 30 Saul burned with anger against Jonathan. He said to him, “You are an evil son. You have refused to obey me. I know that you are on the side of Jesse’s son. You should be ashamed of that. And your mother should be ashamed of having a son like you. 31 You will never be king as long as Jesse’s son lives on this earth. And you will never have a kingdom either. So send for the son of Jesse. Bring him to me. He must die!” 32 “Why do you want to put him to death?” Jonathan asked his father. “What has he done?” 33 But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father wanted to kill David. 34 So Jonathan got up from the table. He was burning with anger. On that second day of the month, he refused to eat. He was very sad that his father was treating David so badly. 35 The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a young boy with him. 36 He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow far beyond him. 37 The boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen. Then Jonathan shouted to him, “The arrow went far beyond you, didn’t it?” 38 He continued, “Hurry up! Run fast! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 The boy didn’t know what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew. 40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told him, “Go back to town. Take the weapons with you.” 41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone. He bowed down in front of Jonathan with his face to the ground. He did it three times. Then they kissed each other and cried. But David cried more than Jonathan did. 42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace. In the name of the Lord we have taken an oath. We’ve promised to be friends. We’ve said, ‘The Lord is a witness between you and me. He’s a witness between your children and my children forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

Friendships are precious and rare.

Life long friendships command the deepest loyalty and affection. Like David and Jonathan, we go to great lengths for those we love. We’ll never leave them in need. Always assuring them of our help and support no matter the hour. We laugh with them and cry with them. We are ecstatic to just do life with them.

We love them simply because they are our dear friend.

Here’s the most amazing and profound thing about friendship. That’s exactly how Jesus feels about us. (I no longer call you slaves … Now you are my friends, John 15:15)  He will never leave me when I’m in need.  He always assures me of His help day and night.  He laughs with me and cries with me.  He loves hanging out with me.  He loves me because I am His dear friend.

Lord, thank you so much for those people in my life that are dear, life-long friends. What a precious gift. But greater still is how you see me. That you would consider me as a dear life-long friend is beyond comprehension. Thank you so much.

Written by Boudy VanNoppen