Bible Verse Synopsis 6-5-25

1st Samuel 21

David flees to Nob and meets Ahimelech, the High Priest at the time. Ahimelech notices something off about the son in law of the king. Verse 1 - “Why are you alone, and no man with you?” This is absolutely accurate. No man went with David. He fled by himself for his safety. But he was not alone. God was with him. The High Priest is a symbol of the blindness of man. Seeing only what we see with our eyes. Are your eyes open to the Works of the Lord? Do you see Him in your life?

David lies to Ahimelech and tells him that he is on king’s business and it’s very secretive. David asks the priest for bread. The only bread there is the shewbread. The bread that is replaced once a week and eaten by the priests. David proclaims himself as clean of women at the very least, so the priest can justify the giving of the bread. David is taking what is not his. But why? And more importantly David is taking from God. Verse 6 - “So the Priest gave him the hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.” Shouldn’t David know better than to take from the Lord? David is falling into the same hole that Saul fell into. Serving himself and his needs above that of God. Even David falls short. How can we stand strong in the word? We will fall, but we have to get back up again.

One of Saul’s servants, Doeg, was detained in the Temple before the Lord. He saw David and his interaction with Ahimelech. This foreshadows something to come against David. This heathen also represents the watchful eye of the Lord. No matter where we are or what we do, the Lord is watching. He knows our intentions, our desires, our sacrifices, and our pains. What do you in turn seek from Him? Do you look for His pains and intentions? Or is God too far from our mind, too often?

David takes the sword of Goliath from the priest. Why David needs a weapon isn’t said. Why would he choose to wield a weapon of that size when he was but a regular sized man? This portrays David as afraid and takes the biggest item to protect himself. He is no longer relying on God, but on the flesh.

David flees to Gath in fear of Saul. David continues down this path with fear leading the way. He goes to Achish the king of Gath and his servants recognize him. David became afraid of Achish as well. So afraid in fact that “he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands and scrabbled on the doors of the gates and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.” - Verse 13. Achish sends David away after he is convinced by David’s act. Gath was in territory controlled by the Philistines. David had gone that far over to the ways of man, that he had left Israel, the Holy Land. David continues down this path of the flesh and has completely abandoned the path of the spirit. Do you know how it feels to do what David is doing here? Did you recognize this path when you were on it? What weapon did you choose to set yourself free, Goliath’s sword or the armor of God?