INTRODUCTION: God delights in bringing greatness out of small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
See All...); for in this way, God (and not man) receives the glory (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 [26] For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: [27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; [28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: [29] That no flesh should glory in his presence. [30] But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [31] That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
See All...). David is running for his life and things look bad. Good people, like the priests of Nob, are killed. But in it all, God establishes the beginnings of a kingdom with David and his men in the wilderness.

1. DAVID ESCAPES TO NOB (1 Samuel 21:1-9 [1] Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? [2] And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. [3] Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. [4] And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. [5] And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. [6] So the priest gave him 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. [7] Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul. [8] And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. [9] And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
   See All...)
1. David Presents Himself to Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1-2 [1] Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? [2] And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
   See All...).
1. Ahimelech’s fear (1 Samuel 21:1Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
   See All...); “Why art thou alone?”
2. David’s explanation (1 Samuel 21:2And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
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1. I have a special command from the king.
2. I am on a secret errand for the king.
3. I have appointed my men to such and such a place.
2. David Receives of the Holy Bread (1 Samuel 21:3-6 [3] Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. [4] And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. [5] And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. [6] So the priest gave him 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.
   See All...).
1. David requests bread (1 Samuel 21:3Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
   See All...).
2. Ahimelech has only the hallowed bread (1 Samuel 21:4And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
   See All...; Leviticus 24:5-9 [5] And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. [6] And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. [7] And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. [8] Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. [9] And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.
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3. David and his men are clean (1 Samuel 21:5And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
   See All...).
4. David and his men eat the holy bread (1 Samuel 21:6So the priest gave him 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.
   See All...; see Matthew 12:3-4 [3] But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; [4] How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
   See All...).
5. Note: David was asked in 1 Samuel 21:1Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
   See All... about being alone, yet we find out that he actually had some men with him. Likely, he had some servants with him, but no soldiers as would have been customary.
3. David Is Observed by Doeg (1 Samuel 21:7Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
   See All...).
1. One of Saul’s servants
2. An Edomite
3. The chiefest of Saul’s herdsmen
4. David Takes Goliath’s Sword (1 Samuel 21:8-9 [8] And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. [9] And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
   See All...).
1. David requests a weapon (1 Samuel 21:8And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
   See All...).
1. He had none with him.
2. The king’s business required haste.
2. Ahimelech offers the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:9And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
   See All...).
1. It was the sword of Goliath whom David killed.
2. It was wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.
3. There was no other sword except that one.
4. David said, “There is none like that; give it me.”
2. DAVID FEIGNS MADNESS IN GATH (1 Samuel 21:10-15 [10] And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. [11] And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? [12] And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. [13] And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. [14] Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? [15] Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
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1. David Flees to King Achish of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
   See All...).
2. David Pretends to be Crazy before Achish (1 Samuel 21:11-13 [11] And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? [12] And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. [13] And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
   See All...).
1. David sees the mistrust of the servants of Achish (1 Samuel 21:11And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
   See All...).
2. David fears the king of Achish (1 Samuel 21:12And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
   See All...).
3. David feigns madness in the sight of Achish (1 Samuel 21:13And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
   See All...).
3. David Is Rejected by Achish (1 Samuel 21:14-15 [14] Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? [15] Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
   See All...).
3. DAVID ESCAPES TO THE WILDERNESS (1 Samuel 22:1-5 [1] David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. [2] And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. [3] And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. [4] And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. [5] And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
   See All...)
1. David Establishes Himself in the Wilderness (1 Samuel 22:1-2 [1] David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. [2] And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
   See All...).
1. He hides in the cave Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
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2. His brethren and family members come to him (1 Samuel 22:1David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
   See All...).
3. Misfits from all over come to him (1 Samuel 22:2And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
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1. Those in distress
2. Those in debt
3. Those discontented
4. He has a small army of 400 men (1 Samuel 22:2And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
   See All...).
2. David Protects His Family from the Wrath of Saul (1 Samuel 22:3-4 [3] And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. [4] And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
   See All...).
1. He requests sanction in Moab (1 Samuel 22:3And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
   See All...); “till I know what God will do for me.”
2. They stay there in safety (1 Samuel 22:4And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
   See All...).
3. David Hears the Word of the Prophet Gad (1 Samuel 22:5And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
   See All...).
1. Depart out of the land of Judah.
2. He goes into the forest of Hareth.
4. SAUL SLAYS THE PRIESTS OF NOB (1 Samuel 22:6-19 [6] When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) [7] Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; [8] That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? [9] Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. [10] And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. [11] Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. [12] And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. [13] And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? [14] Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? [15] Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. [16] And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. [17] And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. [18] And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. [19] And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
   See All...)
1. Saul Complains of Conspiracy against Him (1 Samuel 22:6-8 [6] When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) [7] Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; [8] That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
   See All...).
1. He abides in Gibeah under a tree (1 Samuel 22:6When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
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2. He appeals to the men of his tribe – Benjamin (1 Samuel 22:7Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
   See All...).
3. He accuses them of conspiracy against him (1 Samuel 22:8That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
   See All...).
2. Doeg Informs on Ahimelech the Priest (1 Samuel 22:9-10 [9] Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. [10] And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
   See All...).
1. David came to Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:9Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
   See All...).
2. Ahimelech gave him food and the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 22:10And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
   See All...).
3. Ahimelech Answers the Charges against Him (1 Samuel 22:11-15 [11] Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. [12] And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. [13] And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? [14] Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? [15] Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
   See All...).
1. The priests of Nob come before Saul (1 Samuel 22:11Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
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2. Saul brings his charges against Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:12-13 [12] And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. [13] And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
   See All...).
1. You have conspired against me.
2. You have given aid to the enemy: bread and sword.
3. You enquired of God for the enemy.
3. Ahimelech answers the charges against him (1 Samuel 22:14-15 [14] Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? [15] Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
   See All...).
1. David was the most faithful of the king’s servants (1 Samuel 22:14Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
   See All...).
2. David is the king’s son-in-law (1 Samuel 22:14Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
   See All...).
3. He did not enquire of the Lord for David (1 Samuel 22:15Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
   See All...).
4. He did not know that David was Saul’s enemy (1 Samuel 22:15Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
   See All...).
4. Saul Has Ahimelech and the Priests Killed (1 Samuel 22:16-19 [16] And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. [17] And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. [18] And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. [19] And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
   See All...).
1. Saul declares their death sentence (1 Samuel 22:16And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
   See All...).
2. Saul’s servants fear to slay the priests (1 Samuel 22:17And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
   See All...).
3. Doeg and his men kill the priests (1 Samuel 22:18And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
   See All...).
4. They kill 85 priests that day (1 Samuel 22:18And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
   See All...).
5. The city of the priests, Nob, is destroyed (1 Samuel 22:19And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
   See All...).
5. ABIATHAR BECOMES A PRIEST FOR DAVID (1 Samuel 22:20-23 [20] And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. [21] And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests. [22] And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house. [23] Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
   See All...)
1. Abiathar, the Son of Ahimelch, Escapes (1 Samuel 22:20-21 [20] And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. [21] And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.
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1. He flees the city of Nob (1 Samuel 22:20And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
   See All...).
2. He comes to David (1 Samuel 22:21And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.
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2. Abiathar Stays with David (1 Samuel 22:22-23 [22] And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house. [23] Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
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1. David tells of his suspicions of Doeg (1 Samuel 22:22And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
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2. David encourages Abiathar to abide with him (1 Samuel 22:23Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
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CONCLUSION: Perhaps you feel as hedged in by circumstances as David must have felt at this time. He feared for his life and was scrambling just to stay alive. He tried one place and then another. But slowly, God began to put a plan together. Perhaps you are in your wilderness years and God is also working out a plan for you. But you must be obedient to Him and trust that He is definitely working. Always remember Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
See All....