David at Adullam: 22:1-5. David returns to Israel and hides in a cave about 15 miles from his Bethlehem home. He is joined by his family, and by others alienated by Saul’s increasingly erratic behavior. Psalm 142 shares his thoughts at this time.
1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
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.
Doeg, informs Saul that Ahimelech, the priest, has helped his enemy. Saul puts the Ahimelech and 85 other priests, with their families, to death.
13 Then Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?”
16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”
20 Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. 22 So David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house. 23 Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe.”
Bread, Sword and the Lord
… the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah.
–> As I read this chapter, the images of a cave, bread, and a sword came to me. I also think of the Lord I can’t see walking before me. He hears my voice. He knows that I don’t want no cave or sword. I desire the comfort of bread only. But he says trust me. Follow me. I know caves and swords will pass but word of God, the bread of sustenance, will last forever.
And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed…
Unlike Saul who was relying on people around him (“… there is none of you that is sorry for me.” 1 Samuel 22:8″) David went to God in his cave. “I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.” Psalm 142:1
