1 Samuel 22:6-23 – David: the Better King
As you reflected on what we saw in this chapter yesterday you might have found yourself thinking, “I’m not sure I like this God who is in control of all things, allowing massacre and tragedy, unleashing Saul’s savagery to settle a personal score.” In one sense that is not unreasonable, but you need to see the whole picture of who this God is.
God is not the cause of sin; it is Saul’s morality that is the problem, not God’s. The people chose Saul and gave him this power – he is their choice. God, on the other hand, is actively doing something about it. As the people’s choice slaughters cities, God’s choice is blessing his people. We see this in the closing scene as the sole survivor, Abiathar, makes it to David.
What a difference we see between the people’s king and God’s king: a difference in responsibility and in how he treats the priests. The people’s King ducks responsibility, blaming David, the priests, and his servants, although it is his sin that has cost him his kingdom. God’s king, on the other hand, takes responsibility for the massacre (verse 22). David has realised the folly of his ways at Nob and Gath and grown from those lies. Learning the lessons of folly and falsehood, he takes responsibility.
Also, the people’s king slaughtered the priests, but God’s king protects them (verse 23). Abiathar finds refuge with God’s king. With God’s king, one doomed to death could find safety from his foe, resting in the promise of safekeeping. God’s king is better! Our way leads to death and destruction, God’s way leads to safety and protection – this is the whole picture we need to see to understand God’s plans and purposes in this world.
Questions
- Do you struggle to come to terms with God’s justice and judgement? How does seeing the whole picture help?
- A better king, with whom those doomed to death can find safekeeping…who does that sound like?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that God doesn’t just bring his justice, but also his mercy to a sin-cursed world.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.