March 29, 2010 1Samuel 20-22

David left Samuel to go find Jonathan. He wanted to know if Jonathan knew why Saul wanted him dead. They were good friends and they made a promise to each other to protect one another. Jonathan vowed to find out what was going on and help David escape if his life was in danger. They worked out a signal that would allow them to communicate without being seen. David didn't want Jonathan in harm's way either. So Jonathan found out that his father was unreasonably angry at David and did want him dead. He went back to the place where David was hiding and gave him the signal. David came out of his hiding place and bowed down low 3 times to Jonathan and then they cried and said goodbye.

David went to Ahimalech the priest at Nob and asked for food. The priest gave him some of the consecrated bread because that was all he had. One of Saul's servants was there having been detained by the Lord, he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul's head shepherd. David asked the priest if he had a spear. Ahimalech answered that the only one was Goliath's and he gave it to David. David then went to Gath. He acted like he was crazy, drooling and scratching the gate in front of the king so could get out of there asap.

David escaped Gath and went to a cave where everyone who was in distress or in debt or discontented gathered. From there he went to the king of Moab to ask them if he could give David's parents safe haven, so his parents stayed there. Then the prophet Gad told him to go to the land of Judah. Meanwhile Saul was on the hunt for David. While he was sitting under a tree complaining Doeg the Edomite told him that he saw David with Ahimalech and that he got provisions there. Saul sent for the priest and his whole family and asked why he had helped the man who rebelled against him? Ahimalech answered Saul by asking who was more loyal to him than David? He told him that it wasn't the first time he inquired of God on his behalf either. Then Saul ordered his guards and officials to kill the priest and his whole family. But none of them would raise a hand to them. Then Saul ordered Doeg the Edomite to kill them all. When he was done with the priest and his whole family, he went to the town of Nob and killed all the people and animals there too. The son of the priest named Abiathar escaped and ran to join David and told him everything. David said it was his fault because he knew that Doeg was there and heard everything and told Saul. David told Abiathar that he would be safe with him.

Tomorrow read 1Samuel 23-25:31