Prophecy is one of those things that is often musunderstood. It is the speaking of truth into situations and it often carries an element of righteous judgement. An example in the book of 1 Samuel is when God pronounces judgement on the house of Eli for being unfaithful to God in their service as priests. God announces that even though Eli and his sons are the main culprits, the whole house of Eli will suffer judgement.
This also raises something else that we find difficult. Corporate responsibility. Sometimes God blesses people because they are part of a larger people group and sometimes he judges them in the same way. We are quite individualistic, so the idea that a family line would have responsibility as a family is alien to us. In the context of the story of Eli’s family, it seems that they ar faithful to David and work with God in his plan. However, Saul still destroys Eli’s line of priests for treason.
This raises two questions for us. What groups of people (family, work, church) are we associated with? Are we working for that group to be a blessing or are we perpetuating the chances that group will be under judgement?
1 Samuel 22
1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” 4So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.
5But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
Saul Kills the Priests of Nob
6 Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. 7 He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 8Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”
9 But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. 10Ahimelek inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”
“Yes, my lord,” he answered.
13Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”
14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”
16But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.”
17Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”
But the king’s officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. 23 Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”
Questions
- To which locations did David flee?
- How would you describe Saul’s actions in this chapter?
- How was God justified in allowing Saul to kill the priests at Nob?
- What groups are you a part of?
- How would you describe those groups’ standing with God?
Plymothian 
1. He hid first in the cave of Adullam and then returned to Judah.
2. He acted out of frustration that the priest helped David. I think he was also frustrated that it seemed like everyone was against him and favored David.
3. They technically did something that was against God’s law when they gave David the consecrated bread.
4. I am a part of my family, my friend group, my church, and Moody.
5. I would say that they have a pretty good standing with God. Although none of these groups are perfect and they make mistakes, they each have a deep desire to please God in everything they do.
1.To which locations did David flee?
-From Gath to the cave of Adullam and then to the forest of Hereth in Judah.
2.How would you describe Saul’s actions in this chapter?
– Saul’s behavior was irrational and he deliberately denied to acknowlege the fact that God is the One who was protecting David and his path.
3.How was God justified in allowing Saul to kill the priests at Nob?
– Going back to the time when a priest gave David consecrated bread, a person’s conduct can bring about not only the death of the whole priests but also their families. This is proved that knowing where we belong to and how we behave is very important and it influences to other circumstances even when we are not aware of.
4.What groups are you a part of?
– my family, MBI, chidrens ministry, Korea
5.How would you describe those groups’ standing with God?
– All of their standing with God seems fine, my standing with God in the each group is the matter.
1. From Gath, he fled to the cave of Adullam, then to to Mizpah in Moab, and then to the forest of Hereth.
2. His actions were motivated by jealousy. Everyone else around him wanted to spare David because they knew that he was innocent. But Saul was persistent in killing David.
3. I am struggling with this question….
4. family, MBI, food service, PCM, and organization (AH).
5. They all encourage walking closer and deeper with God.
1.To which locations did David flee?
Adullah and Mizpah
2.How would you describe Saul’s actions in this chapter?
I would describe them as crazy. Saul kills a priest and his whole family and everyone in the town his family lived in.
3.How was God justified in allowing Saul to kill the priests at Nob?
Because He is God.
4.What groups are you a part of?
My family, my church in Chicago and my church in Detroit, Moody, my floor, my work crew, and many others.
5.How would you describe those groups’ standing with God?
I think the churches’ and Moody’s is good where my family’s might not be the best.
1. He was in the cave, then he fled to Mizpah and Judah.
2. Saul is unwilling to listen to reason.
3. I am not totally sure, I guess he was justified because the priest had tecnically lied and sinned against the Lord.
4. I am part of my family, friends at Moody, believers at my home church as well as my church in chicago, co-workers at Portillos, people at AIC (PCM)
5. I think most of these groups are in good standing with the Lord, except work and the American Indian Center, my PCM
1.To which locations did David flee? to Adullam and then to Judah
2.How would you describe Saul’s actions in this chapter? hot-tempered, jealous and crazy..
3.How was God justified in allowing Saul to kill the priests at Nob? ….. I don’t know…
4.What groups are you a part of? family, moody …
5.How would you describe those groups’ standing with God? I think most of those groups which I have chosen to be associated with are in good standing with God.
1.To which locations did David flee?
David flee to the cave of Adullam.
2.How would you describe Saul’s actions in this chapter?
He was indulged with killing David so he did an imprudent and indiscreet act.
3.How was God justified in allowing Saul to kill the priests at Nob?
We have to trust God’s justice and faithfulness over all circumstances.
4.What groups are you a part of?
Moody, Church, Family…
5.How would you describe those groups’ standing with God?
My family sometimes fall down and tend to not seeking God, however, God is so faithful and merciful that He always lead us into His way.
1.To which locations did David flee?
Adullam and Mizpah
2.How would you describe Saul’s actions in this chapter?
Saul acts crazy in this chapter. he is completely defiling logic.
3.How was God justified in allowing Saul to kill the priests at Nob?
God’s justice is soveriegn….?
4.What groups are you a part of?
Moody, the Church, family, volunteer, coworker
5.How would you describe those groups’ standing with God?
All Chrstian…..some growing others not.
1. David fled to the cave of Adullam, Mizpah in Moab, the stronghold at Mizpah, and the forest of Hereth.
2. Saul’s actions in this chapter are motivated by anger and jealousy, and they are very violent.
3. God was justified in allowing Saul to kill the priests at Nob because one of them escaped and went and told David what Saul was doing. This was a clear picture to David of the extent of Saul’s anger towards him, and served as a warning to David.
4. I am a part of the Moody group, my home church, my friends from high school, the people at my PCM.
5. I would describe the Moody group as having a good standing with God, my home church as being good with God, my friends from high school as not with God at all, and the people at my PCM as a mix of people good with God and people who are not so good with God.
1. David fled to the cave of Adullam and then Mizpah in Moab.
2. In this chapter, Saul’s actions are unreasonable and filled with jealousy and anger.
3. I am not really sure how God was justified in allowing Saul to kill the priests at Nob.
4. I am a part of the group here at Moody, at my house, and my church.
5. The group at Moody stand well with God. Most of them are faithful and devoted to the Lord. The group at my church is starting to lose motivation and desire to seek and know God. My group back at home is standing well with God.