The Doeg of our life

1 Samuel 22:9-23

Most David’s, have a Doeg the Edomite showing up in their lives at just the wrong time.  At the time he saw David with the priest of Nob, I am sure he had no ill thoughts to either man.  But when the opportunity came for him to use that information to advance his role with the King, all changed, he is now the enemy of both men.  If you have not had a Doeg in your life yet, just wait the evil one has one waiting for you.

As recorded in Scripture, old Doeg added a little to what happened, it is not recorded that David asked for Ahimelech to inquire of the Lord for him, nor that he did so.  He did give David the bread he asked for and the sword of Goliath.  He became a tool of the evil one at the moment he made the priest look as if he was conspiring against the king.

Now it was just the changing of a few things, but to a Leader who is driven by fear and knows David is his replacement he is not willing to listen to anyone, not even the priest.  So Saul requires not only Ahimelech to come to him but all of his father’s family.  You need to put this in your mind that a leader, boss, or King that is driven by fear is not going to listen, and this poor priest had no understanding of what he was encountering.

Listen to the exchange between the King and priest; “And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” And 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, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.”  Note: the priest does confess he prays for David often, but once more it is not recorded he did it that day.

So King Saul does what one expects of a fool, he orders his men to kill the priest and his father’s household.  Saul runs into a problem, his most trusted servants and soldiers will not kill men who they do not believe have done anything close to a death sentence.  But who steps up to the plate, you are right on, Doeg has no problem killing eighty-five priests and every living thing in Nob.  Only one escaped he was one of Ahimelech sons, and his name was Abiathar.

As David gets the report from Abiathar you get to see something scarce in leadership, he takes the blame for what has happened to the priest and Nob.  And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. “And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me, you shall be in safekeeping.”

Why did David make such a promise to Abiathar, because God had already made a commitment to David on his Kingship over Israel and Judah?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice