David Goes Into Exile

INTRODUCTION: God delights in bringing greatness out of small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10); for in this way, God (and not man) receives the glory (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). David is running for his life and things look bad. Good people, like the priests of Nob, are killed. But in it all, God establishes the beginnings of a kingdom with David and his men in the wilderness.

1. DAVID ESCAPES TO NOB (1 Samuel 21:1-9)
1. David Presents Himself to Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1-2).
1. Ahimelechs fear (1 Samuel 21:1); Why art thou alone?
2. Davids explanation (1 Samuel 21:2)
1. I have a special command from the king.
2. I am on a secret errand for the king.
3. I have appointed my men to such and such a place.
2. David Receives of the Holy Bread (1 Samuel 21:3-6).
1. David requests bread (1 Samuel 21:3).
2. Ahimelech has only the hallowed bread (1 Samuel 21:4; Leviticus 24:5-9).
3. David and his men are clean (1 Samuel 21:5).
4. David and his men eat the holy bread (1 Samuel 21:6; see Matthew 12:3-4).
5. Note: David was asked in 1 Samuel 21:1 about being alone, yet we find out that he actually had some men with him. Likely, he had some servants with him, but no soldiers as would have been customary.
3. David Is Observed by Doeg (1 Samuel 21:7).
1. One of Sauls servants
2. An Edomite
3. The chiefest of Sauls herdsmen
4. David Takes Goliaths Sword (1 Samuel 21:8-9).
1. David requests a weapon (1 Samuel 21:8).
1. He had none with him.
2. The kings business required haste.
2. Ahimelech offers the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:9).
1. It was the sword of Goliath whom David killed.
2. It was wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.
3. There was no other sword except that one.
4. David said, There is none like that; give it me.
2. DAVID FEIGNS MADNESS IN GATH (1 Samuel 21:10-15)
1. David Flees to King Achish of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10).
2. David Pretends to be Crazy before Achish (1 Samuel 21:11-13).
1. David sees the mistrust of the servants of Achish (1 Samuel 21:11).
2. David fears the king of Achish (1 Samuel 21:12).
3. David feigns madness in the sight of Achish (1 Samuel 21:13).
3. David Is Rejected by Achish (1 Samuel 21:14-15).
3. DAVID ESCAPES TO THE WILDERNESS (1 Samuel 22:1-5)
1. David Establishes Himself in the Wilderness (1 Samuel 22:1-2).
1. He hides in the cave Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1).
2. His brethren and family members come to him (1 Samuel 22:1).
3. Misfits from all over come to him (1 Samuel 22:2).
1. Those in distress
2. Those in debt
3. Those discontented
4. He has a small army of 400 men (1 Samuel 22:2).
2. David Protects His Family from the Wrath of Saul (1 Samuel 22:3-4).
1. He requests sanction in Moab (1 Samuel 22:3); till I know what God will do for me.
2. They stay there in safety (1 Samuel 22:4).
3. David Hears the Word of the Prophet Gad (1 Samuel 22:5).
1. Depart out of the land of Judah.
2. He goes into the forest of Hareth.
4. SAUL SLAYS THE PRIESTS OF NOB (1 Samuel 22:6-19)
1. Saul Complains of Conspiracy against Him (1 Samuel 22:6-8).
1. He abides in Gibeah under a tree (1 Samuel 22:6).
2. He appeals to the men of his tribe Benjamin (1 Samuel 22:7).
3. He accuses them of conspiracy against him (1 Samuel 22:8).
2. Doeg Informs on Ahimelech the Priest (1 Samuel 22:9-10).
1. David came to Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:9).
2. Ahimelech gave him food and the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 22:10).
3. Ahimelech Answers the Charges against Him (1 Samuel 22:11-15).
1. The priests of Nob come before Saul (1 Samuel 22:11).
2. Saul brings his charges against Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:12-13).
1. You have conspired against me.
2. You have given aid to the enemy: bread and sword.
3. You enquired of God for the enemy.
3. Ahimelech answers the charges against him (1 Samuel 22:14-15).
1. David was the most faithful of the kings servants (1 Samuel 22:14).
2. David is the kings son-in-law (1 Samuel 22:14).
3. He did not enquire of the Lord for David (1 Samuel 22:15).
4. He did not know that David was Sauls enemy (1 Samuel 22:15).
4. Saul Has Ahimelech and the Priests Killed (1 Samuel 22:16-19).
1. Saul declares their death sentence (1 Samuel 22:16).
2. Sauls servants fear to slay the priests (1 Samuel 22:17).
3. Doeg and his men kill the priests (1 Samuel 22:18).
4. They kill 85 priests that day (1 Samuel 22:18).
5. The city of the priests, Nob, is destroyed (1 Samuel 22:19).
5. ABIATHAR BECOMES A PRIEST FOR DAVID (1 Samuel 22:20-23)
1. Abiathar, the Son of Ahimelch, Escapes (1 Samuel 22:20-21).
1. He flees the city of Nob (1 Samuel 22:20).
2. He comes to David (1 Samuel 22:21).
2. Abiathar Stays with David (1 Samuel 22:22-23).
1. David tells of his suspicions of Doeg (1 Samuel 22:22).
2. David encourages Abiathar to abide with him (1 Samuel 22:23).

CONCLUSION: Perhaps you feel as hedged in by circumstances as David must have felt at this time. He feared for his life and was scrambling just to stay alive. He tried one place and then another. But slowly, God began to put a plan together. Perhaps you are in your wilderness years and God is also working out a plan for you. But you must be obedient to Him and trust that He is definitely working. Always remember Romans 8:28.