David’s life had developed rapidly in a few short years. From the humble ranks of a shepherd boy on the hills of Bethlehem, he entered the king’s court as Saul’s personal musician and armor bearer. From here, he progressed to become captain of Saul’s army and then part of the royal family as the king’s son-in-law.
Psalm 119 was probably written during these early years and provides a number of hints as to how David coped with this newly acquired prominence.
A psalm of David’s early years
The psalm suggests the writer was a young man: “I have more understanding than all my teachers” (v.99). The writer describes himself as “small and despised” (v.141), words David applies to himself in I Samuel 18:23. In verse 161, we read, “Princes have persecuted me without a cause,” which appropriately describes Saul’s treatment of him (I Sam. 24:11; 26:18). There are several references to the writer being persecuted, “They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts” (vs. 86-87, cf. vs. 95, 109-110, 115 & 150). All this suggests that David was the writer and the period of composition was his fugitive years.
Obviously during this period, David found himself reflecting on the chastening hand of God; he comments, “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy word…It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (vs. 67, 71). His conduct required certain corrective measures which suggests he had not escaped the transgressions of youth. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (v. 9). The chastening hand of God had caused the psalmist to reflect on his ways and turn to the scriptures (v.59). David endured by relying on the word of God and by realizing he was being developed by the circumstances of his life.
God’s providential care
The events of I Samuel 18 and 19 brought David’s life in court to an end. His world was turned completely upside down. We are reminded, however, that “God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13). How true this was for David. There is a phrase in I Samuel 18 which emphasizes the unique position of David and of all of God’s children, “The LORD was with him” (vs. 12,14,28). Throughout this entire period, God provided occasions of clear reassurance to demonstrate that He was close at hand.
One of these is recorded in I Samuel 23 where David’s own tribesmen betrayed him to Saul. Realizing their treachery, David fled for safety into the wilderness of Maon, only to find himself hopelessly surrounded: “And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them” (I Sam. 23:26).
Psalm 17 expresses David’s thoughts at this time. He commits himself to God, “Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal” (v.2). Nevertheless, in verse 11 he acknowledges his dilemma: “They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth.” David’s only recourse is to petition God’s help, “Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, by thy sword” (v.13 RV).
On this occasion, God’s response was virtually immediate. “There came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines” (I Sam. 23:27-28). God thus arranged circumstances which distracted Saul, allowing David to escape to Engedi (v.29). How unnecessary our fear is in impossible situations. Let us remember God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).
David’s right conduct
Throughout this period, David sets a pattern of faith we do well to imitate. After he escaped through the window of his house, he headed straight for Samuel’s company: “So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth” (I Sam. 19:18).
Every young Christadelphian should pay careful attention to this verse. It is unfashionable for today’s youth to seek counsel from the older generation because their views are considered counter-productive to the new standards and values that youth seeks to promote. This should never be true within the ecclesia. The energy and vitality of youth must be yoked with the wisdom and experience of age — “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7 RSV).
Naioth would be an ideal location for David to ponder his plight in the light of God’s word. The name indicates “residence” and it appears to have been a college for prophets. Here was an oasis for spiritual refreshment, a hiding place from the storm. Relief was short lived, however, as David’s whereabouts became known to Saul and he lost little time in pursuing David.
In desperation, David returned to Jonathan acutely aware of his danger: “There is but a step between me and death” (I Sam. 20:1,3). The two worked out a plan to determine if Saul’s intentions were unrelenting or only occasioned by fits of depression. Within days, there was no doubt: “And Saul cast a javelin at [Jonathan] to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David” (v.33).
At this juncture the record states, “Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest” (I Sam. 21:1). We might be tempted to pass over this comment without giving adequate thought to David’s actions. If David were a man of fleshly thinking, he could have sought the elements of the army loyal to him and turned upon his ruthless oppressor. David did not do this. He went first to the prophet Samuel and then to the high priest. David’s source of strength lay not in the power of might but in the word of God ministered by men of spiritual stature. Shouldn’t that be where our confidence lies? “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (II Cor. 10:4).
David at Nob
At Nob, David again finds no safety: “Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul” (I Sam. 21:7). Doeg was no ordinary civilian. The RV margin describes him as the “mightiest” of the herdsmen suggesting that he occupied a very responsible position in Saul’s household.
The fact that Ahimelech was nervous “at the meeting of David” (21:1) was not because he was afraid of David; rather it was the presence of Doeg witnessing this meeting. David was concerned as well, for he was later to say to Abiathar the priest, “I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house” (I Sam. 22:22).
Doeg was a troublemaker whose ambitions would let nothing stand in his way. This is confirmed in Psalm 52 which, as the title indicates, describes this evil man. With a lying tongue, he followed the way of Cain — “Thy tongue deviseth mischief’s; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Thou lovest all devouring words, 0 thou deceitful tongue…this is the man that…trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness” (vs. 2-7). Perhaps it was Doeg’s presence that prompted David to ask for a sword (I Sam. 21:8). Certainly Doeg would waste no time in getting word to Saul.
With trembling heart
The king’s eyes were everywhere so David decided to move beyond Saul’s jurisdiction: “And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath” (I Sam. 21:10). David’s actions are those of a desperate man gripped with fear. He was irrational and irresponsible, giving no thought to the consequences of his actions. He thus went from one dilemma to another; his meeting with the servants of Achish caused him to be “sore afraid” (v.12).
It is uncertain whether David went to Gath deliberately or was seized by the Philistines while trying to hide in their territory. Some of the terms used would suggest the latter. For example, verse 14 describes David as being “brought” to Achish and the title of Psalm 56 reads “when the Philistines took him captive.”
Whatever the reason, it was obviously a big mistake because David found himself deeper in trouble. David’s actions are typical of us all; it is so easy to fall in the face of adversity and yet all of us at times are eager to criticize the failures of others. More often than not, we spend more time keeping people down by our criticism than we do helping them up from their failures. Sympathy and patience are needed in ecclesial life during such difficulties.
Psalm 56
This psalm was written regarding these events yet at first seems to contradict the historical record regarding David’s fear. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (vs. 3-4, cf. v.11).
The psalm is described as a “Michtam of David” which means to inscribe indelibly. David’s experiences at Gath made a deep and lasting impression in his life; they had been engraved on his mind.
His dangers are rehearsed in verse 2, “Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High” and again in verse 6, “They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.”
Verse 13 indicates that this is a reflective psalm, with David describing his deliverance in the past tense: “For thou hast delivered my soul from death.” Most likely, David wrote the psalm in the cave of Adullam to which he fled from Gath (I Sam. 22:1).
Psalm 57 was also written in the cave and there are a number of similarities (cf. verse 1 of both psalms and 56:2 with 57:3). In the solitude of this place, David was able to reflect upon the providential hand of God. He had been provided with unmistakable evidence that he had absolutely no reason to fear.
Psalm 34
We should also note Psalm 34, which was written “when he changed his behavior before Abimelech.” It shows that, in addition to feigning madness before Achish, David prayed earnestly; “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (v.4).
The evidence was overwhelming that the angel of the Lord does encamp “round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (v.7). David had tasted the goodness of God and could therefore exclaim, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (v.8). Because of this, he could face the future with confidence, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psa. 56:3).
David’s priorities
Though he was a man selected by God to be king, one who had in over his enemies and had been preserved from death, David never lost sight of his place before God. In Psalm 56, he prayed, “Be merciful unto me, 0 God” (v.1). The Hebrew for merciful means “to stoop down in kindness to an inferior” (Strong’s Concordance). This is how David viewed himself — small, weak and unworthy, able only to lift up his hands in prayer and seek God’s unmerited favor.
David was fully aware that any relationship with God must be on His terms, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psa. 34:18). The word for “contrite” means to bruise or to crush, action essential in combating the flesh.
Faith in trouble
Our life is overshadowed by the providential hand of God. Yet while we can have confidence that the Lord is with us, we should not be mistaken in thinking that the path will be free from trouble. The difficulties we encounter are designed for our spiritual well-being. Paul instructs us, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11).
David recognized this, he comments, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” (56:8). The word for “tellest” is the Hebrew word for “scribe.” God documents our life; He stores up our troubles and takes account of our response. Because of this, David could rejoice: “0 taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 0 fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD” (34:8-11).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One