The king said… to the guards…, “Kill the Lord’s priests! They conspired with David and did not tell me that he had run away, even though they knew it all along.”
For Saul, he only could see his personal interests and a world without David in it; a man consumed by hate. Beyond sad.
Saul also had all the other inhabitants of Nob, the city of priests, put to death: men and women, children and babies, cattle, donkeys, and sheep—they were all killed.
This is exactly what Saul refused to do to the Amalekites as the Lord had commanded (1 Samuel 15:1-26). We see that his greed there and his thirst for revenge here have no limits.
David said to him, “When I saw Doeg there that day, I knew that he would be sure to tell Saul. So I am responsible for the death of all your relatives.
David always assumed his responsibility / his culpability (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51:1-19). May I always do the same, Father.
David heard that the Philistines were attacking the town of Keilah and were stealing the newly harvested grain. So he asked the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines?”
“Yes,” the Lord answered. “Attack them and save Keilah.”
But David’s men said to him, “We have enough to be afraid of here in Judah; it will be much worse if we go to Keilah and attack the Philistine forces!” So David consulted the Lord again, and the Lord said to him, “Go and attack Keilah, because I will give you victory over the Philistines.” So David and his men went to Keilah and attacked the Philistines; they killed many of them and took their livestock. And so it was that David saved the town.
Even in his distress, David looked to help others / do the Lord’s will. May I always do the same, Lord.
When Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaped and joined David in Keilah, he took the ephod with him.
Something that would not have happened if it were not for the massacre of the priests. From there on out, David had the possibility to consult the Lord: in Saul’s attempts to kill David, he only contributed to his well being. You are wonderful, Father. 😊