1 Samuel 21:7-9 – Past successes are good reminders of God’s help

David was at Nob with Ahimelech, the chief priest. He asked him for bread and the latter then gave him the consecrated bread from the table of shewbread from the Tabernacle. While the interchange between David and the priest was going on, there was a character lurking in the shadowy background.  He was identified as Doeg, an Edomite and a servant of the king, whom David was running away from. We are told that he was Saul’s chief shepherd. His presence in Nob gives us an uncomfortable feeling and we will know why later. Here was the swarthy face Edomite, sheepishly loitering and peering in the background where David and Ahimelech were having their conversation. Psalm 52 has more to say about Doeg. He was shown to be a man who had not made God his delight. Instead, he was a man who was enchanted by riches and wickedness. And such a man we must never become. We must not sabotage God’s servant and plan for a morsel of riches.      

Remember David was running away from Saul. He had no time to bring along some provision or a weapon. He was not only without food but also without a weapon. Now he was both hungry and vulnerable. Apart from asking for bread, in verse 8 he also asked if Ahimelech had a weapon, a spear or a sword, that he could use. He gave the reason that he was in haste and implied that he had forgotten to take a weapon along. But the real situation, we know, was very different from the impression he was giving to Ahimelech.  

In 1 Samuel 17, we were told that after David had brought Goliath down with a stone in the valley of Elah, he used the victim’s own sword to cut off his head. He then brought Goliath’s shield and sword to his tent in Jerusalem. We were not told how the sword came to be in the custody of the priest, but we suspect that David knew that he had the custody of the sword. This could well be the reason that he made Nob his first stop. It was given to David then. That sword must have reminded David of how the Lord was with him and saw him through in the Valley of Elah as he defeated Goliath. Taking the sword of Goliath would be a timely reminder of God’s presence even as he made his escape from the hand of Saul. There are times in our life that we need to return to the events that God had seen us through so that we can be assured of His continual help in the struggles of life before us. Keep a record of the successes God had seen you through. They will come in helpful in your journey with Him.