1 Samuel 22:3-5 – With God, we will be set in the right direction

In the opening verse of 1 Samuel 22, It is revealed that David was in Adullam. When his brothers and his father and all his house-whole learned of it, they went there to join him. Besides them, 400 others also described as discontented and discouraged people who were in distress joined him. These formed David’s motley crew.  

Verse 3 tells us that David then went to Mizpah of Moab, which was one of Saul’s enemies. We will learn later of a scheme David had to deal with Moab, but for now, the purpose of his visit was different. According to this verse, he went there to seek a place for his parents to take refuge. He said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” 

Why did David choose Moab which was at odds with Saul and Israel? It’s probably because of family connections. Remember his great grandmother was Ruth, a Moabitess who married Boaz, his great grandfather. In a way, he had some linkage in Moab and he sought shelter for his parents there till he was surer of his future. That’s the picture of a good and considerate son. He did what was best for his aged parents by placing them temporarily in the custody of the king of Moab. We are not clear whether the 400 men were with him when he went to Moab. But we know that he was able to settle his parents there while he went and lodged in a stronghold.

The stronghold, where he and the 400 motley crew went to, was located between Israel and Moab, the eastern neighbor of Israel. He stayed there for a while until a word from a prophet Gad told him not to stay in the stronghold but to “…depart, and go into the land of Judah.” The prophet was probably acting in collaboration with God to protect David. How do we know? Immediately after the word from this prophet, we read in the next verse that news of where David was, reached Saul. So we are told in the last part of verse 5 that David left the stronghold and went to the forest of  Hereth.

Two things are clear from these three short verses. Firstly, we learn of David’s filial piety. Despite the grave danger he was in, he considered his parents' safety. This reminds us of what the Bible said about honoring parents. We are also reminded how our Lord Jesus took care of his mother by entrusting her to John, His disciple, even though he was hanging on the cross at Calvary. This is a word for us children to be mindful of our parents. We are to honor our father and mother so that we can live long lives. Secondly, God will not leave us fumbling and floundering in darkness and listlessness, unsure of what to do next. When we are seeking to do His will, just like He sent a sure word to David from a “prophet,” He will send us a certain word from someone we least expect. He will give us a word that will set us in the right direction. God is still speaking, be sure to be listening and discerning. He will never leave us in the lurch.