Redeemer Church of Waterford Paul Edwards

The Ziphites have disclosed to Saul the hiding place of David which initiates one of the most intense scenes in all of the book of 1 Samuel that ends with David and his men surrounded, destined for certain death at the hands of Saul and his men.

But there is an unseen providence at work which is protecting David and preventing Saul from accomplishing his wicked scheme.

Identifying with David is dangerous. It has already cost the priests at Nob their lives, and now the people of Keilah are threatened by Saul for harboring the fugitive he seeks.

But our of the evil of Saul's actions at Nob, God has provided David with the gift of an intercessor in Abiathar.

Christians also know that identifying with Christ is dangerous, but He himself is our mediator and intercessor against the threatenings of an evil world.

In the character and behavior of Saul there are types and shadows of antichrist. In the character and behavior of David there are types and shadows of Christ.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in the details of the events leading up to the escape of Abiathar and the safety he found in David.

God is not the author evil. God, however, controls the effects of human evil so that they serve his ultimate purposes.

There are four scenes in 1 Samuel 22 which serve to show us the ways in which God is sovereign over human evil.

1 Samuel 22:1-5 is an Old Testament illustration of the New Testament truth expressed by the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 1 that "God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty."

David continues his run from Saul, only now he is no longer alone. Everyone in Israel who was discontented, in debt, and distressed have joined David in a cave outside of Adullam where he has become their leader.