SCRIPTURE: 1 SAMUEL 22
DAVID AT ADULLAM AND MIZPAH (vs. 1-5)
David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. About 400 men gathered around him and he became their leader.
Then David went to Mizpah in Moab and told the king of Moab to let his men stay there. But the prophet of Gad told him to go to the land of Judah. So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
SAUL KILLS THE PRIESTS OF NOB (vs. 6-23)
When Doeg, the Edomite reported to Saul that David went to Ahimelech and Ahimelech gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath, the king was furious. He ordered Doez to strike down the priests. He killed 85 who wore the linen ephod. He also put to sword Nob, the town of the priests with its men and women, its children and infants, its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelec escaped and fled to join David. He told David everything and David told Abiathar to stary with him.
THOUGHTS:
Saul was unwilling to slay the Amalekites yet he had no problem slaying innocent priests. Saul was able to slay the priests but he was not able to prevent Abiathar from fleeing to David with the ephod, the instrument for determining the will of God.
God allowed 85 innocent priests to be killed to dramatize to the nation how a king could become an evil tyrant. Sometimes, God allows event to develop to teach us not to let evil systems flourish. God does not promise to protect good people from evil in this world, but He does promise that ultimately, all evil will be abolished. Those who remain faithful through their trials will experience great regards in the age to come.