1 Samuel 21:1-22:5 | Food for Thought
1 Samuel 21:1-22:5
Food for Thought:
David on the Run. After Jonathan confirmed last week that Saul was dead set on killing David, there was nothing left for David to do but run for his life. While there’s a lot of open discussion to be had about whether it was “right or wrong” for David to make up a story in front of the priest, run to enemies for help, or try out the hermit life in no-man’s land, the main story in this passage is the faithfulness of God (and God’s people, represented in the priest!) to give him what he needs and bring him home - no matter where he went!
Have you ever felt like you had to go “on the run” from a place / people you once belonged to? What was that like? Where did you go? What ended up happening?
Where’s the first place that David runs? What does that tell you about the place of God’s people in his life?
Would you think to run (or to tell people to run) to the church in times of need? What makes it easy or hard to do that?
How did the priest respond to David? Is it surprising that he’d offer him holy provisions or that he’d care about the holiness of David himself? Why are both of those things important for people who are on the run?
What would make David think to run “behind enemy lines” and “away from his people” for safety? How does it make sense? Are there any ways in which it’s LESS safe for him to be there?
When you have conflict, feel unsafe, think someone is against you, etc., are you prone to…
…running to the “enemy of your enemy?” Do you seek refuge in folks who are simply set against the person who seems set against you? Are you prone to even leave the church / separate yourself from Christians altogether? Do you try to pretend like “you’re not like them” or “not one of those Christians?”
…just cut yourself off from people entirely? Are you prone to just throw your hands up in the air and not wanna deal with things, take a stand on stuff, or put yourself in a position where conflict might happen?
…live behind relational walls? Are you prone to simply refuse to make yourself vulnerable to the people in your life, content with shallow connections so that folks can’t hurt you?
In every place David runs, he’s found out in some way that means he can’t stay. How is that both dangerous… and a sign of God’s grace on his life to keep him safe?
Ultimately, where does God clearly say David belongs? Despite the danger he might encounter, why is it better for him to go home with his people?
Does this tell us anything about what SEEMS to be unsafe versus what actually IS unsafe? Does discomfort, conflict, confrontation, etc. always mean something is unsafe?
Consider the gospel. How does Jesus free and empower us to show up to him (and the church!) empty-handed, ready to receive what he has for us, and open to correction ourselves?
Consider God’s people. How can we live as if we belong with the Lord and his church, despite the dangers (apparent and real) that come with community?