And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword. And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard. (1 Sam. 22:18-23)
Doeg, who had been a spy for Saul and reported on the priests who helped David, now acts for Saul to kill the priests whom Saul treated as enemies of the state. Though the priests made a righteous protest concerning the behavior and status of David, Saul condemned them and their families to death. Doeg was more than willing to carry out the sentence and strike the priests of the LORD. One priest escaped and came and told David who mourned, knowing that the presence of Doeg when David arrived brought death upon all who helped him. David offered Abiathar sanctuary and safety with him as they were both enemies of Saul but trusted the LORD to care for them.
Seeing such seeming disasters as the slaughter of those in service to God, especially at the hands of such evil men, is hard to understand. Even seeing the full result of God preparing David to be king and allowing Saul and those with him to essentially dig their own graves, it is hard to grasp how God could allow such a thing to happen to his own people. Not knowing all of the priests relationship to God but only what God has revealed in His Word, we, as David and Abiathar must simply trust the LORD to accomplish His purposes in His time and His way. What seems like a great tragedy to us in this life may be a blessing to those who served under Saul in his madness to exterminate David. It could have been much worse to have to serve the king in such a process and endeavor and to work with Doeg if the king had not had them killed.
Since only God knows all, the Christian who looks at the tragedies of this world must understand that sin is still very prevalent in this world and while we are forgiven, those who are lost still act according to their sin nature and often carry out very evil plans and purposes, even killing Christians. God directs or allows such things for His purpose of growing us into His image and of bringing those who are lost unto Himself as we lift Him up and look to Him for strength, comfort, and peace, even in the midst of such storms and tragedies. This world is broken and evil still exists, even seeming to triumph for a season, because of the sin of Adam and of our sin. God will judge all things and all who are not forgiven and redeemed by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary will stand in judgment and receive justice for their sin. Nothing will be hid and all will be revealed in that final day when He establishes His kingdom and judges the whole earth and all who have lived.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Seeing such seeming disasters as the slaughter of those in service to God, especially at the hands of such evil men, is hard to understand. Even seeing the full result of God preparing David to be king and allowing Saul and those with him to essentially dig their own graves, it is hard to grasp how God could allow such a thing to happen to his own people. Not knowing all of the priests relationship to God but only what God has revealed in His Word, we, as David and Abiathar must simply trust the LORD to accomplish His purposes in His time and His way. What seems like a great tragedy to us in this life may be a blessing to those who served under Saul in his madness to exterminate David. It could have been much worse to have to serve the king in such a process and endeavor and to work with Doeg if the king had not had them killed.
Since only God knows all, the Christian who looks at the tragedies of this world must understand that sin is still very prevalent in this world and while we are forgiven, those who are lost still act according to their sin nature and often carry out very evil plans and purposes, even killing Christians. God directs or allows such things for His purpose of growing us into His image and of bringing those who are lost unto Himself as we lift Him up and look to Him for strength, comfort, and peace, even in the midst of such storms and tragedies. This world is broken and evil still exists, even seeming to triumph for a season, because of the sin of Adam and of our sin. God will judge all things and all who are not forgiven and redeemed by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary will stand in judgment and receive justice for their sin. Nothing will be hid and all will be revealed in that final day when He establishes His kingdom and judges the whole earth and all who have lived.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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