Point of Grace International
PGI - June 18, 2023 Sunday Service
In our church we aim to make it feel like a home, where strangers feel they are part of the family, where smiles are overflowing and hugs are natural, because we believe that life is a journey, and that we are simply channel of blessings. In our church we value three things, gratitude because it's the proper response to God, excellence because God expects nothing less, and grace because we all need it.
Locations & Times
Point of Grace Church
15601 Sheridan St, Davie, FL 33331, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
https://www.facebook.com/PGIFortLauderdale
LYRICS FOR TODAY'S SONGS
CCLI License # 1613304
CCLI License # 1613304
June 18 | 1 Samuel 21-22 ISG
Storyline 1 Samuel 21-22 (ESV)
1 Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest…3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” …6 So the priest gave him the holy bread... (7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD.) 8 Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? …9 And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.”
10 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 12 And David took these words to heart… he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.
1 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.
3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” …6 Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. 7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? …9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10 and he inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest…13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me?” …17 And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD…But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the LORD… And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword. 20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
The Text in Context
“As David left Jonathan, he knew that Saul was now fully committed to murdering him. The king tried to kill him in a variety of ways, but each time David escaped (chaps. 18–19), once through the Lord’s direct intervention (19:23–24). Apparently unaware of Saul’s latest attempts to kill David (19:9–24), Jonathan was confident that his father would not harm David (cf. 19:6–7). But when Saul rejected Jonathan’s latest attempt to defend his friend, and Jonathan had to dodge one of his father’s spears (20:30–33), Jonathan realized the truth and warned David. The situation looked bleak for David, but he still had a devoted friend and protector in Jonathan. The narrator keeps David’s destiny before us through the words of Jonathan, who prayed for David’s well-being (20:13, 16), expressed his confidence that the Lord would subdue David’s enemies (20:15–16), and renewed his allegiance to the future king (20:17). Though David is still on the run, he has every reason to be confident: after all, David has escaped once again, the king’s son has recognized David’s destiny and is fully behind him, and the Lord has demonstrated his ability to protect David. But human emotions can be fickle, and in this next episode David’s faith wavers.”
“Yet the Lord reminds David of his destiny and his past success, ironically using the lips of the Philistines to do so (21:11). David leaves the land of Judah, but to his credit, his humiliating experience in Gath reminds him to wait on God’s guidance (22:3). Through a prophetic message from Gad, God calls him back to his own land to face up to his destiny (22:5). David has found a “stronghold” (metsudah) in Moab (22:4–5), where he feels secure, but it is time for him to realize that the Lord is his true stronghold and source of protection. Through the coming years, David indeed learns this lesson. Later, as he reflects on how God has delivered him from all his enemies (2 Sam. 22:1), he declares that the Lord is his stronghold (see 22:2, where the word metsudah is translated “fortress”).”
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Historical and Cultural Background
“First Samuel 22:2 states that “all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented” (ca. four hundred men) gather to David at Adullam. Later they hire out their services (25:4–8, 15–16; 27:6–11). Such mercenary groups appear elsewhere in Israel’s early history (cf. Judg. 11:3–11; 1 Kings 11:23–25). These groups resemble the habiru, mercenaries mentioned in the Amarna letters who disturbed Canaan in the early fourteenth century BC. The habiru were organized into small groups, probably consisting of fifty to one hundred men.”
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Theological Insights
“The exilic readers of the history can undoubtedly relate to David’s circumstances and fears. They too are living outside the land of promise and feel vulnerable in a hostile world. They are tempted to focus on what they can see, but they need to focus on God and his promise. They have a divinely appointed destiny and need to look both backward and forward. In Isaiah 40 God reminds them of his sovereignty over the world, his commitment to them, and his intention of fulfilling his purposes through them. David’s experience is a reminder to them not to panic or rely on their own meager devices to protect themselves. They must wait on God and trust him for prophetic guidance and supernatural enablement (see 40:31).”
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Storyline 1 Samuel 21-22 (ESV)
1 Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest…3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” …6 So the priest gave him the holy bread... (7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD.) 8 Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? …9 And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.”
10 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 12 And David took these words to heart… he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.
1 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.
3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” …6 Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. 7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? …9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10 and he inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest…13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me?” …17 And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD…But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the LORD… And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword. 20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
The Text in Context
“As David left Jonathan, he knew that Saul was now fully committed to murdering him. The king tried to kill him in a variety of ways, but each time David escaped (chaps. 18–19), once through the Lord’s direct intervention (19:23–24). Apparently unaware of Saul’s latest attempts to kill David (19:9–24), Jonathan was confident that his father would not harm David (cf. 19:6–7). But when Saul rejected Jonathan’s latest attempt to defend his friend, and Jonathan had to dodge one of his father’s spears (20:30–33), Jonathan realized the truth and warned David. The situation looked bleak for David, but he still had a devoted friend and protector in Jonathan. The narrator keeps David’s destiny before us through the words of Jonathan, who prayed for David’s well-being (20:13, 16), expressed his confidence that the Lord would subdue David’s enemies (20:15–16), and renewed his allegiance to the future king (20:17). Though David is still on the run, he has every reason to be confident: after all, David has escaped once again, the king’s son has recognized David’s destiny and is fully behind him, and the Lord has demonstrated his ability to protect David. But human emotions can be fickle, and in this next episode David’s faith wavers.”
“Yet the Lord reminds David of his destiny and his past success, ironically using the lips of the Philistines to do so (21:11). David leaves the land of Judah, but to his credit, his humiliating experience in Gath reminds him to wait on God’s guidance (22:3). Through a prophetic message from Gad, God calls him back to his own land to face up to his destiny (22:5). David has found a “stronghold” (metsudah) in Moab (22:4–5), where he feels secure, but it is time for him to realize that the Lord is his true stronghold and source of protection. Through the coming years, David indeed learns this lesson. Later, as he reflects on how God has delivered him from all his enemies (2 Sam. 22:1), he declares that the Lord is his stronghold (see 22:2, where the word metsudah is translated “fortress”).”
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Historical and Cultural Background
“First Samuel 22:2 states that “all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented” (ca. four hundred men) gather to David at Adullam. Later they hire out their services (25:4–8, 15–16; 27:6–11). Such mercenary groups appear elsewhere in Israel’s early history (cf. Judg. 11:3–11; 1 Kings 11:23–25). These groups resemble the habiru, mercenaries mentioned in the Amarna letters who disturbed Canaan in the early fourteenth century BC. The habiru were organized into small groups, probably consisting of fifty to one hundred men.”
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
Theological Insights
“The exilic readers of the history can undoubtedly relate to David’s circumstances and fears. They too are living outside the land of promise and feel vulnerable in a hostile world. They are tempted to focus on what they can see, but they need to focus on God and his promise. They have a divinely appointed destiny and need to look both backward and forward. In Isaiah 40 God reminds them of his sovereignty over the world, his commitment to them, and his intention of fulfilling his purposes through them. David’s experience is a reminder to them not to panic or rely on their own meager devices to protect themselves. They must wait on God and trust him for prophetic guidance and supernatural enablement (see 40:31).”
Excerpt From: Robert B. Chisholm. “1 & 2 Samuel.” Apple Books.
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https://open.spotify.com/show/1PtjmWN3kTOagTfG1QPnbT?si=f76ab3059e7049beStudy & Reflection Guide
1. Chapters 21-22 forms a story structure that climaxes in 22:1-2. The beginning and ending of the story deals with the city of Nob and the priests. What exactly was the crime of the priest based on 22:9-10? What do you think are the significance of those three things for David?
2. Based on this story, why do you think Saul ordered the killings of the priests and the city of Nob? In Spite of their innocence, why do you think God allowed this to happen? (hint: refer to 1 Samuel 2:27-36)
3. What do you think are the implications of Saul’s command to kill all the inhabitants of the city of Nob? (22:18-19)
4. What is the significance of the city of Gath? (hint: 1 Samuel 17:4) How did the city of Gath recognize David? But how did David want him recognized in order to survive?
5. As David takes refuge, where did he exactly go? (22:1-2). Despite the obvious implications of hiding in a cave, people recognized his true leadership. Can you identify parallels of the people David led and the people Jesus reached out in these passages? (Matthew 4:23-25; Luke 4:16-19)
6. Psalm 142 was written at the time David was in Adullam cave. Reflect on Psalm 142:5-6 and recall experiences in your life where God has become a refuge.
1. Chapters 21-22 forms a story structure that climaxes in 22:1-2. The beginning and ending of the story deals with the city of Nob and the priests. What exactly was the crime of the priest based on 22:9-10? What do you think are the significance of those three things for David?
2. Based on this story, why do you think Saul ordered the killings of the priests and the city of Nob? In Spite of their innocence, why do you think God allowed this to happen? (hint: refer to 1 Samuel 2:27-36)
3. What do you think are the implications of Saul’s command to kill all the inhabitants of the city of Nob? (22:18-19)
4. What is the significance of the city of Gath? (hint: 1 Samuel 17:4) How did the city of Gath recognize David? But how did David want him recognized in order to survive?
5. As David takes refuge, where did he exactly go? (22:1-2). Despite the obvious implications of hiding in a cave, people recognized his true leadership. Can you identify parallels of the people David led and the people Jesus reached out in these passages? (Matthew 4:23-25; Luke 4:16-19)
6. Psalm 142 was written at the time David was in Adullam cave. Reflect on Psalm 142:5-6 and recall experiences in your life where God has become a refuge.