1 Samuel 21

1 Samuel 21, Psalm 56, Psalm 34

Have you ever watched a movie where two stories are being told alongside each other? It's one of those situations where you watch both, flipping back and forth, and knowing they are on a crash course. The feeling grows as the minutes pass that there will be a moment when these stories come together for a final conclusion. 

The Bible can offer a similar experience. The Bible is a long beautiful narrative. As we know David is part of the messianic lineage. He is part of the narrative. His conclusion and the conclusion of that segment of the messianic story have a similar feel to one of those movies. 

In 1 Samuel 21 we see David fleeing from Saul, first going to see Ahimelech at Nob. David lied about the situation going on and asked for bread. In understanding that David had need, Ahimelech gives him some of the Holy Bread to replace it with new bread. David heads off to Gath now, a Philistine city. David was hoping he would not be recognized and be able to blend in to hide here. But this is where we see the parallel story pick up. 

Verses 10-14 can be read alongside Psalm 56 and 34. At the surface level the final verses of 1 Samuel 21 indicates a shorter encounter between David & the servants of Achish. This account shows that he interacts with them, they know him and scare him since he cannot hide there, and then he acts like a mad man and flees. Psalm 56 provides a bit more detail, it is actually a Psalm of David during his capture. So we can read these passages together and see that when David entered Gath he was captured by the Philistine people. He cries out to God, he puts his trust in God, believing and having faith that God will make a way for him out of this captivity. Psalm 34 continues the story. Psalm 34 is another Psalm of David, this time where he rejoices in his release from his captivity. It's not that he knew God told him to be a mad man, but God established David’s steps and it led to his release. We see him praise God for this very situation in Psalm 34. 

So if we read David’s story in 1 Samuel 21, we may have missed some of the big picture narrative being written by God in His living word. But if we clue in to the Psalms we understand more fully what occurred. 

Church, let us be a people who pursue to know and understand God’s word deeply. Let us take joy in the masterpiece provided for us to know God.