Alone and on the run, David finds sanctuary in Nob, a priestly citywhere the tabernacle is pitched. It is a safe place where David can seekrefuge from danger and comfort from the priests who serve the Lord. - P68
Likewise, the church ought to be a safe space where people can comebefore the Lord to seek counsel and comfort. - P68
But we must rememberthat the church is not only a building but a distinct people that is sep-arated from the world. - P68
Whether we are in our workplace, among ourfriends, or out in public, let us care for others in the name of Christ.
- P68
Then, we can effectively be the salt and light of the earth and demon-strate to the wider world that we are disciples of Jesus. - P68
David asks Ahimelek for the consecrated bread that only priests areallowed to eat. If this story sounds familiar, it is because Jesus refers toit when he critiques the Pharisees‘ legalistic view of the Sabbath (Mark2:25-28). - P68
While religious observances are important, they must beperformed from a heart of worship and not merely obeyed for the sakeof upholding rules. - P68
God has given us His laws to minister to us andenable us to walk in the calling He has for us. - P69
Also, David‘s eating of theconsecrated bread points forward to our calling and identity as priests.
This calling is no longer tied to a hereditary privilege that is bound tothe law but flows from Jesus‘ perfect work on our behalf as our GreatHigh Priest. - P68
Jesus, thank you for fulfilling the Law so that I can walk according to a newcovenant and a new calling. - P68
Help me to serve my generation by pointing othersto You. In Your name, amen. - P68
11 But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn‘t thisDavid, the king of the land? Isn‘t he the one they singabout in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, andDavid his tens of thousands‘?"
11 But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. "Isn‘t this David, theking of the land?" they asked. "Isn‘t he the one the people honor with dances, singing,
‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands‘?" - P72
13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; andwhile he was in their hands he acted like a madman,
making marks on the doors of the gate and letting salivarun down his beard.
13 So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard. - P73
David flees from Saul and goes to Achish king of Gath. The king‘s servantsrecognize David as the future king of Israel, so David pretends to be insaneby acting like a madman. - P73
Achish complains that a madman has been broughtinto his house. - P73
As David is pursued by Saul in his own land, he finds no recourse butto seek solace among the Philistines. - P74
But even there, he is recognized asthe valiant Israelite warrior who has slain thousands and must pretendto be insane in order to protect himself in enemy territory. - P74
This is adesperate move on his part, and it demonstrates that no matter howbad our relationships with fellow believers become, we will never trulybe at home among the ungodly. - P74
Some will always treat us with hostilitysimply because we bear the name of Christ. - P74
But if we try to blend in, wewill eventually lose our identity as God‘s child and might even abandonour faith completely. - P74
The church is not perfect, but we must not makethe mistake of believing we will find better fellowship in the world. - P74
Letus therefore seek to reconcile with our brothers and sisters and restoreour place among the people of God. - P74
Dear Jesus, we have many fears but we place them all in Your hands. - P75
Make usboth trusting and wise as we seek to obey You even when we are afraid. In Yourname, amen. - P75
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