BEWARE THE ENEMY IS EVERYWHERE

PROCLAMATION

“So, the priest gave him the consecrated bread … Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day … he was Doeg, the Edomite, Saul’s chief shepherd.”  “But Doeg, the Edomite, … said ‘I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob … he also gave him provisions …’”  1 Samuel 21:7 and 22:9-10 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After Jonathan was convinced that his father, King Saul, really wanted to kill David, (1 Samuel 20:33) he went to the field where David was hiding (1 Samuel 20:35) and the two of them talked and cried. (1 Samuel 20:41-42)  Then David left Ramah and went to Nob to meet with Ahimelech, the priest. (1 Samuel 21:1)  But one of King Saul’s men, Doeg the chief herdsman, was in Nob (1 Samuel 21:7) and he saw David meeting with Ahimelech.  He reported this to Saul (1 Samuel 22:9) who had all the priests and their families, herds and flocks killed because they had aided David. (1 Samuel 22:16-19)  David knew that Doeg would tell Saul that he saw him, which is why he left Nob and went to Gath, (1 Samuel 21:10) but he did not expect that Saul would kill everyone in the city. (1 Samuel 22:22)

APPLICATION

The priests were killed because they would not help the enemy kill an innocent man.  When we as believers take a stand to help or protect the innocent, it is quite likely that we will also be attacked.  Doing the right thing by helping others will not make us popular with the people, in fact, it will probably make us very unpopular.  That is why when we take a stand for that which is right, we need to put on the whole armor of God and pray in order to withstand the attacks that will surely come at us. (Ephesians 6:11-18)  Beware, the enemy is everywhere.