Episode Details

Are you paranoid about the present conspiracy?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in Chapter 22 of 1 Samuel. I've titled this chapter "From Caves Of Distress To Community Connections."

Yesterday, we discovered Doeg, the foreigner, sold out Ahimelech, the Priest, and that he saw him in Nob supply David with supplies and a sword. So Saul, who is now furious, commands Ahimelech and his family of priests to come to Gibeah, only a couple of miles to the west. Let's read what happens in 1 Samuel 22:11-17:

Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. And Saul said, "Hear now, son of Ahitub." And he answered, "Here I am, my lord." And Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?" Then Ahimelech answered the king, "And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little." And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house." And the king said to the guard who stood about him, "Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me." But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord.— 1 Samuel 22:11-17

This section is deeply disturbing. Saul is now so paranoid that he sees even his closest and most godly allies as foes rather than friends.

Ahimelech presents to him a four-pronged and logical defense:

1. He understood David as a loyal servant, son-in-law, and captain of his servants.
2. He performed his royal duties as required.
3. He affirmed his loyalty to Saul.
4. He declared his non-involvement in a plot against the King.

But none of this is convincing to Saul. David's actions, combined with Jonathan's, Michal's, Samuel's, and now Ahimelech's, confirmed by Doeg, are too much for the paranoia stirring around in Saul's mind. The circle of the conspiracy continues to grow, and Saul cannot see it any other way. Therefore, Saul pronounces a verdict as the high prosecutor in his court, and then his men refuse to act. I am sure the inaction of his men only confirmed his fears of a growing conspiracy.

God is always up to something, and it's always righteous. But his righteousness will expose unrighteousness. Sometimes, we may interpret this as a conspiracy against us, especially when we are the ones opposing God by acting unrighteous. Saul's verdict exposes his desire to play God in this situation. Note that his words are the same as God's judgment for human sin in Genesis 2:17, "You shall surely die." But Saul is not God therefore his paranoia leads to an unjust verdict and the sentencing of a line of innocent and defenseless priests.

Saul is paranoid and feels like he is losing control, but the text presents no sign that he has lost any control in the kingdom. Even David perceives himself to be Saul's subject and merely wants to keep himself and his family safe. He has no desire