1 Samuel

1 Samuel 21: The LORD provides for David

Begin in prayer

Before we follow David to Nob and then to Gath, where he is hungry and afraid, and learn how the LORD provides, let us pray together. Ask Him to meet our needs, and to show us Jesus.

Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh.

Psalm 40:11

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You provide for Your servants in their need, and help us to trust You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David came to Nob, and the priest Ahimelech met him trembling and asked why he was alone. David asked for bread, and the priest said he had no common bread, only the holy bread, so he gave David the holy bread. David asked for a weapon, and Ahimelech told him that the sword of Goliath was kept behind the ephod. David fled to Achish the king of Gath, but his servants recognized him, and David was afraid. David acted strangely before Achish, and Achish sent him away.

As you read 1 Samuel 21, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD provides for His servant in his need, even while he is fleeing.

David came to Nob, where Ahimelech the priest met him trembling (verse 1). David told him the king had sent him on secret business, and that was not true (verse 2). The priests would pay for it (chapter 22 verse 22). The only bread there was the holy show bread, which the law gave to the priests (Leviticus 24 verses 5 to 9). Ahimelech gave David the holy bread and the sword of Goliath (verses 6 and 9). Doeg the Edomite, a servant of Saul, was there that day (verse 7). David fled to Gath, Goliath's own city, where he pretended to be insane until Achish sent him away (verses 10 to 15). This chapter does not say the LORD gave the bread or saved David at Gath. David wrote later that the LORD heard the poor man and saved him out of all his troubles (Psalm 34 verse 6).

How does 1 Samuel 21 show us that the LORD provides for His servant in his need, even while he is fleeing?

The LORD provides bread in need.

Ahimelech met David trembling and asked why he was alone (verse 1). David asked for five loaves, and the priest had no common bread, only the holy bread (verses 3 and 4). The show bread was set before the LORD, and hot bread replaced it when it was taken away (verse 6). Ahimelech first asked whether the young men had kept themselves clean (verse 4).

The LORD’s servant is in danger.

David fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath (verse 10). Gath was Goliath's city, and David carried Goliath's sword (verses 9 and 10). The servants of Achish remembered the song, Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands (verse 11). David was afraid, so he pretended to be insane and scribbled on the gate (verses 12 and 13).

The LORD gives us Jesus, the true Bread.

The holy bread was for the priests, yet Ahimelech gave it to hungry men in need (verses 4 to 6). Jesus pointed to this bread when He spoke of David's need (Matthew 12 verses 3 and 4). He also said He is the bread of life, and whoever comes to Him will not be hungry (John 6 verse 35).

Memorise

So the priest gave him holy bread

1 Samuel 21:6

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I come to Jesus, the Bread of life, for my soul?

The priest gave David the holy bread, and David escaped from Achish by acting like a madman. Later David wrote that the poor man cried, the LORD heard him, and He saved him out of all his troubles (Psalm 34 verse 6). The heading of that psalm names this day at Gath.

David needed bread to live that day, but our deepest hunger is for forgiveness. Our sin leaves us empty before a holy God. Jesus called Himself the bread of life. He gave His body on the cross for His sheep, and God raised Him from the dead. Nothing is missing from His work, and He lives to feed His people.

Come to Him and be filled. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who believes in Him is forgiven, and the hunger of the soul is satisfied.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD provides for His people, and that Jesus is the Bread of life. Parents, you may want to explain verses 13 to 15 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He provides for His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Psalm 145:16

Father, You provide for Your people in their need. Thank You that Jesus is the Bread of life, who came down from heaven. Teach us to trust You for every need, and to come to Jesus for our souls. Feed our hearts this week. Amen.