Where Do I Go When I Have A Need?

Synopsis     1Sam 21:4-11     10/15/2018

David went to Nob. There, he approached Ahimelech the priest. And he asked him for bread. Ahimelech replied that the only bread available was showbread that had been removed from before the Lord. Normally this bread could only be consumed by a priest. However, Ahimelech indicated that laymen could it eat if they had recently abstained from relationships with women.

Doeg the Edomite was at Nob. He was one of Saul’s servants. And while he was there, he observed David’s presence.

David also asked Abimelech if he had a weapon on hand. Abimelech indicated that Goliath’s spear was there. He offered it to David. And David accepted it.

David Went To The Tabernacle

It’s not clear that David had a plan. He escaped Saul. But the immediate challenge was where to go. He would not be safe anywhere in Israel. If he returned to Bethlehem, Saul’s men would track him down. Additionally, if David went home it might bring Saul’s retribution down on his father and brothers.

David went to Nob. Nob was near Jerusalem. But it was off the path Gibeah to David’s hometown of Bethlehem. And it was also off the route to Gath, David’s next destination.  So, why Nob? Why did David travel to the tabernacle?

Probably there are lots of possible answers. However, one of these is that David saw God as the ultimate source of provision. As an outcaste from Saul’s court, and an outlaw, there was basically no safe place in Israel. But the tabernacle would be safe. And, it was the perfect place to seek provisions.

Where Do I Go When I Have A Need?

Where do I go when I don’t know what to do? For me, the answer is too often – anywhere but God. Not that I rejected God. But if I have a problem, my first thought is to find a specialist who understands the problem and can fix it. So I call my accountant, or banker, or doctor, or therapist or business partner.

I have problems. But as has been said by many wise men, “every problem represents an opportunity”. And the greatest opportunity that any problem affords is the potential to know God more intimately. This problem that I probably never wanted and almost certainly never asked for is the thing that is designed to bring me closer to the God of all creation – if I let it.

Look for Him as the ultimate resource.

“But I, like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God, I trust in God’s mercy forever and ever.” Psalms 52:10