LEAVING GATH, David went to Adullam in Judahite territory (v.1). When his family learned of this, they went to him (v.1), “because of their fear of reprisals by Saul”.
11 And at Adullam, 400 men who were “in distress”, “in debt” and “discontented”, who “failed to integrate into the fabric of society” gathered to David, a leader who “could understand them”
12 (v.2). From this band of men, David began to “form a fiercely loyal inner circle of followers, which was to become a personal army”
13 that would strongly support him as king (2 Sam 23:8-39). From Adullam, David went to “the king of Moab” to seek refuge for his parents (v.3). Perhaps the Moabite king “felt allegiance to David”
14, who had Moabite blood in him, being a great-grandson of Ruth the Moabitess (Ru 4:13, 17). David left his parents with the Moabite king “until I know what God will do for me” (v.3). Clearly, David did not know God’s agenda for him at this point of his discipleship journey. Apparently, he went to Ahimelech the priest at Nob (1 Sam 21:1) to inquire of God for him (1 Sam 22:10, 13, 15). And it seemed that nothing was heard from God. God does not answer by demand, however desperate and urgent our situation is, and however earnest we are in seeking Him. Virtually nothing is narrated about David and God in 1 Samuel 21. But now, David began to realign himself back to God in his wavering faith. And a genuine posture of “until I know what God will do for me” will not be disappointed.
11 Robert D. Bergen, 225
12 Robert D. Bergen, 225
13 Bill T. Arnold, 1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary (Zondervan, 2003), 225
14 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., 143