Chapter 22 tells us that "every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him [David] about four hundred men."
Ah, the importance of spiritual leadership. David's talents are burnished, while Saul's are unfortunately spoiled through jealousy and resentment. Don't we look for qualities like honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, and the ability to serve the greater good to guide us and lead us? And don't pride, prejudice, complaint, criticism, cynicism and imagining the worst in others simply drag us down? Saul was so concerned about himself and his position that he seems not to have noticed David's faithfulness - so beautifully described by Ahimelech in chapter 22 verse 14.
And isn't it edifying to learn that David continually and trustingly turned to God for direction? We too may feel besieged by a "Saul" problem and we too can turn trustingly to God for guidance and protection.
Not that David's path was without temptation. Samuel has passed on when we meet Abigail, that angel of wisdom, discretion, courage and timeliness who saved David from making a very bad mistake. Her quiet "the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God" has surely endeared her to readers down the ages. See I Samuel chapter 25 verse 29.
Julie Swannell
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