Fugitive
One of my favorite Harrison Ford movies was about a doctor wrongly accused of his wife’s murder. He spends time desperate fleeing the law, while trying to prove his innocence and find out who really killed his wife. It’s a very intense movie. I have never been a fugitive from the law, so it’s a bit hard to understand the height of desperation felt by a fugitive.
I’m following the story of David as he becomes a fugitive from King Saul. David is a fugitive because of his leadership and because he obviously has the favor of the Lord. I suspect David doesn’t feel like he has the favor of the Lord during this season.
He goes alone to see the priest in the town of Nob. He is desperate for food and weapons. Check this out….
6 Since there was no other food available, the priest gave him the holy bread—the Bread of the Presence that was placed before the Lord in the Tabernacle. It had just been replaced that day with fresh bread.
8 David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword? The king’s business was so urgent that I didn’t even have time to grab a weapon!”
9 “I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,” the priest replied. “It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.”
“There is nothing like it!” David replied. “Give it to me!” (1 Samuel 21:6,8-9 NLT)
This is early in David’s season as a fugitive. The news had not reached across the land yet. He had basic needs. I believe that this season of David, the fugitive was the making of David the King.
I found it interesting that he was able to eat the Bread of Presence. He so desperately needed the Presence of the Lord during this time when his live was flipped upside down. I also found it interesting that the priest of Nob had Goliaths’ sword. It’s a bit ironic that David went from hero to fugitive and one of the only weapons he has is the archived sword of Goliath. The Lord was with David during His fugitive years. The Lord was protecting David during his fugitive years. David seems to exercise patience as the Lord’s plan unfolds. He had the favor of God upon Him even during his fugitive years.
There will be seasons in my life where I don’t feel the Presence of God, but He is still there. His Word promises His Presence. I’m continuing to pray for favor on my family, my friends and my walk with the Lord. Even when I’m misunderstood or misinterpreted, I want to be clearly seen as a man after God’s heart. It may take time, but I want to be faithful all the time.
Pressing On!
Dwayne