Ahimelek is a good man. As a high priest, he is looked after, and is well educated. He has friends, and colleagues. He is loyal to his King. He is charitable and hospitable. David and his men come searching for a place to stay. He doesn’t know that they are on the run from Saul, in fact, he is told that they are on a mission from Saul.
Pleased to be of service, he takes the men in and offers them sanctuary. He doesn’t reach for yesterday’s drink and the stale bread at the back of the freezer which by now is just the two little ends, but he gives them the showbread to eat. The best bread. A simple act of hospitality for Ahimelek.
Unknown to him, this act is a panacea to the turmoil that David has just gone through. David is a wanted man. He’s not wanted by just anyone, but the King is after his head. So, this act for David is beyond hospitality, it is life saving, and spirit reviving.
Enter Doeg. Sneaky, sneaky Doeg. He knows that Ahimelek has opened his house and heart for the King, but Doeg doesn’t need to tell Saul that. In fact, he tells Saul the Ahimelek is hiding David. Sneaky Doeg. Very sneaky. Rage, jealousy and insecurity fills Saul’s heart and he orders Ahimelek to be killed. Ahimelek is killed by the King for, in reality, serving the King.
Hence the fury at the ridiculous, unjust chain of events that has just unfolded before David’s eyes. He’s angry, resentful and a reaction comes through in the Psalm. David’s human. I forget that. I have pictures of him reaching for his 5 stones with a halo shining around his head. I see him strumming his harp in the temple and forget the reality that he doesn’t understand the grand plan, or at the very least, requires constant reminding.
Sometimes sneaky people get what they want, through a perverse game of Chinese whispers, or through some other means. Sometimes we throw out our hands in the air as if we’re auditioning for a part in an AAMI ad and scream out “what about me”, pleading injustice and unfairness.
Sometimes we’re the sneaky ones.
Either way, temporary gain is exactly that, temporary. Let’s trust in the right things. His love. His name. Again the reminder in the latter part of the Psalm is to remain in the house of God, and in the presence of his faithful people. It’s tough plodding through life alone when these things happen. David understood that and headed straight back into the presence of God and his people.
– Vinny Tan