The Bible is not a collection of tales and sayings but a grand story that spans all of human history. From Creation to Christ’s imminent return, the Bible tells the story of God saving a people for himself. It also repeatedly shows the attempt of the Devil to frustrate that plan, by attacking God’s People and attempting to destroy them.
While we usually think of this enemy as one without, all too often this enemy operates within. Many antichrists have already come, and they have come throughout history. Bringing false teaching which destroys churches, or destroying to preserve power. Saul in this passage adds his name to the ignoble list of destroyers of God’s People, in his attack on the Priests at Nob. Yet despite this, we still see that this is all part of God’s plan, and that God still preserves his people.
After David fled Saul’s reach, and ensured the safety of his family, Saul’s frustration could only have increased. His own heir has aided his enemy, as have plenty of his subjects. Nobody seems to care about poor Saul! So Saul sulked underneath a tree at Gibeah (vv.7-8).
Thankfully for Saul, at least somebody cared. Doeg the Edomite, who was ominously mentioned in the previous chapter, mentioned that he “saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech” and that Ahimelech gave him weapons and provisions (vv.9-10).
Treason! Saul called for Ahimelech along with all the priests to come and explain themselves (v.11). After they arrived, Saul demanded an explanation for why they had helped David (vv.12-13).
Given the circumstances, Ahimelech gave a decent answer. While he no doubt knew that David was not exactly on Saul’s Christmas Card list, he still pointed to the “official” reality. That David was highly placed in Saul’s Court, he was Saul’s son-in-law, a key military figure (v.14). Besides which, David regularly sought God’s guidance through Ahimelech, what was different? (v.15) What conspiracy against Saul’s reign is there, really?
Unfortunately, the official response and any cautious misgivings Ahimelech had were not enough to save him. Like any good autocrat, Saul expected his subjects to know the party line all the time. Therefore, a sentence of death for Ahimelech and his house (v.16). Executed immediately!
Except, Saul’s guards were more pious than Saul was. When Saul told them to put the priests to death, Saul’s guards refused (v.17). Foiled again!
Except there was good old Doeg the Edomite, ready to help. Saul turned to Doeg, who happily killed the defenceless Ahimelech and priests, “and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod” (v.18). Then he turned his attention to Nob, wiping out their families and livestock (v.19). The destruction due for Canaanite unbelievers, visited on priests by an unbelieving, pre-Christ antichrist named Saul.
Yet even as Saul struck down God’s Anointed priests, he fulfilled God’s Word to Eli back in 1 Samuel 2:30-36. The curse on Eli’s house finally found its fulfilment, decades later. Even an unbeliever is powerless to resist God’s salvation plan. Even an unbeliever is used to fulfil God’s salvation plan.
Saul’s plan was not completely successful though. One of Ahimelech’s sons, Abiathar, escaped the slaughter and fled to David (v.20). Abiathar told David the bad news about the persecution and slaughter of the priests, and David confessed that his desperate, sinful actions were the cause of this event (vv.21-2).
While true, this was also in contrast to Saul’s reception of the priests. Faithful David confessed, unfaithful Saul persecuted. David offered protection (v.23), while Saul offered only destruction.
Just as the Devil seeks to destroy the Church today, so too in the past he has sought to try and snuff out God’s People. Here, the Devil worked through the hand of Saul and Doeg the Edomite to attack God’s very representatives and mediators, the priests.
No surprise then that the Devil sought to have Jesus killed, to try and frustrate God’s salvation plan. Removing the one true mediator between God and man that those priests pointed forward to, by having him put to death on a Cross.
And yet, surprise! This was all part of God’s plan. What the Devil and men meant for evil, God meant for good. The good of our salvation. Our ultimate rescue and preservation for all eternity, through sinless Jesus paying sin’s penalty for us. Not even the Devil can resist God’s salvation plan. Even the Devil was used to help fulfil God’s salvation plan.
Because we are saved through Jesus’ blood, the worst this world can offer is only that; what this world can offer. It is not the worst that there is. They may kill our bodies, but they cannot destroy our souls. We are hidden in Christ with God. We are ultimately preserved.
All who oppose God will never wipe out the Church. God will preserve his remnant on earth. Jesus, the anointed King, will protect. God will preserve us from every antichrist’s persecution. It is all part of God’s salvation plan.
