1 Samuel 21: David's Secret Mission and the Spy Who Betrayed Him

The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Samuel 21.

David still faces danger and deception as he flees from Saul’s murderous rage. He deceives a priest into thinking's on a secret mission from the King to get food. He also ends up with a very special sword. David’s plan begins to unravel as a spy sees him and reports the situation to Saul. David, then, flees to Gath and pretends to be insane to escape from the Philistines who recognize him as their enemy.

The Book of 1 Samuel beings with the unique birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel. Soon, the people of Israel begin to press upon the aging prophet Samuel to anoint a king over them like the other nations. YHWH assures Samuel that the people are rejecting their God, not Samuel. He advises Samuel to give the people what they want. What follows is the rise and fall of King Saul, the eventual anointing and coronation of David as king, the forerunner of Jesus. It’s a true story of political intrigue and warfare, but it’s also more than that. 1 Samuel shows us God working to save his people from their enemies and even from themselves.