David is on the Run and Hides in a Cave
(1 Samuel 21-22)
David was running for his life. King Saul was jealous of David and wanted to kill him. David had no army and no place to hide. He went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. The priest was scared to see David alone. David told him he was on a secret mission for the king. He asked for food. The only bread the priest had was the holy bread from God's tabernacle. The priest gave it to David because he and his men were pure. David also asked for a weapon. The priest gave him the sword of Goliath, the giant David had killed years before.
But someone was watching. A man named Doeg, who worked for King Saul, saw everything. David knew Doeg was dangerous, so he ran away. He went to the city of Gath, where the Philistines lived. But the people there recognized him. They knew he had killed their hero Goliath. David was terrified. He pretended to be crazy so they would not hurt him. He scratched on the gates and let drool run down his beard. The king of Gath said, "Why did you bring this madman to me?" So David escaped.
David fled to a cave called Adullam. Soon his brothers and his whole family came to him there. Then other people started coming, too. People who were in trouble, people who owed money, and people who were unhappy with King Saul. About four hundred men came to David. He became their leader. They were a ragtag group, but they were loyal to David.
David went to the king of Moab to ask for help. He left his father and mother there to keep them safe. Then a prophet named Gad told David to go back to the land of Judah. David obeyed and hid in a forest.
Meanwhile, King Saul was sitting under a tree with his spear in his hand. He was angry. He said to his officials, "All of you are conspiring against me! No one told me that David ran away." Then Doeg, the man who had seen David with the priest, spoke up. He told Saul everything. Saul called for Ahimelech the priest. He asked, "Why did you help my enemy?" Ahimelech answered, "David is your faithful servant. I did nothing wrong." But Saul would not listen. He ordered his guards to kill the priests of the Lord. The guards refused. So Saul ordered Doeg to do it. Doeg killed eighty-five priests and destroyed the town of Nob. Only one priest, named Abiathar, escaped. He ran to David and told him what had happened. David was full of grief and said, "I am responsible for the death of your whole family." He told Abiathar to stay with him and be safe.
A Curious Question
Why do you think so many troubled people, people who were in debt or in distress, came to hide with David in that dark cave instead of going somewhere else?
Jesus Connection
David was God's chosen king, but the real king, Saul, was hunting him. So David had to hide in a cave with a group of misfits. This points forward to Jesus. Jesus is the true King, but the religious leaders and rulers of His day rejected Him and hunted Him too. Just like the unhappy people gathered around David, people who knew they were sinners and in trouble came to Jesus. He welcomed them. Jesus said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32). Jesus, like David, understands what it is like to be hunted and rejected, and He offers a safe place for everyone who comes to Him. The cave of Adullam is a picture of the safety and grace we find in Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Ahimelech the priest was scared when David came to him all alone?
- David pretended to be crazy to escape from Gath. Do you think that was a good plan? Why or why not?
- How do you think David felt when he found out that all the priests of Nob were killed because of him?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
- When you are in trouble, where do you go? David ran to a cave and then to God. Who do you run to when you are scared or sad?
- Do you know anyone who is like one of David's men? Someone who is sad, in trouble, or feels left out. How can you be a leader like David and help them?
- Do you ever feel like everyone is against you? David felt that way, but God was with him. Remember that God is always with you, too.
Memorize God's Word
Psalm 34:8: "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."
- Taste and see pretend to take a bite of something tasty and then point to your eyes.
- that the Lord is good point both thumbs to your chest, then give a thumbs up.
- blessed is the one cup your hands together in a receiving motion as if accepting a gift.
- who takes refuge in him make a roof over your head with both hands like a shelter.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank you that you are a safe place for us when we are scared or in trouble. Just like David found refuge in the cave, help us to always find our refuge in you. Protect us and guide us, and help us to be kind to people who are sad or lonely. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Craft or Activity
Refuge in the Cave Diorama
Children will create a small diorama of the Cave of Adullam to remember that God is our refuge, just like the cave was a refuge for David.
Materials Checklist:
How to Make the Refuge in the Cave Diorama:- Crumple brown paper and glue it to the inside of the box to look like a rocky cave.
- Cut a small figure of David from paper and glue it inside the cave.
- Cut out small figures of other men and glue them near David to represent the 400 men who joined him.
- Write the word "Refuge" or "Psalm 34:8" on the outside of the box.
- Display your diorama at home to remind you that God is our refuge.
Effective Teaching Techniques
For Younger Children: Focus on the feeling of being scared and needing a safe place. Use the diorama craft to help them visualize the cave. Let them color the figures and make the cave look as cozy as possible.
For Older Kids: Discuss the moral complexities of the story. Was it right for David to lie to the priest or pretend to be crazy? Was Ahimelech right to give David the holy bread? Connect it to how sometimes we have to make hard choices and how Jesus is our only perfect refuge.
Classroom Management: When telling the story, use a dramatic and suspenseful voice to keep the children engaged. Use a visual of a cave or a map to show David's journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did David go to Ahimelech the priest?
- David was fleeing from King Saul with no supplies. He went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob for food and a weapon, and the priest gave him the holy bread and Goliath's sword.
- Why did David pretend to be crazy?
- David fled to Gath, a Philistine city, but the king there recognized him as the man who killed Goliath. To escape danger, David acted insane so the Philistines would let him go.
- Who joined David in the cave of Adullam?
- Everyone in distress, in debt, or discontented gathered around David in the cave. About four hundred men joined him there, and he became their leader.