1 Samuel

There is a place in I Samuel where David has run away from Saul so hastily that he needs to drop by the tabernacle so that he can scrounge some bread and a weapon. Ahimelech is glad to offer what he has to David. And then the story goes very very sad. One of Saul's men is there to observe the whole thing and reports it to Saul. Not too long after this Ahimelech is killed alongside a number of his other priest friends, and then all of their families. One of Ahimelech's sons survives and runs to David to tell him what happened.

The strangest thing happens. Instead of Abiather being completely insane with bitterness against David he blames the right guy. Saul! The king who had his father and all of his family killed. This is who he blames. And when David offers him protection and provision saying, 'The man who is seeking my life is also seeking yours. But don't be afraid. You will be safe with me', Abiather accepts.

From that point on he lives and runs alongside of David and his men. The band he aligns himself with will protect him and provide for him as he serves them as priest. Their enemy, who seeks their destruction, is his enemy.

What strikes me is that we are so often bitter at the wrong person. Instead of the one who has meant us harm, we hate the one who clumsily hurts us, or the one who speaks truth. The one who has no malice. Such an enormous waste of life!