1 Samuel 22:16-18 (KJV) Careful What You Ask

1 Samuel 22:16-18 (KJV)
And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

Saul is a graphic illustration of the old adage, “Be careful what you ask for because you might just get it.”

Israel had asked for, no, demanded, a king. Samuel warned them what having a king would be like. Now they have him in all his authority and his interest is far from that for which he was originally crowned. Saul did rally and fight the Philistines when necessary but his focus, and the main use of his resources, was spent on ridding himself of his God ordained replacement.

Saul here annihilates and entire family of priests. These were innocent men women and children who had done no wrong but were given no opportunity to prove it. They weren’t slain for wrong they had done; they were slain merely to pacify the king’s vengeance.  Saul’s own footmen, young Israelite men who had been pressed into this service, refused to kill them. It was a stranger, and Edomite, who did the dirty deed for Saul.

What horrific consequences might happen whenever we demand to have it our way rather than God’s.

1 Samuel 22:16-18 (KJV) Careful What You Ask

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