1 Samuel 22:9

1 Samuel 22:9 says, Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. Doeg, who was over Saul’s servants, told Saul about David visiting Abimilech.  I don't know if he was trying to win favor with Saul, or if he believed that somehow David was a threat to Saul, which Saul had evidently been saying.  Verse ten adds, And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.  Doeg then told Saul that Abimelech had inquired of God for David and had given him food. These are things that a priest should be expected to do, without concern about political situations.  We should never allow politics to come between God and us.  Of course,  Daoeg didn't tell Saul about David lying about his reason for coming to Abimelech.  People still use half-truths to attempt to discredit Christians today.  Verse eleven continues, Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.  Saul sent for not only Abimelech but for all his household and all the priests at Nob, even though only Abimelech had been accused of helping David.  Those who are self-centered in their desire to stay in power still often desire to destroy or discredit anyone and everyone that they fear is a threat to them.  Verse twelve states, And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.  Saul didn't even call Abimelech by name nor title when he came before him.  This was a further sign of disrespect not only of Abimelech but also of God who had called him to be a prophet.  This in itself is an indication of how far Saul had gotten away from the will of God.  Abimelech, having done nothing wrong, acknowledged that he was there and that Saul was his lord, or the earthly ruler.  As followers of Christ, if we are called before the authorities, as may one day happen, we need to be able to stand before them innocent of breaking any laws, unless these laws are in opposition to God and His commandments.  Verse thirteen adds, And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?  Saul then accused Abimelech of plotting against him, and also of inquiring of God for help for David in this supposed insurrection.  Of course, if God was not with David and Abimelech, then the inquiry wouldn't have mattered.  Again, we should not be surprised if people of the world accuse Christians falsely of having ulterior motives in seeking God's will for either others or themselves.  Verse fourteen continues, Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?  Abimelech then defended David by telling Saul the truth about David.  No one was more faithful to Saul than David, who was both his son-in-law and had always gone when Saul told him to go.  Abimelech didn't even tell Saul that David had said he was there on a mission for Saul.  Since Saul was not concerned about God and His will but only about preserving his position a king, he probably wouldn't have believed Abimelech anyway.  Though we would hope so, the truth may not always set us free from the forces of evil today.  Verse fifteen concludes, Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.  Abimelech then told Saul that he had made no inquiry to God concerning David replacing Saul, and he still didn't tell Saul what David had told him about his reason for being there.  Abimelech also said he knew nothing about any dispute between David and Saul.  If we are falsely accused as Christians today, all we can do is stand on the truth and put our faith in God to deliver us one way or the other.  As long as Abimelech truthfully told Saul what he had done, then he was safe by God's mercy.  Verse sixteen says, And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.  Not only did Saul sentence Abimelech to death, he also sentenced all his family with him, even though Abimelech alone was accused falsely of helping David in a plot to overthrow Saul.  Those who fear that they may be put out of power in the world today still often kill their rivals and their families.