Put on the Ephod

1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

Context

To understand this text, you must understand the background and its context

David is on the Run.

He is anointed, but he is on the run

The oil has been poured, but he is on the run

The kingdom is his, but he is on the run

The favour has been proclaimed, but he is on the run

He is on the run despite knowing that God has ordained him!

David is on the run.

Do you know what it feels like to be on the run? Escaping from one problem only to land in another.

To be pursued relentlessly to the point of giving up.

Sadly this is the story of many Christians today.

They are on the run.

They know they are Christians, accepted by Christ, and heirs of the kingdom. But they are on the run. Running from life difficulties, from:

1. Financial difficulties

2. Economic difficulties

3. Political difficulties

4. Work difficulties

5. Family difficulties

6. Marital difficulties

7. Children difficulties

8. Parental difficulties

9. Health difficulties

10. Difficulties of confusion in the mind

11. Difficulties in their general well-being

12. Spiritual difficulties

13. Difficulties because of lack of peace

14. Difficulties because of lack of joy

15. Difficulties because of lack of love

16. Difficulties due to loss

They are on the run.

What is most tragic of these individuals is that the very place they come to seek refuge and comfort, i.e. the church, they find themselves on the run again, only to seek another church because of difficulties due to a lack of empathy or understanding in church.

Paul, writing to the Corinthians, to the Thessalonians, and to the Galatians, states that the church is a place where we come to be comforted and give comfort:

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 NKJV

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Galatians 6:1–2 NKJV

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

It is a tragedy that many “pastors” and “men of God” use the platform of the pulpit to rain unwholesome words on these people, calling them “church hoppers” or crudely “church prostitutes” because they are on the run.

These are the proverbial David!

David has been on the run as a fugitive.

The bad news is that your enemies will harden their hearts and pursue you, but the good news is that there will be a means of escape.

The bad news is that the enemy will be hot on your heels, but the good news is God will part the red sea for you to walk on dry ground.

The bad news is that the enemy of my enemy will be my friend, and you will land in a precarious situation, but the good news is that situation will not consume you, for there will be a divine orchestration created just for you to escape the situation

But what is the significance of this story you may ask.

You are looking for some good story. Just wait and be patient with me we will get there

To get the flesh of this story we have to consider, carefully, the text in full.

The first thing we notice in this text is that the Amorites attack David’s dwelling - ZIKLAG

Ziklag

The first thing we will be looking at is Ziklag.

And in our text, David returns to Ziklag after being rejected for battle by Philistines princes.

On returning to Ziklag, he notices that his possessions have been destroyed, burnt and stolen, and the people are having none of it. So instead, they want to stone David.

Then David requests the ephod be brought to him, and he consults God using the ephod.

But pay close attention as this is where the story gets remarkable.

Ziklag is quite interesting.

Where is Ziklag, how did he get to Ziklag, and what is its significance?

To understand and appreciate the importance of Ziklag, we have to backtrack.

Ziklag is a town belonging to the province/kingdom of Gath which belongs to the Philistine territory

This is very interesting. How on earth did David land here?

And if you are very careful bible student, you should be screaming… “THIS IS NOT GOOD!”

Because David killed Goliath, the champion warrior of the Philistine, whom he, David called… “THE UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE”

Now David is in big big trouble! - [Control Tower, We Have A Problem]

But before we get to worried for David, let us see his situation

David on the Run

David has spent most of his adulthood running from Saul, the king who is hell-bent on killing him.

Nob (Judah): 1 Samuel 21:1 “1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?””

Gath (Philistine): 1 Samuel 21:10 “10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.”

Adullam (Judah): 1 Samuel 22:1 “1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.”

Moab (Moabites): 1 Samuel 22:3–4 “3 Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.”

Hereth (Judah): 1 Samuel 22:5 “5 Now the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.”

Keilah (Judah): 1 Samuel 23:8 “8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.” 1 Samuel 23:10–12 “10 Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.””

Ziph (Judah): 1 Samuel 23:14 “14 And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.” 1 Samuel 23:19–20 “19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.””

Maon in Jeshimon (Judah): 1 Samuel 23:24 “24 So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.”

En Gedi (Judah): 1 Samuel 23:29–24:1 “29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. 1 Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.”” (1 Samuel chp 20 - 26).

Hachilah (Judah): 1 Samuel 26:1–2 “1 Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.”

What is most shocking of this event is that David, was more often than not, running and hiding in his home town, Judah (name the places highlighted)

Now home is a place where you ought to feel safe and protected, but this was not the case for David.

This is not the case for many as:

- People run from home due to Domestic abuse

- People run from due to a nagging husband or wife

- Children run from home due to uncaring parents

- People run from home because the home is not home

Isn’t it sad that where you call home is often unsafe, and you have to keep running!

Choices

Running leads to unpleasant choices or some unpleasant results

For many people running due some events, they are forced to make some unpleasant choices

- Drug abuse

- Prostitution

- Deceit

- Impersonation

- Crime

- Suicide

In the running away, David has had to make many unpleasant decisions or choices to survive:

Deceit (Place: Nob) David begs for bread and supplies by lying to Ahimelech the priest. (v 2-5, 8-9) because he is on the run

1 Samuel 21: 1-10 “1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?” 2 So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed my young men to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.” 4 And the priest answered David and said, “There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.” 5 Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.” 6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no …”

Impersonation (Place: Gath (Philistine territory)) - David pretends to be a madman in the presence of Achish, the king of Gath, because he is on the run

1 Samuel 21: 10-15 “10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?” 12 Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? 15 Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?””

Loss of life (Place: Nob) - David presence in the town of Nob leads to the murder of Ahimelech the high priest and the entire people by the had of Saul

1 Samuel 22:17–21 “17 Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. 19 Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep—with the edge of the sword. 20 Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests.”

David feels the guilt for causing the death of the family of Abiathar the priest because he is on the run (v 22)

David allies with the Philistines (Place: Gath) - David flees to the Philistine territory, the enemy of Isreal, where he seeks sanctuary. This is the territory of Goliath of whom David once said "who is the uncircumcised Philistine" and whom he killed

1 Samuel 27: 1-3 “1 And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 So David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow.”

Now David has no choice but to dwell in their territory and fight their battles because he is on the run

A Way of Escape

God always has a way of escape for his children

1 Samuel 23:25–29 NKJV

25 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon. 26 Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!” 28 Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape. 29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.

1 Samuel 27:1–2 NKJV

1 And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

1 Samuel 28:1–2 NKJV

1 Now it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “You assuredly know that you will go out with me to battle, you and your men.” 2 So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”

1 Samuel 29:1–4 NKJV

1 Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. 3 Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me.” 4 But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, “Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these men?

1 Samuel 29:6–11 NKJV

6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you. 7 Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.” 11 So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

These verses details the subtle ways God protect His children even when the children don’t know it

Saul was circling in on David then suddenly, God creates a diversion in the form of the Philistines the land (v 27-28)

David was about to go in and fight Isreal, the kingdom God ordained for him, and that would have destroyed any prospect of David becoming king. But (somebody say BUT x2) divine providence intervened and the lords of the Philistines demanded that David returned to Ziklag

Paul writes to the wavering church in Corinth when they were going through some very tough time and he tell them:

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

There is a promise i can give you today and that is “God will make a way of escape”

- It might be close, but there will be a way of escape

- It might be circling in on you, but there will be a way of escape

- It might be closing in on you, but there will be a way of escape

- You might be in the wrong camp because you are running, but there will be a way of escape

- You might be saying it, “it is over”, but there will be a way of escape

The Ephod

Back to our text

1 Samuel 30:1–4 NKJV

David has returned from a narrow escape. The Lord has caused him to escape a precarious situation

But now there is more trouble

There is destruction everywhere… the entire possession is destroyed and consumed

Notice what he does in verse 6

1 Samuel 30:6 NKJV

6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

He prays! but this prayer is not enough… it is not deep… he needs something bigger… he needs a revelation on how to solve the impending problem

Do you feel at times God has not heard your prayer?

Then David takes a radical step (verse 7)

1 Samuel 30:7 NKJV

7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

During the massacre of the Priests by Saul at Nob, Ahimelech’s son Abiathar escapes carrying an ephod

1 Samuel 22:20 NKJV

20 Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.

1 Samuel 23:6 NKJV

6 Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand.

The Ephod (Description and Significance) (read about the ephod from Exodus 28)

A sacred linen garment worn by high priests which holds the Urim and Thummim. (read about the ephod from Exodus 28)

These are used by the priests when consulting God in the holies of holies.

As such, the ephod is often regarded as an oracle.

The ephod, as indicated, was to be worn only by a priest (high priest), giving the priest access to God (the Holy of Holies - the innermost and most sacred area of the Tabernacle, accessible only to the Israelite high priest).

Give an illustration of the Holy of Holies and its relationship to the ephod

Exodus gives us a description of the Holy of Holies

Exodus 26:30–35 NKJV

30 And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain. 31 “You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. 32 You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. 35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.

To use the ephod was to indicate a state of divine holiness bestowed on a set of people. Only a priest had this authority.

Based on strict Hebrew principles and laws, it was particularly abominable for a commoner to use the ephod in any manner other than what is was designed for, as the garment was considered sacred

Judges 8:27 NIV

27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Judges 17:5 NIV

5 Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household gods and installed one of his sons as his priest.

By implication, David was equating himself with the level and authority of the priest and in ancient Hebrew tradition, that was sacrilege

But you see desperate times calls for desperate action!

When David’s life was significantly threatened which would impact everyone else, he was left with no choice other than to use the ephod

1 Samuel 23:8–12 NKJV

8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. 9 When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”

1 Samuel 30:7–8 NKJV

7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

In Keliah he was afraid because he was unsure the people were going to turn on him and his men

In Ziklag, his men were talking of stoning him if he did not do something to get their wives, sons and daughters back

There are situation that calls for a radical, unconventional, and unorthodox approach

But you see I have a good news for you… this is the new news… and if you did not know it, it is the breaking news… and this new news is the NEW TESTAMENT… a NEW TESTINONY

See, we have a bigger ephod

A mightier ephod that has given me access to the Holy of Holies

For the book of Hebrews says:

Hebrews 4:14–16 NKJV

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 9:11–15 NKJV

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Now I have access into the Holy of Holies… and how do I know this…

Because on the hill called Calvary… a man called Jesus, who is God because:

John 1:1–2 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

… and on Calvary

John 19:30 NKJV

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Mark 15:37–38 NKJV

37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. 38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:51 NKJV

51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

And before He went on the Calvary he said to me:

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Now I don't have to be on the outside but I am now in the Holy of Holies because the veil that was separating me from Him has been torn

So I can tell you now… you may be running from:

1. Financial difficulties… but put on the ephod

2. Economic difficulties… but put on the ephod

3. Political difficulties… but put on the ephod

4. Work difficulties… but put on the ephod

5. Family difficulties… but put on the ephod

6. Marital difficulties… but put on the ephod

7. Children difficulties… but put on the ephod

8. Parental difficulties… but put on the ephod

9. Health difficulties… but put on the ephod

10. Difficulties of confusion in the mind… but put on the ephod

11. Difficulties in their general well-being… but put on the ephod

12. Spiritual difficulties… but put on the ephod

13. Difficulties because of lack of peace… but put on the ephod

14. Difficulties because of lack of joy… but put on the ephod

15. Difficulties because of lack of love… but put on the ephod

16. Difficulties due to loss… but put on the ephod

YOU ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE ON THE RUN

So finally my brothers and sisters:

Ephesians 6:10–11 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.