David’s Reliance
As news spread throughout Israel of young David’s forced exile in the Judean Desert, not a few Israelites settled their minds to join him there. Among that number—understandably—were David’s relatives, whose very lives were in peril from the malice of Saul. Likewise, others—including debtors, malcontents, and political outcasts—gladly threw in their lot with this dashing young renegade in the desert. Rather quickly their number grew from 400 (1 Sam. 22:1–2) to 600 (23:13), whom their new leader formed into a scrappy and efficient guerilla force.
Because of the high adventure involved in his exile, David especially attracted the bold and saucy, the natural risk-takers, men able to sneak up quietly, hit hard, and get away fast. His loyal companions during the years of hardship, these warriors would later confer on David’s 40-year reign its energetic and conquering spirit. Some of them grew to be men of renown: Joash, Ahiezer, Ishmaiah, and others (1 Chr. 12:1–16).
Two of David’s associates during this time supplied gifts of another sort; these were Abiathar the priest and Gad the prophet. These two ministries—priest and prophet—would prove important to David, not only during his time as a fugitive but also during his four decades on the throne of Israel (2 Sam. 8:17; 2 Chr. 29:25).
THIS ARTICLE ONLY AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
FOR QUICK ACCESS:
Patrick Henry Reardon is pastor emeritus of All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois, and the author of numerous books, including, most recently, Out of Step with God: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Numbers (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2019).
A Journal of Mere Christianity—Delivered to Your Door
- Essays on theology, culture, and the Church
- Contributors from across the Christian traditions
Six print issues (one year) of Touchstone, plus full online access and PDF downloads for only $39.95.
Get a one-year full-access subscription to the Touchstone online archives for only $19.95.
bulk subscriptions
Order Touchstone subscriptions in bulk and save $10 per sub! Each subscription includes 6 issues of Touchstone plus full online access to touchstonemag.com—including archives, videos, and pdf downloads of recent issues for only $29.95 each! Great for churches or study groups.
Transactions will be processed on a secure server.
more from the online archives
23.1—January/February 2010
It’s Bent on Bringing Down the House on the Family & the Church by Douglas Farrow
28.5—Sept/Oct 2015
Remembering Angka & the Idolatry of the Khmer Rouge 40 Years Later by Les Sillars
calling all readers
Please Donate
"There are magazines worth reading but few worth saving . . . Touchstone is just such a magazine."
—Alice von Hildebrand
"Here we do not concede one square millimeter of territory to falsehood, folly, contemporary sentimentality, or fashion. We speak the truth, and let God be our judge. . . . Touchstone is the one committedly Christian conservative journal."
—Anthony Esolen, Touchstone senior editor
