David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” – 1 Samuel 21:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 15, 2012): 1 Samuel 21

There are some activities in life that we just do not want witnesses for. Some of them are not bad activities, but the bad ones we definitely do not want people around to see. But sometimes privacy in life is just needed. I admit that I am a bit of a loner, and I actually need time alone to recharge – but I also recognize that not everyone works that way. And some people, simply because of their position, are very seldom alone.

David would have been one of the ones that was seldom alone. As he grew in power, he left behind him the days when he could just go out on a hill with the sheep by himself. Now he would have attendants and servants and body guards around him all of the time. And so when he shows up in Nob alone, Ahimelech the priest questioned whether this solitary future king might be bringing evil with him. After all, why would David show up alone unless it was because his intended actions would not bear witnesses?

But David had never feared being alone – he had spent a lot of time alone in his youth. In fact, there were times when he realized that he needed to be that lonely shepherd on the hill. And this was one of them. David needed a place of refuge. Samuel the prophet had already failed to protect him, and so had Jonathan the prince. So now it was up to the priest city of Nob. But David refused to commit his friends to a refuge that he was not sure of – and so he went to Nob alone.

There are times and there are places where we need to be alone – we need to check out the lay of the land and make sure that everything is okay. But then, once we find that place of refuge, we need to invite those that are close to us to come with us and take advantage of that safety. David would not spend the rest of his life in Nob, but for this moment both he and those that were close to him needed the break. And when you need that place to rest, my prayer is that you will know exactly where it is that you need to go, and that you will have the courage to bring those that you love with you.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 34