1 Samuel 22 · Grade 4
A King Who Fights God
Read and Think
David became the leader of a band of about four hundred men in distress, debt, or discontent. He protected his parents by taking them to Moab. The prophet Gad told him to go into the land of Judah. God was forming a new kind of community around His anointed.
Saul, sitting under a tamarisk tree with spear in hand, felt everyone had betrayed him, even his own son. Doeg the Edomite reported what he saw at Nob. Ahimelech defended himself honestly, praising David's faithfulness. But Saul's paranoia had no room for truth.
Saul ordered his guards to kill the priests of the Lord, but they refused. Doeg the Edomite, an outsider, carried out the order. Abiathar escaped to David. David took responsibility, admitting that his deception at Nob had led to this. He promised Abiathar safety, because they now faced the same enemy.
Show What You Know
What kind of men gathered to David?
What did Saul feel about everyone around him?
Who refused to kill the priests?
What did David admit?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
- He protected his parents by taking them to .
- was forming a new kind of community around His anointed.
- escaped to David.
Think About It
Saul's guards refused to do wrong even when the king commanded it. When is it right to refuse an order?
David took responsibility for his part. Why is that important?
Memory Verse
“David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the persons of your father’s house.”
1 Samuel 22:22 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for keeping me safe. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- How was David's group different from Saul's court?
- When is it right to say no to someone in charge?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.