Day 1195: Imputed righteousness - 1 Samuel 22 vs 12 - 23

12-13 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have enquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” 14-15 Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honoured in your house? Is today the first time that I have enquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.”

16-17 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house.” And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. 18-19 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

20-23 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.” 1 Samuel 22:12-23 English Standard Version

Saul's hatred of David is seen in today's reading in that he does not even use his name, but speaks only of 'the son of Jesse.' It also blinded him to the defence that Ahimelech offered. Ahimelech pointed out that David was a son-in-law to the king, and had always served him faithfully. He pleads that no wrongdoing would be 'imputed' to him or anyone of his family. The word translated as impute is translated as 'hold me guilty' in 2 Samuel 19:19.

In the New Testament, however, James and Paul use this word in a postive way. When God promised Abraham a child, He brought him outside and said, “Look towards heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your offspring be.” Then the King James Bible says that Abraham believed God, and “it was 'imputed' unto him for righteousness”. (James 2:23) The English Standard Version says “it was counted to him as righteousness.”

And Paul said that Abraham “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was 'counted to him as righteousness'. But the words 'it was counted to him' were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses, and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:20-25) As the King James Version says in Psalm 32:2 “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.” It's as if God imputes Christ's righteousness to our account.

But Saul was quite ready to impute transgression and guilt to Ahimelech, and he orders his execution. And despite the kings servants who would not lift a hand to strike them, the deed was carried out by the hard hearted Doeg who slaughtered 85 priests. The only one to escape was Abiathar who fled to where David was.

What a desolate day for David. What pain and anguish he must have felt. And while he offered Abiathar protection, he admitted his part in what happened by saying “I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house.” Little did he know then that, despite God's love for him, he would not have the honour of building a house for the Lord because of his warring life, and all the blood that was shed. (1 Chronicles 28:3-7) David needed God’s imputed righteousness too.