What role does obedience play in the actions of Doeg in this passage? Setting the Scene • 1 Samuel 22 describes Saul’s growing paranoia about David. • Ahimelech and the priests of Nob have unknowingly aided David. • Saul demands retribution; his own guards recoil at the idea of slaughtering priests. The Command Issued “Then the king said to Doeg, ‘You turn and strike down the priests!’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.” (1 Samuel 22:18) Doeg’s Obedience: A Misguided Loyalty • Immediate, unquestioning compliance to Saul’s order. • Motivated by: – Desire to curry favor with the king (22:7–10 hints at ambition). – Fear of Saul’s wrath—obedience rooted in self-preservation, not righteousness. • Lacks any consultation of God’s Law, which clearly forbade murder (Exodus 20:13). • Stands in stark contrast to Saul’s own guards, who refuse the sinful command (22:17). Contrast: Holy Obedience in Scripture • “To obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22) – Obedience must align with God’s will, not merely human authority. • Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than men.” – Apostles choose divine command over earthly orders. • Exodus 1:17: Hebrew midwives disobey Pharaoh to honor God and preserve life. • Daniel 3 & 6: Daniel and his friends respectfully defy kings when commands violate God’s law. The Fallout of Misguided Obedience • Doeg’s act fulfills Saul’s rage but earns him a place in Scripture as a villain (Psalm 52, superscription). • He incurs bloodguilt—God later judges Saul and his house (1 Samuel 22:20–23; 1 Samuel 31). • Demonstrates that obedience to sinful authority never excuses personal responsibility (Ezekiel 18:20). Takeaways for Believers Today • Obedience is virtuous only when aligned with God’s revealed word. • We weigh every human directive against Scripture’s unchanging standard. • Courageous refusal to participate in evil may cost earthly favor yet secures heavenly approval. • True loyalty belongs first to the Lord, who alone is worthy of absolute obedience. |
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