In terms of application, 1 Samuel 22 encourages us to know that the evil designs of men will not prevent the coming of God’s kingdom. His plans will proceed, they cannot be stopped. Not Satan, not communism, there is no power outside of God’s control, he is omnipotent, he is sovereign. There will always be a church on earth to worship the LORD according to his will.
Having said that, we must also remember that it is the work of God’s King and his Kingdom that will continue, not ours. Servants of the LORD, the priests at Nob were killed. Killed to be resurrected when Christ returns in glory most certainly. But killed nonetheless. Killed because of their loyalty to God. We might not all be living in place and situations where embracing Christ is likely to result in death. But we are all called to a loyalty that will bring division. A loyalty that might put us in places of danger. Our families are not so important that it is peace at all costs. Our lives are not so important that we must do everything in our power to keep our hearts beating. We look forward to a resurrection, our best life to come, not our best life now.
6 Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.