(7) В¶ And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. (8) And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
Here we see David returned to the Lord in a way of duty. And the Lord returned unto David in a way of grace. Indeed had not the Lord first given grace to David, never would he have returned to the Lord in duty. He saith, himself, and his own experience taught him the precious truth: none can keep alive his own soul. Psalms 22:29. His enquiry by the high priest was in the appointed way. See Numbers 27:21. But wherefore did not David enquire by him at the Lord's hand, in the case of his going to war with Achish? Alas! David's mind was certainly cold towards the Lord at that season. See Reader, what man is, void of grace. Oh precious, precious Jesus! that waiteth not the return of thy sheep, but goeth after the wanderers into the mountains. Oh! seek my soul in all its manifold departures, when going astray, like a sheep that is lost. Psalms 119:176; Ezekiel 34:11-13.