Snitches and Stitches

“Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul’s men, spoke up. “When I was at Nob,” he said, “I saw the son of Jesse talking to the priest, Ahimelech son of Ahitub. Ahimelech consulted the Lord for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”… Then the king said to Doeg, “You [kill them].” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments… David exclaimed, “I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family.” 1 Samuel 22:9-10, 18, & 22

Snitches get stitches or wind up in ditches. At least that’s how the saying went when I was growing up. There’s a street code about throwing someone else under the bus… you never do it for personal gain. But the code doesn’t mean much to the person who is in Betrayal mode. Their heart is clouded with so much Anger towards someone they once Loved that they don’t often think about the why or how it is affecting other people, and sometimes it means innocents get caught in the crossfire.

This happened with David. Doeg was loyal to Saul, but had heard about David’s wearabouts. At first it appears he isn’t going to say anything about what he knows… until Saul applies a little pressure. After feeling the pressure, not only does Doeg tell Saul what he knows about where David is, but he ends up killing 85 innocent priests in the process. Doeg was a herder, not a soldier. So we can only wonder why he would be comfortable enough to kill so many, just like we can wonder why he was consumed by the pressure of King Saul to do what he did. But in the end, his snitch cost 85 people their lives.

Can you imagine how David must have felt? Knowing that 85 people were killed trying to get to him? Knowing that Doeg was the person who snitched? I can only imagine how they knew each other. Doeg was a herder and so was David before he killed Goliath. Maybe Doeg was jealous of how David came up in status. Maybe he was afraid of what the King would do or say if he found out what he knew. Either way, his betrayal ran deep and cost David so much. So what do you do when you find yourself in David’s shoes? What do you do when you discover not only that you’ve been betrayed, but that it has hurt someone else? Let me affirm you, and hopefully give you sound advice.

Affirmation 1: You’re not responsible for someone else’s actions. It can be really hard when you see someone get caught in the crossfire when someone is after you. But you cannot hold guilt in your heart based on someone else’s choice. They chose to go after the innocent. They chose to hurt instead of heal. They chose to attack when they could have compromised. It’s ok to feel sad and be upset when you see others hurting at what seems to be your expense, but keep in mind that the burden you already bear is heavy enough and give yourself some grace.

Affirmation 2: Turn your guilt into something good. If you’re able to give back when someone else is caught in your crossfire, do it! David was able to provide shelter for the remaining family members after the deaths of the priests. So if you can bless others, by all means do so. They will appreciate you for it and remember your sacrifice. Just remember to stay within your means. It won’t do to cause yourself undue, unnecessary stress because you’re trying to make up for what someone else did. In other words, share what you can but don’t sacrifice your peace of mind.

Affirmation 3: Stick to your guns. Sometimes when people are hurting they try to get you to do things you wouldn’t for their comfort. They might want you to surrender, or stop fighting, or quit while you’re ahead, but it’s important for you to remember that you are responsible for your journey and your journey alone. You can’t let someone else’s fear of betrayal cause you to betray yourself. Protect your mental.

So all in all, I hope you will guard your heart and prepare for the worst case scenario when it comes to others being hurt at your expense. Understand that the attacks on our lives often appear as attacks on the ones we love, think about the best possible outcome and just be prepared. Be prepared for naysayers, and fear mongering, and the pain you’ll feel seeing someone else suffer. Prepare your heart and your mind for the struggle that will ensue at the hands of a snitch. Keep your stitches about you so you’re not hurt by the snitches. I love you and I believe in you. Keep conquering daily!