PIDGIN DOEG - THE COWARDLY MAN!

1 Samuel 22:6-19

But dem kon tell Saul where David and di pipol wey dey with am dey stay. Saul sidan for Gibeah under one tamarisk tree for one high place with en spear for en hand and all en savants gada round am. 7 Saul tell dem, “All of una wey kom from Benjamin tribe! Make una listin! Jesse pikin don give field and vineyard to any of una before? Or e don make any of una kommander and offisa? 8 Nobody fit kon even tell mi wen my own pikin enter agriment with dis David. Non of una even fit sorry kon tell mi sey my own pikin don allow my savant set trap for mi, just as e bi today so.”

9 But Doeg wey kom from Edom, wey dey among Saul savants kon ansa di king, “I si David wen e go meet Ahitub pikin Ahimelek for Nob. 10 E tok to God for am kon give David some food and oda tins. E still gi-am Goliat, di Filistia giant, swod.”

11 Den di king send for Priest Ahimelek, wey bi Ahitub pikin and all di priest wey dey en own papa house for Nob. So all of dem kom meet di king. 12 Den Saul sey, “Ahitub pikin, make yu listin.”

Ahimelek kon ansa, “My oga, I dey hear yu.”

13 Saul ask am, “Wetin make yu join plan against mi; yu and David? Yu gi-am bread and swod kon tok to God for am, so dat e go oppoz mi kon set trap for mi, just as di matter bi today?”

14 Ahimelek ansa di king, “For all di savant wey yu get, na wish one dey good rish David? David na di king pikin husband, na en bi oga for di king sojas and e dey work for yor house. 15 Na today bi di first day wey I dey tok to God for am? E nor fit happen! Make di king nor blame en savant or evry priest for my papa house. Bikos yor savant nor know anytin wey dey happen at-all.”

16 But di king sey, “Ahimelek, yu must die, both yu and evribody for yor papa house!”

17 Den di king tell di pipol wey dey with am sey, “Make una go kill God priests. Bikos dem don join David side. Dem know sey e dey run, but dem nor kom tell mi.”

But di king savants nor gri tosh God priest.

18 Den di king kon tell Doeg, “Make yu kill di priests.” So Doeg wey kom from Edom kon turn kill di priests. For dat day, e kill eight five men wey wear linen priest garment. 19 Den e kon go Nob wey bi priests town kon kill evribody for der, both men and wimen, yong and small pikin, plus all dia animals.

20 But one of Ahimelek pikin run go meet David. En name na Abiatar. 21 Abiatar kon tell David evritin, how Saul take kill God priest. 22 Den David tell Abiatar, “I know dat day sey, since Doeg wey kom from Edom dey der, e must tell King Saul. Na mi dem go blame for di deat wey yor papa and en family don die so. 23 So, make yu stay with mi and yu go dey save. Make yu nor fear, bikos Saul won kill di two of us.”

 

  

Cowardice no dey always dey loud. Sometimes e dey hide behind obedience, silence, or the desire to please powerful people. For 1 Samuel 22, we meet Doeg the Edomite, one man wey him name forever tie to betrayal, fear, and bloodshed. Him story na warning to every believer: cowardice no be just say person no get courage — na when person dey willing to abandon righteousness as soon as righteousness start to cost am. 

Doeg first appear for 1 Samuel 21:7, wen say dem “detain am before the Lord” for Nob. He no be Israelite; he be foreigner wey dey serve as chief herdsman to King Saul. Him position give am access to power, but e no give am character to manage am well. When he see David receive bread and Goliath sword from Ahimelech the priest, he no talk anything. He just dey watch. Cowardice often start with silent observation — see wetin correct, know wetin true, but refuse to stand for am. 

Later, when Saul heart full with paranoia and anger, and he dey ask who support David, Doeg seize him chance. Verse 9 record him words: “I see the son of Jesse come Nob…” He report the truth, but him heart bend toward evil. Cowardly people often hide behind correct information while dem intentionally dey fuel destruction. Doeg know Saul mind. He know wetin him words go provoke. Yet he still talk, not out of loyalty, but out of self-preservation and ambition. 

When Saul order him guards make dem kill the priests of the Lord, dem refuse. Dem fear God pass king. Dem understand say to obey human authority no mean say make you disobey divine authority. But Doeg step forward. Verse 18 say, “Doeg the Edomite turn and strike the priests.” He kill eighty-five priests, men wey wear linen ephod, and then he go further to destroy the whole city of Nob: men, women, children, babies, and animals. Him violence no be courage; na the highest level of cowardice — when person ready to do evil just to secure favour from power. 

Doeg action stand opposite David own. David, even though enemies dey pursue am and fear dey, refuse to touch Saul because he fear God. David courage come from reverence. Doeg cowardice come from self-interest. One man protect life even when e put him own life at risk; the other destroy life to save himself. 

Cowardice no always dey dramatic. E fit show for small ways: 

- When we keep quiet for the face of injustice because to speak fit cost us relationship or opportunity. 

- When we compromise truth just to gain acceptance. 

- When we choose people approval over God approval. 

Doeg teach us say cowardice no dey passive — e dey destroy. E dey lead to betrayal, injustice, and spiritual blindness. Psalm 52 naDavid response to Doeg actions. David describe am as man wey him tongue “dey plan destruction,” wey “love evil pass good” for Psalm 52:2–3. But David also declare say God go uproot person like that and expose the emptiness of false strength. 

The tragedy of Doeg na say he stand near the things of God — dem “detaine nam before the Lord” — but him heart no change. Just dey around holy things no mean say person holy. He see priesthood, sacrifices, and God presence, yet he choose fear, ambition, and cruelty. Him life warn us say to dey inside spiritual environment no be the same thing as to dey transformed by God. 

In contrast, David — though him own life rough, hunted, and tired — keep him heart aligned with God. Him courage no be say he no fear; na say he no allow fear direct him obedience. Courage na to choose righteousness even when e cost you. Cowardice na to choose safety even when e destroy others. 

Doeg story dey invite us make we check our own heart. We ready to stand for truth when e no popular? We go protect the vulnerable even when dey inconvenient? We go honour God pass human approval? The cowardly man dey live for himself. The courageous man dey live for God. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS 

·       For which areas of my life I dey tempted to choose people approval over obedience to God? 

·       How Doeg example dey challenge me to confront silent or subtle forms of cowardice inside my own heart? 

·       Which practical step I fit take this week to stand for righteousness, even if e cost me comfort or acceptance? 

PRAYER: Father, deliver me from every form of cowardice. Give me courage to stand for truth, to honour You, and to choose righteousness even when e cost me plenty. Purify my motives, strengthen my heart, and make me bold in obedience. Make my life reflect Your courage, Your justice, and Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

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