“⁹ Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse (David) coming to Nob, to Ahimelech (the High Priest) the son of Ahitub.

¹⁰ And he inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

¹¹ Then the king (Saul) sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

¹² And Saul said, Hear now, you son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

¹³ And Saul said unto him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” 1 Samuel 22:9-13

Doeg, a servant of Saul, was present in the Tabernacle when David, God’s anointed, inquired of the High Priest for the shewbread and sword.  Doeg zealously peddled this scandal before King Saul.

Satan’s weapons against the faithfulness to Truth are violence, which is easily recognized and ” sincere” flattery, which is much more deceitful.  Nevertheless, the Truth remains…it is up to each and every Believer to seek out the Truth according to God’s Word.  Don’t mistake seeking out gossip with seeking out Truth.  God’s Word clearly tells us how to handle gossip.  We seek out how to handle the gossip and not the “truth” of the gossip.  This isn’t a buffet…we need to eat off of our own plate and stop meddling in others personal affairs.

“He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.” Proverbs 20:19

Furthermore, slander is still gossip whether the slander is true or not and only a fool utters slander and flatters with lying lips.

“He that hides hatred with lying lips, and he that utter a slander, is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18

Before aligning with Doeg, consider the spirit behind Doeg’s actions.  Recognize the deceitfulness of flattery, even in the most sincere forms, when it is used by satan to hinder one’s faithfulness to the Truth of God’s Word.  Doeg was flattered to be used as a tool to “warn” Saul.

“Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15

Beware of the modern day “Doegs”…but also beware of being used of satan as a Doeg.

-Donna Clark Warren