FEAR NOT -- 1 Samuel 22:23

"Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard."

BACKGROUND/COMMENTARY: From the Isidro Annotated Old Testament---This chapter records the massacre of the priests in the city of Nob. Verses 6-19 gives the account of the massacre of the priests of Nob and their families by the order of Saul because they had helped David in his escape from Saul. While the soldiers of Saul refuse to slay the priests, Doeg the Edomite led in the massacre. Saul lost his reverence for the priesthood of Israel due to his hatred against David. In verse 23, it is to Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, who was able to escape that David says, "Fear not..."
from David Guzik (blueletterbible.org): In verses 16-19, Saul commands the execution of the priests and their families, and Doeg the Edomite carries it out when Saul's soldiers refused to do it. When he heard about the murders, David felt really responsible for the death of all of those families. He knew that he made a mistake in letting this Doeg go. He should've killed him when he had the chance during an earlier encounter with Doeg. Doeg was not a Jew, but an Edomite. In Psalm 52, David shows his outrage against Doeg: Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness. You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue (Psalm 52:1a, 2-4)
David protects Abiathar, the only survivor of Ahimelech's family. David could not do anything about the priests who were already murdered. He confessed his guilt in the matter, and sought forgiveness from the LORD. Now, all he can do is minister to the need in front of him - Abiathar, the surviving priest. 

A PERSONAL APPLICATION can be made from Saul's thoughts and actions which led to the massacre of the priests and their families in the city of Nob: What a warning is here that we should not yield to the first intrusion of evil, lest the thought should lead to the act, and repeated acts to the habit, and habits congeal to character, and character become set in destiny! (Meyer)