Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Bible Study Notes in 1 Samuel- Chapter 27


1 Samuel 27



-David now says to himself that he would perish at the hand of evil, double-minded King Saul if he were to continue staying in the land of Israel. He concluded that there would be nothing better for him and his 600 men, with their families, than to go in escape to the land of the Philistines, who were the people of God’s mortal enemies. He accurately reasoned that Saul would despair of searching for him in enemy territory thus allowing for the deliverance of his life. So he arose and crossed over to side with Achish, king of Gath, and lived with him in his royal city. When it was told to Saul what David had done, he indeed called off the search for his arch nemesis (1 Samuel 27:1-4).

-After these things, David approached Achish with a petition. If he had found favor in the sight of this king, he desired a place in his country for his people to live so that they did not cramp the royal city with their presence. So Achish generously gave David and his people Ziklag that very day, which continued to be a possession of Israel until the writing of the text (1 Samuel 27:5-6). Therefore, David lived in the country of the Philistines a year and four months. In that time, they went up to the south and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites who had been inhabitants of these lands from ancient times as one comes from Shur even as far as the land of Egypt. David and his men attacked the land and left no one alive, just as God had long ago commanded (Deuteronomy 7:1-2). He took away sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing as spoil. Then he returned to Achish telling him of his exploits in the land of the Negev. Achish believed now that David was fully committed to his cause, and that he had surely become odious among his own people in Israel. He falsely assumed that David would be his servant forever at this point (1 Samuel 27:7-12).

-*Application* Sometimes in wisdom we must decide to enter the enemies camp for a season when things are so rough in our homeland. We know persecution is real when it gets to this point. I know Christians that feel more comfortable in a bar with heathens than in a cold-religious environment that is sterile, condescending, and callous. When we think of it, wasn’t Jesus doing the same type of thing (Matthew 23, Luke 7:33-35)?



Verse to Memorize: 1 Samuel 27:7

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