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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