1 Samuel 29
David is in a strange place. Not just physically, but also in his relationship with God. While Saul is having a meltdown due to the news of his impending death the next day, David is ready to go to war with the Philistines against the Israelites. The other Philistine rulers don’t actually have a problem with David and his followers being in their land under Achish until they find him marching at the back of their ranks. Wisely, they question this heavily and contend with Achish to have them turn back. They foresaw David, previously a wildly successful commander directly under their enemy Saul’s authority, seizing the opportunity to kill all of them in battle. So Achish folds and tells David to turn back, an interaction that would become a display of God’s divine providence for David’s life.
Considering the events of Chapter 27, David’s motives are unclear in joining ranks with the Philistines. MacArthur’s bible commentary helps to illuminate the two possible realities for David internally. Either 1, he is in fact planning to manifest the fear of the rulers by strategically assassinating them in battle to give a greater victory for Israel, a nation with basically no chance against all the Philistines currently. This isn’t too far of a stretch, especially considering David was deceiving Achish by raiding the wilderness foes of Judah, slowly earning their approval, while illuding that he was attacking Judans to Achish. Or 2, he was actually compromising on his loyalty to God and his people. Raising his hand against his God’s anointed people, something he said he’d never do. Either way, he is told to leave, which MacArthur concludes “the providence of God kept David from fighting against the Lord’s anointed and his own countrymen” (MacArthur, pg. 345). An event that ultimately serves to humble David, and brings him back to the council and nearness of the Lord, even through tragedy and his own rebellion.
David doesn’t consult the Lord in chapter 27 when he plots to go to the land of the Philistines, and again doesn’t consult the Lord when he chooses to join their ranks when fighting the Israelites. Maybe we aren’t surprised by his hastiness or rash decision-making. He is a man who even though served loyally and rather successfully under Saul, was forced to live on the run, on the brink of death, for a burdening amount of time. David, being after God’s heart, is incredibly loyal, to anyone and everyone he serves. All through this book, we have seen him be loyal and faithful to serving his masters. Yet with Saul particularly, it’s hard not to think that the deep and foundational aspect of David’s character to serve loyally to whom he is placed under is not scarred. Ultimately, the life he is living now is uncomfortable, and not what he expected or anticipated. Firstly by Saul’s jealousy and burning anger, and partially by his own doing by choosing to go to the land of the Philistines.
Scarring situations, either by something you did or something someone did to you, either in the church or not, can cause people to make some weird decisions. In this story, David runs to his enemies. In our context now, we have Christ, who never leaves us or forsakes us to run to. One way or another, we are humbled by the Lord and brought back to His feet, the feet of the great physician, the only one who can truly heal us. After all, it was because we are sick and broken that He came. “And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2.17).
Questions:
Are you hurt and turning to things not of God?
Are there areas in your life you are in need of healing from?
Take these things to the Lord, and know that nothing in this world can help us quite like our God, who cares for, loves, and knows us more than we know.
