Admonition

 Background

“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.”

God, through the lessons he taught David, has been teaching us at the same time. The battle with Goliath, the encounters with Saul, the escape to the priests, the escape to the Philistines. All of this was growing David from a shepherd boy to a leader of Israel. Yet, he still has much to learn, and so do we.

Patience

As people we lack patience and so did David. It was through David’s lack of faith (and our’s) that he retreated to the safety of the Philistines. David has retreated with his army and entire family to Gath. Remember Gath was the city that Goliath had come from. Now David finds himself before Achish, the King of Gath.

Intrigue

Saul was now relieved that David had deserted Israel to safety in the lands of the Philistines. Saul will assume that David is not a problem.

Achish, is happy to see David in his country, and is expecting David to be under his control.

“10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. 11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.” (1 Samuel 26:10-12)

David had asked for any city other than the capital of Gath. It was Achish which gave David a city far from Gath, right up against Israel. The city was now under David’s control with both military and religious control of God. David was free to worship God and keep his men in close relations to God.

In summary, Saul was happy, Achish was happy, and David felt secure.

Stay Tuned…