Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
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1 Samuel 29
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And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.
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Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
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And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
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Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
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Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favor thee not.
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And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
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And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
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Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
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So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
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Chapter Study & Analysis
Overview
1 Samuel 29 describes David being sent away from the Philistine army. The Philistine lords distrust David and refuse to let him fight against Israel, a providential intervention that prevents David from fighting his own people.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS
1. Providential Escape: God used the jealousy of the Philistine lords to rescue David from a moral disaster (v. 4). God often uses our enemies to keep us from doing something that would ruin our destiny.2. The Consequences of Compromise: David found himself in a position where he was expected to fight against God’s people (v. 8). Compromise always leads to impossible dilemmas.
3. Reputation Among Outsiders: Even King Achish recognized David’s integrity (v. 6). Our character should be evident even to those who do not share our faith.
Practical Lessons
FORMAL PRAYER
We thank Thee, Lord, for Thy "preventing grace" that keeps us from paths of destruction. Help us to maintain a good testimony among those outside the faith, and deliver us from compromising positions. Amen.