1 Samuel 27

1 Samuel 27

Morgan - David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.—1 Sam. 27.1 Once more we see David possessed by fear, and passing over to dwell for a time among the Philistines. Again we have to say that we can understand his action. Long and weary indeed had been his period of suffering. There came upon him the sense of depression. For the moment he forgot that his soul was bound up in the bundle of life with Jehovah God. It is easy to forget this, "when all around tumultuous seems." Looking at circumstances, there seemed to David no hope. And so he went to live in Gath. It was a sorry period. He made occasional raids upon other ancient enemies of his race, and with success. In order to hide this from those among whom he dwelt, he was driven to telling untruths. When a man is mastered by fear through failure of faith, and consequently occupies a false position, he is always in grave danger; of violating some principle of his loyalty. It is impossible to see David taking refuge in Gath, without recognizing that he had lost for the time being the clear vision of God which made him strong against Goliath. The reading of this story inevitably suggests a contrast between David and his greater Son. David was the anointed king, and he was persecuted by the rejecting kin. All this was repeated in the history of Jesus. The contrast, however, is marked. No fear ever made the Anointed One quail. He never crossed over to the enemy to find personal safety. He often spoke of the fact that men would kill Him, but always ended such foretelling with the prophecy of His ultimate triumph. (Borrow Life applications from every chapter of the Bible) 1 Samuel 27:2 So David arose and crossed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. the six hundred men: 1Sa 25:13 30:8 Achish: 1Sa 21:10 1Ki 2:40 1 Samuel 27 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: 1 Samuel 21:10+ (DAVID'S FIRST SOJOURN TO GATH) Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?” 12 David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath. 13 So he disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man behaving as a madman. Why do you bring him to me? 15 “Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this one to act the madman in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?” 1 Samuel 23:5+ (NOT THAT LONG BEFORE DAVID HAD KILLED MANY PHILISTINES - THEY MUST NOT HAVE BEEN FROM GATH!) So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. 1 Samuel 23:14+ (WHAT DAVID SEEMS TO HAVE FORGOTTEN AS WE BEGIN CHAPTER 27) David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. 15 Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged (STRENGTHENED- SAME WORD 1Sa 30:6+) him in God. 17Thus he said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.” FEAR OF MAN PROMPTS MOVE TO PAGAN-VILLE So - (means for this reason, therefore - "so that" is slightly different as this phrase usually signifies purpose or result in what follows). Watch this tiny conjunction which like a hinge can open some interesting doors. In this case, David's reasoning within himself comes to a conclusion to move on down the road to Philistia! David arose and crossed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath - Crossed over gives the picture of changing sides. In sports we would say something like "David, you are out of bounds!" Bad move David! You should have sat still and waited on the LORD (cf Isa 40:31+! - Easy for me to say! Not so easy to practice!) So first notice that there is no mention of David inquiring of the LORD before making this major move. Ostensibly, this move might not even be safe considering he is Israelite most hated by survivors of a man named Goliath (cf 1Sa 17:23), not to mention other Gathites who had probably participated in his capture on his first southernly sojourn to their fair idol worshiping city (cf 1Sa 21:10-12, Ps 56:1). But David weighed the odds, and concluded there was greater danger with one paranoid king than with one pagan king. What starts as a fleeting thought becomes a plan, a plan becomes a commitment, and eventually a commitment becomes a lifestyle! -- Ray Pritchard