The
Book of First Samuel
Chapter 27
[1] 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.
1) Discouragement Vs 1
In Chapter 26 we heard David make a statement about
being “driven out”... he was thinking of leaving
By chapter 27 David says in his heart “I
should escape to the Philistines”
Our heart shapes our thinking and our actions
Through discouragement he forgets the past
deliverances of God
David also says “Saul shall despair of me”
Saul will not despair,
rather he will rejoice...... it is David that will despair
Saul could not have driven David away but
discouragement & despair will
David listens to self pity, looks at his
problems and drives himself away
[2] And David arose, and he passed over
with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish,
the son of Maoch, king of
[3] And David dwelt with Achish at
[4] And it was told Saul that David was
fled to
2)
Departure Vs
2-4
As David leaves, he leads 600 men out of the
land of promise (he is a defector)
Even their households or families are led
astray
David came to king Achish
(he had been here before I Sam 21:10-15 he pretended a madman to escape)
But discouragement & despair cause him to
go down the path of sin once more
Achish accepts
David as they have the same enemy (Saul) & David also has 600 fighting men
It was told Saul, that David had left &
Saul stopped pursuit of David
But David, now in the place of compromise,
will be worse off than if Saul were after him
David looks for security.
Are you safer in Promised Land in God’s Will
OR among Philistines, out of God’s Will
[5] And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace
in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town
in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the
royal city with thee?
[6] Then Achish
gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings
of
[7] And the time that David dwelt in
the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
3)
Dwelling Vs 5-7
David asks for favor with the world and a
place to stay....... this is not just a visit (to dwell there)
Wanting favor w/ world and the city of
** See Josh 15:31.......... the city actually used to belong to
A fortified city, a formal place of defense,
no more wilderness, BUT no more power of God
They dwell there for 16 mo
[8] And David and his men went up, and
invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites,
and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the
inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
[9] And David smote the land, and left
neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the
asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.
4)
Disposition Vs 8-9
David & his men, raided (attacked) enemies of
* Not as bad as he could have been
David is killing and looting, he has become a
robber and a murderer
He no longer has the approval or guidance of
God............ he is fighting for profit and not honor
Is this a way of life for a man after God’s
own heart ???
[10] And Achish
said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David
said, Against the south of
[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
5)
Deception V 10-12 I Sam 28:1,2
King Achish asks
where David has raided
David lies and says that he had raided South
of Judah (he wants the favor of the king)
* The lands he raided were South
of Judah, but implied he had raided
Everywhere David raided he killed them all,
to cover up his lie
(This is the root of his lie and
murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband)
King Achish
believed David (he though David had burnt bridges with
I Sam 28:1,2
The Philistines gather to fight
Now David will have to live the lie that he
has told
David says that he and his men will do
it..... they will fight
All of this because David trusts his own heart more than he trusts God
God did not bless David this entire time (no
Psalms are recorded)
But God did not take away the calling to be
king........................Oh what MERCY!!!
God knew David would get right with Him after chastisement