1 Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,
‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” 11 So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
The story returns to David and the Philistines. The Philistine army was advancing and David had joined their ranks with King Achish at the rear. The commanders came to Achish and asked why he had brought Hebrews into battle with them. They had good reason to be concerned. In a previous battle they had allowed Hebrews under their protection to go into battle with them and the results had been disastrous. Hebrews in Philistine army dress and with Philistine weapons had turned on them and the result was Philistines killing Philistines (1 Sam 14:20-21). Achish tried to defend David. He explained how David had lived alongside him for over a year and he had found no fault with him. Achish was convinced that David would not turn against them. But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and demanded that he send David back. They believed David might seek to regain Saul’s favour by turning on them in battle. They reminded Achish that David is the one they sang the song about, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”—and weren’t those thousands Philistines?
Achish conceded to the commanders and sent David back in peace. He assured David that he had found no fault in him but that the commanders did not approve of him joining them. David feigned displeasure at this decision and asked what he had done to displease Achish. David was ready to go and fight for “my lord and king” though this phrase was likely intentionally ambiguous. David could have been referring to Achish, but could equally have been referring to Saul, or more likely, the Lord.
There are a number of similarities between Achish and Saul. Both kings made David their personal bodyguard. Both were impressed by David’s fighting prowess and yet removed him from their armies. Both misjudged David. Saul believed David was his mortal enemy though he was fiercely loyal. On the other hand, Achish believed David to be loyal though he was his enemy. These parallels serve to show that Saul was indeed, “a king like all the other nations ” (1 Sam 8:5)
This story also shows the providential hand of God keeping David from any involvement in Saul’s death. Instead, when Saul died, David and his men were miles away defeating the Amalekites whom Saul had failed to devote to destruction.
David lined up for battle with the Philistines against Israel. We know from David’s character that he would never have laid a hand on the Lord’s chosen people of Israel so he must have been operating in faith waiting for the Lord to show him what to do, and the Lord provided a way out. Are you living a life without compromise in faith that God will honour your decision and commitment to Him, and show you the way out when you encounter seemingly compromising situations?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
The First Lord’s Supper: Luke 21-22