DAVID & THE PHILISTINES PART 2
Achish Commands David To Fight
1 Samuel 28:1-2
The Philistines were preparing to invade Israel again. 28:1-2 tell us that, as they gathered, Achish the king told David that he and his men were to go with him and the Philistine army for the invasion. David agreed, saying he would show Achish what he could do, meaning he would see David and his men fight successfully. Achish was pleased and made David his bodyguard for life. (2)
The writer then interrupts the story to tell of Saul going to consult a medium as to the outcome of the battle, since he was afraid of the Philistine army.
This was a terrible thing to do. The Old Testament law expressly forbid consulting mediums. (Leviticus 19:31) Saul probably did this because he had no way to ask God what to do since Samuel was dead and the High Priest was with David.
David Rejected
29:1-5
Chapter 29 returns to the scene of the Philistines preparing for the invasion. The Philistine forces gathered at Apheck, the northernmost city in their country. It is the same place from which the Philistines attacked during the time of Samuel. They defeated the Israelites, imposing great loss of life, and captured the ark of the covenant.
The Israelites prepared to defend by gathering at Jezreel. As the Philistine troops from around the country passed by in great numbers, David and his men brought up the rear with Achish the king. They were functioning as the king’s guard.
However, the Philistine military commanders complained about the Israelites (Hebrews) being in their company. (3) Achish defended David, saying he found no fault in him. (3) But the commanders were angry and demanded David’s removal. They were afraid David would turn on them during the battle and use this as means to get back into the good graces of Saul.
Achish Sends David Home
29:6-11
Achish gave in to his commanders and told David he had to leave, even though he thought David should go with him. He called the commanders “the lords of the Philistines”. (7) They were probably the rulers of the 5 major Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath and Ekron).
Achish referred to David as honest, having no wrong in him, and blameless in his sight. But, he was mistaken. David claimed to have fought against the enemies of the Achish, but he really was fighting against the enemies of Israel.
Nonetheless, the next morning David and his men set out for Ziklag while the Philistines advanced to Jezreel to engage Israel in battle.
The Amalekite Raid On Ziklag
30:1-6
When David and his men left to join the Philistine army, they left the city of Ziklag defenseless. So, the Amalekites raided it and burned it. They also took all of the women and children as captives.
The writer notes for us that the Amalekites did not kill the women and children. He makes a contrast to David, who killed everyone in the places he raided. The pagan Amalekites acted more ethically than the Hebrew David.
The Bible gives us the story with all of the faults of people revealed. The heroes are not portrayed as perfect. They are not “sugar coated” as people used to say where I grew up. It testifies to the truth of the scriptures.
So, when David and his men returned, they found the city burned and empty. Their families were gone. They grieved deeply, weeping until they could cry no more.
They also got angry. They blamed David and discussed stoning him.
David himself grieved because his two wives were also taken. But, encouragingly for the readers, he “strengthened himself in the Lord”. He had been following his own designs, but now turned to the Lord for comfort and guidance.
How did David strengthen himself in the Lord? I think he did so by remembering the promises God had made to him. He remembered that God chose him to be king. For that to be so, he would not be stoned by his men. He would continue to lead and do the right things.
David also strengthened himself is by availing himself of God’s presence. He sought the Lord through the priest. Nahum 1:7 says: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
We can be comforted and strengthened in the Lord by seeking him through our high priest, Jesus. (Hebrews 4:14) He makes intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25)
David Consults The Lord
30:7-10
This time David consults the Lord about what he should do in response to the raid. He summoned Abiathar the priest to come with the ephod. He asked the Lord if he should pursue the Amalekites and, if so, would he overtake them. The Lord told him to pursue and that he would succeed in rescuing the captives.
So David and his men took off after the Amalekites. He took 400 men, leaving behind 200 who were exhausted to guard the baggage.
God Provides A Guide
30:11-15
The Lord told David what to do and provided a way to do it. During the pursuit, David found a lone Egyptian man. He was starving, having gone without food or water for 3 days. David fed him and gave him water.
The man turned was the former servant of one of the Amalekites, who had abandoned him when he got sick after the raid. He agreed to show David where the Amalekites were camped in return for his life. Without him, David would have had to search all over the wilderness and may not have found the captives in time.
David Rescues the Captives
30:16-20
With the help of the Egyptian, David caught up with the Amalekites while they were celebrating the spoils of their raid of Ziklag. They probably knew the Philistines had gone north to fight the Israelites and thought they were safe. David and his men caught them off guard and slaughtered most of them, save a few who escaped on camels.
All of the wives and children were recovered, as well as their goods, so that nothing was lost. You can imagine the rejoicing that went on as the captives were set free, husbands and wives reunited, and children recovered.
David also captured the livestock of the Amalekites for additional spoil, and returned with all of it to Ziklag. Despite some opposition, David divided spoils equally even with the men who stayed behind and did not fight. Notice the difference in attitude between David and some of the men. The men referred to the spoil they had recovered and did not want to share. David referred to “what the LORD has given us”. (23)
In an astute political move, David also sent part of the spoils to the elders of Judah in several towns. This would create good will and acceptance when David became king.
TAKEAWAYS
In times of grief or distress, we can strengthen ourselves by spending time with the Lord in prayer.
When we seek God's guidance, he will indeed guide us and provide for us.
In keeping David from fighting for the Philistines, he preserved David's chance to become king and win the loyalty of the Israelites.
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