(1) A seemingly successful plan
David planned to escape from Saul's hand and went to the foreign land. And when Saul realized about that he gave up on pursuing David. It seemed like David's plan worked out well.
v.1b There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for me through all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand.”
27:4 When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he did not mount a new search for him.
However, David just equated fleeing to other countries as serving other gods in 27:18, 19b
Why is my lord chasing his servant?...
But if men have instigated this, may they be cursed before the LORD! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the LORD’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go on, serve other gods!
There was some changes in David, could be his faith in God.
(2) David was anointed as the Israel King. If he raided or fought against the Israelite cities for the foreign king would he still be accepted by the people of Israel in the future?
(BKC)...he [David] carried out pillaging raids against various desert peoples, including the Geshurites (a tribe bordering the Philistines on the south, Josh. 13:2) , the Girzites (an otherwise unknown people living between the Philistines and Egypt), and the Amalekites (1 Sam. 27:8), killing the people and looting all their livestock and other goods (v. 9)...But David reported to Achish that his attacks were against his own tribe Judah, or Jerahmeel , or the Kenites, fabrications which endeared him all the more to the Philistines and persuaded them that he was a true and loyal subject (v. 12).
( Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary) A small, semi-independent kingdom left unconquered W of the half-tribe of Manasseh in the Bashan (Deut 3:14; Josh 12:5; 13:11)
v.12 So Achish trusted David, thinking to himself, “He is really hated among his own people in Israel! From now on he will be my servant.”
Achish trusted David so much that he took David to fight against Israel 28:1-2. However, if David did that no Israelite would accept him as king any more. Would God's appointment for him as the future king be failed? (In the next 2 chapters, David ended up not going to the war after some things happened).
Achish trusted David so much that he took David to fight against Israel 28:1-2. However, if David did that no Israelite would accept him as king any more. Would God's appointment for him as the future king be failed? (In the next 2 chapters, David ended up not going to the war after some things happened).
(3) In this chapter, the plan of God of David seemed to be in jeopardy. I believed in God's sovereign He prevented David to go to war with Israel and therefore David would still be the king over Israel.
Reflection: David probably would not be able to foresee his future. Therefore, he could only focus on escaping from Saul and moved to Gath. However, when he moved there he was asked to fight against his own people and thus jeopardize his future kingship. Perhaps, his move to Gath was a sign of his lack of faith for God's protection for him. However, God was gracious and in His sovereign plan He stopped David from fighting against his own people.
If we look back in our lives, we did not always make the right choice. Or, we were foolish and committed to something that we should not do. However, when we repent and turn to God He makes everything working out. Praise to God and His grace to us!
Audrey
2024
B:
1. David gave in and escaped from pressure. Everything he planned seemed to success. But he actually dug a bigger pit for himself.
a. God was the One who had always been protecting him from Saul and now he was tired of being chased v.1 One of these days I’m going to be swept away by the hand of Saul!
b. He knew he should not leave the land God gave to Israel 26:19
v.1 There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines.
c. Saul did not search for him and Achish trusted him
4 When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he did not mount a new search for him.
v.12 “He is really hated among his own people in Israel! From now on he will be my servant.”
2. All these plans were introduced by this phrases, "David thought to himself," v.1 or "He was thinking" v.11.
That had been go on all the time during this year and 4 months v.7, 11.
The Bible was very transparent at the motives of David in pointing out the callous of David's heart.
R: Goals being reached are not the equivalent of being successful in front of God. We become more fooled by ourselves and going on with our second goal until we fell a big way (ch 29-30).
Sometimes, I dont know if our seemingly success is from God or just fooling ourselves to a bigger pitfall. But I think there was a clear indication of this passage that David did not inqure God and he was obviously violating the law for his decision.
Q:
1. v.1 I’m going to be swept away by the hand of Saul...I will escape from his hand
17: 37 David went on to say, “The LORD who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
2. sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing v.9
He would attacked a non-Jewish district and killed all the people, took the possession, went back to Achish and lied that he had raided Jewish towns. v.10
Achish trust D, “He is really hated among his own people in Israel! From now on he will be my servant.” v.12
3. 28:1 your men must go with me into the battle (against Israel)
David had never fought against his own people.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 28:1). Thomas Nelson.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 27:12). Thomas Nelson.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 27:9). Thomas Nelson.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 17:37). Thomas Nelson.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 27:1). Thomas Nelson.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 27:1). Thomas Nelson.
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