1 Samuel 29:6-11
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have indeed been honest, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the governors.
7 Now then, return and go in peace, so that you will not do anything wrong in the sight of the governors of the Philistines.”
8 However, David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant since the day that I came before you, to this day, that I cannot go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
9 But Achish replied to David, “I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us into the battle.’
10 Now then, rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have risen early in the morning and have light, leave.”
11 So David got up early, he and his men, to leave in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Achish’s Explanation
Kindness of Achish
Achish calls David to explain why he cannot take him to the battlefield. Despite being a Philistine lord, Achish seems to have been a very kind person and that he trusted David fully. However, this also means that David had perfectly deceived him. (1) The pagan king Achish said, “As the Lord lives.” He did not invoke the gods of the Philistines, instead used the name of David’s God. This indicates his sincerity in explaining the situation. (2) Achish then expresses his wish for David to join him, but he reports that the other lords oppose it. (3) As a conclusion, he gently asks David to return to Ziklag to avoid angering the other lords.
David’s acting
David must have felt relieved internally, but he responded to Achish as if he was disappointed not to be able to join the battle. However, ultimately, he accepts Achish’s wish and returns to Ziklag early the next morning with his men. Thus, David was freed from a dilemma without effort. (1) He had no intention of fighting his Israelite compatriots. (2) Yet, attacking the Philistines in the midst of battle would have been extremely dangerous. At this point, David was not aware, but in this battle, Saul and his sons were to die. This was part of the Lord’s plan (we, as readers, were informed of this in 1 Samuel 28:3–25). If David had fought with the Philistines and helped Saul, it would have been an act against the Lord’s plan. (3) The Philistine lords objecting and releasing David from that battle was of the Lord’s will. The Lord works in the same way, even in our lives too. “God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). Hallelujah! Thanks be to the Lord.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, You protect and guide me with Your invisible hand. Please continue to guide me today onto the path of righteousness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.