Ch. 1Sa 27:1-7<\/span>. David’s flight to Achish, and residence at Ziklag<\/p>\n 1<\/strong>. into the land of the Philistines<\/em> ] The result anticipated in 1Sa 26:19<\/span> has come to pass. David is forced to seek refuge in a heathen land. The circumstances of this flight are entirely different from those related in 1Sa 21:10<\/span> ff. Then the solitary fugitive, recognised as the slayer of Goliath, narrowly escaped losing his life; now the outlaw leader of a band of stalwart warriors is welcomed as an ally. He entered the king’s service as an independent chieftain, like an Italian Condottiere of the middle ages.<\/p>\n Traces of this residence at Gath may be observed in the attachment of Ittai the Gittite<\/em> to David (2Sa 15:19<\/span>); and possibly the Gittith<\/em>, mentioned in the title to Psalms 8<\/span>, was an instrument or a melody brought from Gath.<\/p>\n 1Sa 27:1<\/span><\/p>\n And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Despondency: Its causes and cure<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>The first cause here is his regarding man as a primary instead of a secondary agent. I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. Why? Is there anything in Saul that came not from God? Is he a man? God made him. A king? God appointed him. Has he power? It also belongs to God, and when His arm is removed, Saul at once becomes the helpless child. Another cause is found:–<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>In communing with his heart instead of with God. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, is as much true of ourselves as others. The earth kept by the centripetal and centrifugal forces never wanders too far from, or goes too near, the sun; let them cease but for one moment and we should with lightning speed rush into collision, or be lost in endless space. So mans heart under Heavenly guidance is, and must be right. Die by the enemy, go into the land of the Philistines. The enemy within suggested it.<\/p>\n Sins arising from discouragement<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>This incident in Davids life is most instructive. It shows us the folly of endeavouring to remove evils under which we labour, by unlawful means; and especially of resorting to such expedients in our moments of discouragement; and may further teach us, that under all circumstances, the path of duty is the path of safety.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>This lesson is one which we greatly need. Under the pressure of trials we naturally seek relief; and if no lawful means present themselves, we are tempted to use those which are unlawful; and by a delusive reasoning satisfy ourselves that that is right, which under other circumstances we should ourselves condemn as wrong. We often have cause to repent of resolutions taken, like Davids, under the pressure of trials and the influence of discouraged feeling. The fact is that despondency borders on insanity. It makes a man his own executioner, and leads to suicidal acts. Everything, therefore, we do under the influence of such feeling will be pretty sure to be wrong, and to give us work for after repentance.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Again, our subject may be applied to another class of hearers. There are those who have made many efforts to gain the hope of the Christian, but have failed in all. They say, that they have sought most earnestly to believe and feel as the people of God do: that they have prayed, inquired, and done all that they knew ought to be done, but still do not enjoy a hope of acceptance; and now they are discouraged, and that discouragement leads them into a very sinful resolution. This is a very common case, and one with which ministers and Christians do not sympathize as they ought! We are disposed, when we see one lingering in neglect of religion, to condemn him as if nothing but obstinacy and rebellion prevented his surrender of himself to God. We bear down harshly upon him with the terrors of the law, when the man needs encouragement. Such severity only tends to exasperate and harden. The Jews in Jeremiahs time said There is no hope, and added, we will walk after our own devices. The beggar will sometimes knock at a door until he finds that no notice is likely to be taken of his application, and then rail at those who live within; and so let the sinner fear that Gods heart is hardened against him, and his own heart will soon be hardened against God. Let Christians, then, beware of taking away hope from the inquiring soul, by condemning all delay as obstinacy and obduracy, for it may arise from discouraged feeling; and the sinner may lie in the mire of sin, because be has made many efforts to get out, only to fall back again into the ditch.<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>And let the inquirer beware of yielding to discouragement, and thence to sin. He may say, I have sought, and prayed so many times, and found no relief; must I still continue to seek? Even so, for what better can you do? If you finally and entirely cease from all effort, you are certainly lost; if you persevere you may be saved, and certainly will be in the end. Rise, discouraged soul, renew thy prayers, and if a lifetime of blind perplexed inquiries and in thine everlasting salvation, count the blessing cheaply won.<\/p>\n 5. <\/strong>The same advice may apply to the backslidden Christian or to those who sometimes hope they are accepted in Christ, but lack the clear evidence of it. <\/em>(W. H. Lewis, D. D.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Davids fear and folly<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>How much depends on one improper step. The effects may be remediless, and give a complexion to all our future days. Our reputation, our comfort, our usefulness, our religion, our very salvation, may binge upon it.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Let us learn how incompetent we are to judge for ourselves. (W. Jay.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n A fit of mistrust<\/strong><\/p>\n The Psalms, which, with more or less probability, may be assigned to this period of Davids life, are marked with growing sadness and depression. Amongst them may be reckoned the 10, 12, 17, 22, 25, 64, and perhaps 11 and 69.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>It was the suggestion of worldly policy. David said in his heart. Never act in a panic; nor allow man to dictate to thee; calm thyself and be still; force thyself into the quiet of thy closet until the pulse beats normally and the scare has ceased to perturb. When thou art most eager to act is the time when thou wilt make the most pitiable mistakes.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>It was very dishonouring to God. Surely, then, it, was unworthy of David to say, in effect: I am beginning to fear that God has undertaken more than He can carry through. True, He has kept me hitherto; but I question if He can make me surmount the growing difficulties of my situation. Saul will, sooner or later, accomplish his designs against me; it is a mistake to attempt the impossible. I have waited till I am tired; it is time to use my own wits, and extricate myself while I can from the nets that are being drawn over my path. How much easier it is to indicate a true course to others in hours of comparative security, than to stand to it under a squall of wind!<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>It was highly injurious. Philistia was full of idol temples and idolatrous priests (2Sa 5:21<\/span>). What fellowship could David look for with the Divine Spirit who had chosen Israel for his people and Jacob for the lot of his inheritance? How could he sing the Lords songs in a strange land?<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>It was the entrance on a course that demanded the perpetual practice of deceit. The whole behaviour of David at this time was utterly unworthy of his high character as Gods anointed servant.<\/p>\n 5. <\/strong>It was also a barren time in his religious experience. No psalms are credited to this period. The sweet singer was mute. (F. B. Meyer, B. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The danger of doubting<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>We might conclude it to be false upon the very face of it, because there certainly was no evidence to prove it. On no one occasion had the Lord deserted his servant. Now, mark. When you and I doubt Gods Word there is this to be said of it, we mistrust it without a cause.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>But, again, what David said in his heart was not only without evidence, but it was contrary to evidence. What reason had he to believe that God would leave him? Rather, how many evidences had he to conclude that the Lord neither could nor would leave him?<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>This exclamation of David was contrary to Gods promises. Samuel had poured the anointing oil on Davids head–Gods earnest and promise that David should be king. Let David die by the hand of Saul, how can the promise be fulfilled?<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>But further, this wicked exclamation of David was contrary to what he himself had often said. Yet once more, this exclamation of David was contrary to the facts. I mean not merely contrary to the facts that were in evidence, but contrary to the facts that were transpiring at that very moment. Where was Saul?<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>The first answer I give is, because he was a man. The best of men are men at the best; and man at the best, is such a creature that well might David himself say, Lord, what is man?<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>But again, you must consider that David had been exposed to a very long trial; not for one week, but for month after month, he had been hunted like a partridge upon the mountains. Now, a man could bear one trial, but a perpetuity of tribulation is very hard to bear.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Then again, you must remember, David had passed through some strong excitements of mind.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>It made him do a foolish thing, the same foolish thing which he had rued once before. He goes to the same Achish again! Yes, and mark ye, although you and I know the bitterness of sin, yet if we are left to our own unbelief, we shall fall into the same sin again.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>But next: for the beginning of sin is like the letting out of water, and we go from bad to worse, he went over to the Lords enemies. He that killed Goliath sought a refuge in Goliaths land; he who smote the Philistines trusts in the Philistines; nay, more, he who was Israels champion, becomes the chamberlain to Achish.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>That not only thus did David become numbered with Gods enemies, but that he actually went into open sin. David did two very evil things. He acted the part of a liar and deceiverse He went out and slew the Geshurites, and sundry other tribes, and this he did often. When he came back, Achish asked him where he had been, and he said he had been to the south of Judah–that is to say, he made Achish believe that his incursions were made against his own people, instead of being made against the allies of Philistia. This he kept up for a long time; and then, as one sin never goes without a companion, for the devils hounds always hunt in couples, he was guilty of bloodshed, for into whatsoever town he went he put all the inhabitants to death; he spared neither man, nor woman, nor child, lest they should tell the king of Philistia where he had been. So that one sin led him on to another. And this is a very sorrowful part of Davids life. He that believes God, and acts in faith, acts with dignity, and other men will stoop before him and pay him reverence; but he who disbelieves his God, and begins to act in his own carnal wisdom, will soon be this, and that, and the other, and the enemy will say, Aha, aha, so would we have it, while the godly will say, How are the mighty fallen! how hath the strong man been given up unto his adversary!<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>Furthermore, not only was David guilty of all this, but he was on the verge of being guilty of still worse sin–of covert acts of warfare against the Lords people; for David having become the friend of Achish, when Achish went to the battle against Israel, David professed his willingness to go. We believe it was only a feigned willingness; but then, you see, we convict him again of falsehood.<\/p>\n 5. <\/strong>The last effect of Davids sin–and here it blessedly came to close–was this: it brought him into great trial. While David was away with king Achish, the Amalekites invaded the south, and attacked Ziklag, which was Davids town. For some reason or other they did not put to death any of the inhabitants, but they took away the whole of the men, the few who were left, the women and children, all their household goods, and stuff, and treasures; and when David came back to Ziklag, there were the bare walls and empty houses, and Ahinoam and Abigail, his two wives, were gone, and all the mighty men who were with him had lost their wives and little ones; and as soon as they saw it, they lifted up their voice and wept. It was not that they had lost their gold and silver, but they had lost everything. That exiled band had lost their own flesh and blood, the partners of their lives. Then they mutinied against their captain, and they said, Let us stone David. And here is David, a penniless beggar, a leader deserted by his own men, suspected by them probably of having traitorously given up the town to the foe. And then it is written–and O how blessed is that line!–And David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. Ah! now David is right; now he has come back to his proper anchorage. Sin and smart go together; the child of God cannot sin with impunity. Other men may. Ye that fear not God may go add sin as ye like, and often meet with very little trouble in this world as the consequence of it; but a child of God cannot do that. (C. H. Spurgeon.<\/em>)<\/p>\n CHAPTER XXVII <\/P> David flies to Achish, king of Gath, who receives him kindly,<\/I><\/P> and gives him Ziklag to dwell in, where he continues a year<\/I><\/P> and four months<\/I>, 1-7.<\/P> David invades the Geshurites and Amalekites, and leaves neither<\/I><\/P> man nor woman alive<\/I>, 8, 9.<\/P> He returns to Achish, and pretends that he had been making<\/I><\/P> inroads on the Israelites, and Achish believes it<\/I>, 10-12. <\/P> NOTES ON CHAP. XXVII<\/P> <\/P> Verse 1<\/span>. I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul<\/B><\/I>] This was a very hasty conclusion: God had so often interposed in behalf of his life, that he was authorized to believe the reverse. God had hitherto confounded all Saul’s stratagems, and it was not at all likely that he would now abandon him: there was now no additional<\/I> reason why he should withdraw from David his helping hand.<\/P> <\/p>\n I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; <\/B>I see by this late experience his restless and implacable hatred against me, and how little heed is to be given to all his pretences of repentance or friendship. <\/P> There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines:<\/B> but this was certainly a very great mistake and fault in David; for, <\/P> 1. This proceeded from gross distrust of Gods promise and providence; and that after such repeated demonstrations of Gods peculiar care over him, which gave hint cause to conclude quite contrary to what is here said. <\/P> 2. He forsakes the place where God had settled him, 1Sa 22:5<\/span>, and given him both assurance and experience of his protection there. <\/P> 3. He voluntarily runs upon that rock which he cursed his enemies for throwing him upon, 1Sa 26:19<\/span>, and upon many other snares and dangers, as the following history will show; and withal, deprives the people of the Lord of those succours which he might have given them, in case of a battle. But it pleased God to leave David to himself in this, as well as in other particulars, that these might be sensible demonstrations of the infirmities of the best men; and of the necessity of Gods grace, and daily direction and assistance; and of the freeness and richness of Gods mercy, in passing by such great offences. And besides, God hereby designed to accomplish his own counsel, to withdraw David from the Israelites, that Saul and they might fall by the hand of the Philistines, without any reproach or inconvenience to David, whom God had put into a safe place. <\/P> <\/p>\n 1. David said in his heart, . . .there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escapeinto the land of the Philistines<\/B>This resolution of David’swas, in every respect, wrong: (1) It was removing him from the placewhere the divine oracle intimated him to remain (1Sa22:5<\/span>); (2) It was rushing into the idolatrous land, for drivinghim into which he had denounced an imprecation on his enemies (1Sa26:19<\/span>); (3) It was a withdrawal of his counsel and aid from God’speople. It was a movement, however, overruled by Providence to detachhim from his country and to let the disasters impending over Saul andhis followers be brought on by the Philistines.<\/P><\/p>\n And David said in his heart<\/strong>,…. Within himself, and to himself; while he was pondering things in his own mind, and considering the circumstances in which he was, and things appearing, very gloomy to him, he falls into a fit of unbelief and thus addresses himself:<\/p>\n I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul<\/strong>; for though he was returned to his place, he knew he was restless and uneasy, very inconstant and unstable, and not at all to be depended on; yea, he might conclude that Saul, observing that God was with him in protecting and defending him, and by delivering him into his hands once and again, he would be the more jealous of him, and envious at him, and seek all opportunities and advantages against him; and he feared that one time or another such would offer, and would be taken, and so he should perish by him: this was a strange fit of unbelief he was sunk into, and very unaccountable and unreasonable it was, had he but considered his being anointed king by the Lord, the promise of God to him, which could not fail, and the providence of God that watched over him from time to time:<\/p>\n [there is] nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines<\/strong>; which may seem strange, when he was advised by the Prophet Gad to depart from the land of Moab, and go into the land of Judah, 1Sa 22:5<\/span>, and where he had been so wonderfully preserved; and when he was in so much danger, when in the land of the Philistines before, insomuch that he was obliged to feign himself mad, 1Sa 21:13<\/span>; and seeing this also was the very thing he lately dreaded, and cursed the men that should be the cause of his going out of his own land into an idolatrous one:<\/p>\n and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel<\/strong>; hearing that he was gone into a foreign country, would seek for him no more in any part of the land of israel, and so despair of ever getting him into his hands, would lay aside all thoughts about him for the future:<\/p>\n so shall I escape out of his hand<\/strong>; and be for ever safe: these were the carnal reasonings of his mind, under the prevalence of unbelief; and shows what poor weak creatures the best of men are, and how low their graces may sink as to exercise, when left to themselves.<\/p>\n The result of the last affair with Saul, after his life had again been spared, could not fail to confirm David in his conviction that Saul would not desist from pursuing him, and that if he stayed any longer in the land, he would fall eventually into the hands of his enemy. With this conviction, he formed the following resolution: “ Now shall I be consumed one day by the hand of Saul: there is no good to me<\/em> (i.e., it will not be well with me if I remain in the land), but<\/em> ( after a negative) I will flee into the land of the Philistines; so will Saul desist from me to seek me further<\/em> (i.e., give up seeking me) in the whole of the territory of Israel, and I shall escape his hand<\/em>.” <\/p>\n 1Sa 27:2<\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong> Accordingly he went over with the 600 men who were with him to Achish, the king of Gath. Achish<\/em>, the son of Maoch<\/em>, is in all probability the same person not only as the king Achish<\/em> mentioned in 1Sa 21:11<\/span>, but also as Achish<\/em> the son of Maachah<\/em> (1Ki 2:39<\/span>), since Maoch<\/em> and Maachah<\/em> are certainly only different forms of the same name; and a fifty years’ reign, which we should have in that case to ascribe to Achish, it not impossible.<\/p>\n 1Sa 27:3-4<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/strong> Achish allotted dwelling-places in his capital, Gath, for David and his wives, and for all his retinue; and Saul desisted from any further pursuit of David when he was informed of his flight to Gath. The Chethibh<\/em> is apparently only a copyist’s error for .<\/p>\n 1Sa 27:5-6<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/strong> In the capital of the kingdom, however, David felt cramped, and therefore entreated Achish to assign him one of the land (or provincial) towns to dwell in; whereupon he gave him Ziklag<\/em> for that purpose. This town was given to the Simeonites in the time of Joshua (Jos 19:5<\/span>), but was afterwards taken by the Philistines, probably not long before the time of David, and appears to have been left without inhabitants in consequence of this conquest. The exact situation, in the western part of the Negeb, has not been clearly ascertained (see at Jos 15:31<\/span>). Achish appears to have given it to David. This is implied in the remark, “ Therefore Ziklag came to the kings of Judah<\/em> (i.e., became their property) unto this day<\/em>.” <\/p>\n 1Sa 27:7<\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong> The statement that David remained a year and four months in the land of the Philistines, is a proof of the historical character of the whole narrative. The before the “four months” signifies a year<\/em>; strictly speaking, a term of days which amounted to a full year (as in Lev 25:29<\/span>: see also 1Sa 1:3<\/span>, 1Sa 1:20<\/span>; 1Sa 2:19<\/span>).<\/p>\n David Returns to Gath.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/I><\/span><\/P> <\/TD> B. C.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> 1055.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> <\/TD> <\/TR> <\/TABLE> 1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is<\/I> 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. 2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were<\/I> with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even<\/I> David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife. 4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 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 Judah unto this day. 7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.<\/P> Here is, I. The prevalency of David’s fear, which was the effect of the weakness of his faith (v.<\/I><\/span> 1<\/span>): He said to his heart<\/I> (so it may be read), in his communings with it concerning his present condition, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.<\/I> He represented to himself the restless rage and malice of Saul (who could not be wrought into a reconciliation) and the treachery of his own countrymen, witness that of the Ziphites, once and again; he looked upon his own forces, and observed how few they were, and that no recruits had come in to him for a great while, nor could he perceive that he got any ground; and hence, in a melancholy mood, he draws this dark conclusion: I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul.<\/I> But, O thou of little faith! wherefore dost thou doubt?<\/I> Was he not anointed to be king? Did not that imply an assurance that he should be preserved to the kingdom? Though he had no reason to trust Saul’s promises, had he not all the reason in the world to trust the promises of God? His experience of the particular care Providence took of him ought to have encouraged him. He that has delivered does and will. But unbelief is a sin that easily besets even good men. When without are fightings, within are fears,<\/I> and it is a hard matter to get over them. Lord, increase our faith!<\/I><\/P> II. The resolution he came to hereupon. Now that Saul had, for this time, returned to his place, he determined to take this opportunity of retiring into the Philistines’ country. Consulting his own heart only, and not the ephod or the prophet, he concludes, There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines.<\/I> Long trials are in danger of tiring the faith and patience even of very good men. Now, 1. Saul was an enemy to himself and his kingdom in driving David to this extremity. He weakened his own interest when he expelled from his service, and forced into the service of his enemies, so great a general as David was, and so brave a regiment as he had the command of. 2. David was no friend to himself in taking this course. God had appointed him to set up his standard in the land of Judah,<\/I> ch.<\/span> xxii. 5<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. There God had wonderfully preserved him, and employed him sometimes for the good of his country; why then should he think of deserting his post? How could he expect the protection of the God of Israel if he went out of the borders of the land of Israel? Could he expect to be safe among the Philistines, out of whose hands he had lately escaped so narrowly by feigning himself mad? Would he receive obligations from those now whom he knew he must not return kindness to when he should come to be king, but be under an obligation to make war upon? Hereby he would gratify his enemies, who bade him go and serve other gods that they might have wherewith to reproach him, and very much weaken the hands of his friends, who would not have wherewith to answer that reproach. See what need we have to pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation.<\/I><\/P> III. The kind reception he had at Gath. Achish bade him welcome, partly out of generosity, being proud of entertaining so brave a man, partly out of policy, hoping to engage him for ever to his service, and that his example would invite many more to desert and come over to him. No doubt he gave David a solemn promise of protection, which he could rely upon when he could not trust Saul’s promises. We may blush to think that the word of a Philistine should go further than the word of an Israelite, who, if an Israelite indeed, would be without guile, and that the city of Gath should be a place of refuge for a good man when the cities of Israel refuse him a safe abode. David, 1. Brought his men with him (v.<\/I><\/span> 2<\/span>) that they might guard him, and might themselves be safe where he was, and to recommend himself the more to Achish, who hoped to have service out of him. 2. He brought his family with him, his wives<\/I> and his household,<\/I> so did all his men,<\/I>1Sa 27:2<\/span>; 1Sa 27:3<\/span>. Masters of families ought to take care of those that are committed to them, to protect and provide for those of their own house, and to dwell with them as men of knowledge.<\/I><\/P> IV. Saul’s desisting from the further prosecution of him (v.<\/I><\/span> 4<\/span>): He sought no more again for him;<\/I> this intimates that notwithstanding the professions of repentance he had lately made, if he had had David in his reach, he would have aimed another blow. But, because he dares not come where he is, he resolves to let him alone. Thus many seem to leave their sins, but really their sins leave them; they would persist in them if they could. Saul sought no more for him, contenting himself with his banishment, since he could not have his blood, and hoping, it may be (as he had done, ch.<\/I><\/span> xviii. 25<\/span>), that he would, some time or other, fall by the hand of the Philistines;<\/I> and, though he would rather have the pleasure of destroying him himself, yet, if they do it, he will be satisfied, so that it be done effectually.<\/P> V. David’s removal from Gath to Ziklag.<\/P> 1. David’s request for leave to remove was prudent and very modest, v.<\/I><\/span> 5<\/span>. (1.) It was really prudent. David knew what it was to be envied in the court of Saul, and had much more reason to fear in the court of Achish, and therefore declines preferment there, and wishes for a settlement in the country, where he might be private, more within himself, and less in other people’s way. In a town of his own he might have the more free exercise of his religion, and keep his men better to it, and not have his righteous soul vexed, as it was at Gath, with the idolatries of the Philistines. (2.) As it was presented to Achish it was very modest. He does not prescribe to him what place he should assign him, only begs it may be in some town in the country, where he pleased (beggars must not be choosers); but he gives this for a reason, “Why should thy servant dwell in the royal city,<\/I> to crowd thee, and disoblige those about thee?” Note, Those that would stand fast must not covet to stand high; and humble souls aim not to dwell in royal cities.<\/P> 2. The grant which Achish made to him, upon that request, was very generous and kind (1Sa 27:6<\/span>; 1Sa 27:7<\/span>): Achish gave him Ziklag.<\/I> Hereby, (1.) Israel recovered their ancient right; for Ziklag was in the lot of the tribe of Judah (Josh. xv. 31<\/span>), and afterwards, out of that lot, was assigned, with some other cities, to Simeon, Josh. xix. 5<\/span>. But either it was never subdued, or the Philistines had, in some struggle with Israel, made themselves masters of it. Perhaps they had got it unjustly, and Achish, being a man of sense and honour, took this occasion to restore it. The righteous God judgeth righteously.<\/I> (2.) David gained a commodious settlement, not only at a distance from Gath, but bordering upon Israel, where he might keep up a correspondence with his own countrymen, and whither they might resort to him at the revolution that was now approaching. Though we do not find that he augmented his forces at all while Saul lived (for, ch.<\/I><\/span> xxx. 10<\/span>, he had but his six hundred men<\/I>), yet, immediately after Saul’s death, that was the rendezvous of his friends. Nay, it should seem, while he kept himself close because of Saul, multitudes resorted to him, at least to assure him of their sincere intentions, 1 Chron. xii. 1-22<\/span>. And this further advantage David gained, that Ziklag was annexed to the crown, at least the royalty of it pertained to the kings of Judah, ever after, v.<\/I><\/span> 6<\/span>. Note, There is nothing lost by humility and modesty, and a willingness to retire. Real advantages follow those that flee from imaginary honours. Here David continued for some days, even four months,<\/I> as it may very well be read (v.<\/I><\/span> 7<\/span>), or some days above four months: the LXX. reads it, some months;<\/I> so long he waited for the set time of his accession to the throne; for he that believeth shall not make haste.<\/I><\/P> <\/p>\n First Samuel – Chapter 27<\/strong><\/p>\n David Goes to Philistia, vs. 1-4<\/p>\n The extent of David’s distrust of Saul’s promises is<\/em><\/p>\n evidenced by his decision to go to Gath to seek refuge. However, it is also an instance of weakened faith in the Lord’s protection of him in that he made this choice. It is also surprising in view of his previous attempt to find refuge in the Philistine city (see 1Sa 21:10-15<\/span>; Psalms 34). On that occasion David had found himself in possible danger from the suspicious Philistines and had pretended insanity to escape them. Soon afterward Gad the seer had come to him and instructed him not to leave the land of Judah (1Sa 22:5<\/span>).<\/p>\n Nevertheless, David received favor from King Achish <\/em>this time, being granted political asylum. David had determined that there was no hope of escaping Saul’s persistent chase, so that he, his wives, his men and their wives, all came to seek refuge in Gath. David’s object was gained, for Saul ceased pursuit when he learned that David had gone down to Philistia. The two men, Saul and David, were destined to meet no more.<\/em><\/p>\n CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n 1Sa. 27:1<\/span>. Saul shall despair,<\/strong> or desist from me.<\/em> The idea of the word is, to give a thing up as impossible or useless. (Erdmann.)<\/em><\/p>\n 1Sa. 27:2<\/span>. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
I. <\/strong>The gloom and despondency of Davids heart. How variable is the Christians experience! Few pass on long without changes; the more equable Christians are generally those of the slightest attainment. The little tree is but moved by the breeze, the ponderous oak with its outstretching branches feels ice full weight; the tiny lake then only presents a small surface is but rippled, the sea is heaved and lashed into a fury. The powerful passion is generally allied to the corresponding intellect and acts as a counterbalancing power. David was a large-souled and large-hearted man, his experience is ever-varying, the slightest circumstance stirs him to the depths.<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>The causes of this despondency. God never willeth that we should be cast down; it is attributable to ourselves. Some men exclude themselves from the rays of the sun; it shines nevertheless.<\/p>\n
III. <\/strong>David erred in comparing his own with his enemys forces. Compare the suggestions of sense and faith. Sense says, what can six hundred with a valiant captain do against the army of Saul? Sense sees the host of Satans emissaries encamped before the solitary soul and says, Fly, for thy life fly, ere they overtake. Faith goes beyond, stoops not to count the opposing forces, and gives assurance of the victory. Sense says, I shall one day fetish by the hand of Saul. Faith says, Greater is be that is for me titan all that can be against me. Stand still and see the salvation of God.<\/p>\n
IV. <\/strong>Another cause of his despondency was his forgetfulness of the Divine promises. Had not Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, visited his fathers house and anointed him king? Had not this choice again and again been ratified? Had not Saul, his enemy, been forced to acknowledge him as his successor? Yet Saul is to kill him.<\/p>\n
V. <\/strong>See the consequence of acting on such convictions. It may be that some of us have found our way into the land of the Philistines, have gone for peace and found war, gone for safety and have been more exposed. Why? Because we have acted against the Spirit and the Word. Take Davids experience as confirmatory of such results. Listen no more to such misleading assertions. Die! yes, you will, as far as a separation of the body from the spirit is concerned; but by the hand of the enemy, never, no, neverse (J. H. Snell.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I. <\/strong>Observe his fear. It was the language, not, of his lips, but of his feelings–he said in his heart, I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul. If a man hawks about his trouble from door to door, we may be assured be will never die of grief. Profound sorrow, like the deep river, flows noiseless; the man wounded at heart, like the smitten deer, leaves the herd for the shade. I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. And suppose be had? This was all the injury he could have done him: and we are forbidden to fear those that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. He must have died, according to the course of nature, in a few years: and what is death, in any form, to a good man, but falling asleep or going home? He ought then, you say, to have risen above the fear of death. But David was in no danger of perishing by the hand of Saul. Saul was indeed a malicious and powerful enemy; but he was chained, and could do nothing against him except it was given him from above. And the Lord was on Davids side: And he had the promise of the throne, which implied his preservation. And he had already experienced many wonderful deliverances. You would do well to take the advice of an old writer. Never, says he, converse with your difficulties alone.<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>Reminded Of Davids Folly. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines. But nothing could have been worse. For by this step–he would alienate the affections of the Israelites from him–be would justify the reproaches of the enemy–he would deprive himself of the means of grace and the ordinances of religion–he would grieve his soul with the vice and idolatry of the heathen–he would put himself out of the warrant of Divine protection–and lay himself under peculiar obligation to those whom he could not serve without betraying the cause of God.<\/p>\n
I. <\/strong>Let us examine this sudden resolution.<\/p>\n
I. <\/strong>The thought of Davids heart was false. He said, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>How was it that David came to think thus of his God?<\/p>\n
III. <\/strong>What were the ill-effects of Davids unbelief?<\/p>\nFuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n