“27 But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” 2 So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath. 3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives:Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him. 5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” 6 So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. 7 David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months. 8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9 Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.” 11 He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.” 1 Samuel 27.1-12
David was sneaky. Not only was he living in Philistine land, protected and shielded from both Saul’s army and other Philistine enemies, but he was also slowly and methodically killing off Philistine villages under the guise of harboring in safety.
While Achish, son of Maoch, king of Gath, believed David to be under his authority and his “servant for life,” David was raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, following the command given to Moses and again to Joshua to destroy every living creature. Israel was warring against their enemies, and even while in captivity, unable to return home, David was fulfilling the Lord’s commands.
Whether or not you agree with God’s message to cleanse the Promised Land or the early dealings of war, David remained true to his calling and the Lord’s command. Even while he was being hunted and outcast by Saul, David was living a ruse, fooling the Philistine king and destroying enemy villages while taking refuge in a foreign land.
What does this mean for us today? For one, it speaks to the favor God poured out upon David. That he could get away with something like this for years means God was certainly with him.
Secondly, David remained faithful to God throughout his time in exile. No matter the circumstance, David remained a man after God’s own heart. Even later in his life, when David faced struggles and strife, he returned time and again to his first love and obedience to the Lord.
Yesterday was Easter. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to compare David’s to Jesus’ faithfulness in the midst of trial. When Jesus was in “exile,” both during his arrest and especially upon the cross, Jesus remained steadfast. Jesus did not have to put on a ruse, however. He was true to who God called him to be, and the enemy knew it. Jesus went to the cross willingly to die for our sins and to defeat death as the unblemished Lamb. Like David, God’s favor was upon Jesus, who remained faithful in the midst of incredible trials and torture.
As Easter people, we live on, following in the footsteps of Jesus and faithful followers like David, who kept God at the center of their lives. We continue with the hope of the resurrection, believing he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to our mortal bodies as well. By his grace and for his glory.
“O Lord God, for Easter, spring, and new life, I give you praise. For saving us from the punishment of sin and death, for allowing us to walk in newness of life, I give you all the glory. Thank you, Lord, for being faithful to your calling. Thank you for the favor we see upon servants like David, who served you in good times and bad. Come now, Holy Spirit, help us become the people you have called us to be. For you are good, and your love endures forever.” Amen