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1 Samuel
Chapter Twenty-seven
1 Samuel 27
Chapter Contents
David retires to Gath. (1-7) David deceives Achish.
(8-12)
Commentary on 1 Samuel 27:1-7
(Read 1 Samuel 27:1-7)
Unbelief is a sin that easily besets even good men
when
without are fightings
and within are fears; and it is a hard matter to get
over them. Lord
increase our faith! We may blush to think that the word of a
Philistine should go further than the word of an Israelite
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 gained a comfortable settlement
not only at a
distance from Gath
but bordering upon Israel
where he might keep up a
correspondence with his own countrymen.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 27:8-12
(Read 1 Samuel 27:8-12)
While David was in the land of the Philistines
he
attacked some remains of the devoted nations. The people whom he cut off were
long before doomed to destruction. It is often wisdom to shun public notice
but
we must in no situation be idle. We must always try to do somewhat in the cause
of God. This expedition David hid from Achish. But an equivocation which serves
the purpose of a lie
is as like to it as a hypocrite is to a profane person
it is only better in appearance
therefore more dangerous. Yet
though
believers often manifest imperfections
they can never be prevailed upon to
renounce the service of God
and to unite interests with his enemies
or
finally to become the servants of sin and Satan. But what a train of evils
follow from unbelief! When we forget the Lord's past mercies
and his gracious
assurances
we shall be overwhelmed with desponding fears
and probably be led
to adopt some dishonourable method to get rid of our troubles. Nothing can so
effectually establish us in holy tempers and practices
and preserve us from
perplexities
as firm
unshaken dependence upon the promises of God in Christ
Jesus.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel》
1 Samuel 27
Verse 1
[1] And
David said in his heart
I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there
is 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.
I shall perish —
But this was certainly a very great fault in David: for 1. This proceeded from
gross distrust of God's promise and providence; and that after such repeated
demonstrations of God's peculiar care over him. 2. He forsakes the place where
god had settled him
chap. 22:5
and given him both assurance and
experience of his protection there. 3. He voluntarily runs upon that rock
which he cursed his enemies for throwing him upon
chap. 26:19
and upon many other snares and dangers
as the following history will shew; and withal
deprives the people of the Lord
of those succours which he might have given them
in case of a battle. But God
hereby designed to withdraw David from the Israelites
that they might fall by
the hand of the Philistines
without any reproach or inconvenience to David.
Verse 4
[4] And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more
again for him.
Sought no more for him — At their meeting Saul's heart was deeply wounded
and he had said
"Return
my son David
Be with me as in time past." Nor have we the
least proof
that he would have sought for him again
with any other design.
Verse 5
[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?
Give me a place — A
prudent desire. Hereby David designed to preserve his people
both from the
vices
which conversation with the Philistines would have exposed them to; and
from that envy
and malice
which diversity of religion might have caused.
With thee — Which
is too great an honour for me
and too burdensome to thee
and may be an
occasion of offence to thy people.
Verse 6
[6] Then
Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of
Judah unto this day.
Gave Ziklag —
Not only to inhabit
but to possess it as his own. Which he did
to lay the
greater obligations upon David
whom he knew so able to serve him. It was given
to the tribe of Judah before
Joshua 15:31
but the Philistines kept the
possession of it 'till this time. And being given by them to David
it now
belonged not to the tribe of Judah; but to the king of Judah
David and his
heirs forever.
To this day —
This
and some such clauses seem to have been added
after the main substance
of the several books was written.
Verse 8
[8] And David and his men went up
and invaded the Geshurites
and the
Gezrites
and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of
the land
as thou goest to Shur
even unto the land of Egypt.
Amalekites —
The remnant of those whom Saul destroyed
chap. 15:3-9
who retired into remote and desert
places.
Verse 9
[9] And
David smote the land
and left neither man nor woman alive
and took away the
sheep
and the oxen
and the asses
and the camels
and the apparel
and
returned
and came to Achish.
Let neither man
… — In
that part where he came: but there were more of the Amalekites yet left in
another part of that land.
Verse 10
[10] And
Achish said
Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said
Against the
south of Judah
and against the south of the Jerahmeelites
and against the
south of the Kenites.
David —
These and the following words are ambiguous
and contrary to that simplicity
which became David
both as a prince
and as an eminent professor of the true
religion. The fidelity of Achish to him
and the confidence he put in him
aggravates his sin in thus deceiving him
which David seems penitently to
reflect on
when he prays
Remove from me the way of lying.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 1 Samuel》
27 Chapter 27
Verses 1-12
Verse 1
And David said in his heart
I shall now perish one day by the
hand of Saul.
Despondency: Its causes and cure
I. The gloom and
despondency of David’s heart. How variable is the Christian’s 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.
II. 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.
1. 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:--
2. 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 man’s
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.
III. David erred in
comparing his own with his enemy’s 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 Satan’s 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.”
IV. Another cause
of his despondency was his forgetfulness of the Divine promises. Had not
Samuel
the prophet of the Lord
visited his father’s 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.
V. 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 David’s 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.)
Sins arising from discouragement
1. This incident in David’s 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.
2. 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 David’s
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.
3. 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 Jeremiah’s 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 God’s 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. (W. H. Lewis
D. D.)
David’s fear and folly
I. 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 David’s 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.”
II. Reminded Of
David’s 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.
1. 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.
2. Let us learn how incompetent we are to judge for ourselves. (W.
Jay.)
A fit of mistrust
The Psalms
which
with more or less probability
may be assigned
to this period of David’s 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.
I. Let us examine
this sudden resolution.
1. 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.
2. 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!
3. It was highly injurious. Philistia was full of idol temples and
idolatrous priests (2 Samuel 5:21). 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 Lord’s
songs in a strange land?
4. 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 God’s anointed servant.
5. 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.)
The danger of doubting
I. The thought of
David’s heart was false. He said
“I shall now perish one day by the hand of
Saul.”
1. 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 God’s Word there is this
to be said of it
we mistrust it without a cause.
2. 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?
3. This exclamation of David was contrary to God’s promises. Samuel
had poured the anointing oil on David’s head--God’s earnest and promise that
David should be king. Let David die by the hand of Saul
how can the promise be
fulfilled?
4. 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?
II. How was it that
David came to think thus of his God?
1. 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?”
2. 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.
3. Then again
you must remember
David had passed through some
strong excitements of mind.
III. What were the
ill-effects of David’s unbelief?
1. 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.
2. 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 Lord’s enemies. He that
killed Goliath sought a refuge in Goliath’s land; he who smote the Philistines
trusts in the Philistines; nay
more
he who was Israel’s champion
becomes the
chamberlain to Achish.
3. That not only thus did David become numbered with God’s 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 devil’s
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 David’s 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!”
4. 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 Lord’s 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.
5. The last effect of David’s 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
David’s 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.)
Verse 6
Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day.
God’s restoring mercy
Throughout that season of declension and relapse (1 Samuel 27:1-12
Psalms 10:1-18) the loving mercy
of God hovered tenderly over David’s life. God’s restoring mercy was evident.
I. In inclining
strong and noble men to identify themselves with David’s cause. “Now these are
they
” says the chronicler
“that came to David to Ziklag
while he yet kept
himself close
because of Saul
the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty
men
helpers in war” (1 Chronicles 12:1). And he proceeds
to enumerate them. Some came from Saul’s own tribe
experienced marksmen. Some
came from the eastern bank of the Jordan
swimming it at the flood
mighty men
of valour
men trained for war. “Thine are we
David
” etc. Evidently the
spirit of discontent was abroad in the land. The people
weary of Saul’s
oppression and misgovernment
were beginning to realize that the true hope of
Israel lay in the son of Jesse. They therefore went out to him without the
camp
bearing his reproach. Thus
in silence and secrecy
loyal and true hearts
are gathering around our blessed Lord
the centre of whose kingdom is not earthly
but heavenly. Who then are willing to leave the tottering realm of the prince
of this world
soon to be shattered on the last great battlefield of time
and
identify themselves with the kingdom of the Son of David
which is destined to
endure as long as the sun?
II. In extricating
his servant from the false position into which he had drifted. The Philistines
suddenly resolved on a forward policy. They were aware of the disintegration
which was slowly dividing Saul’s kingdom. When this campaign was being meditated
the guileless king assured David that he should accompany him. This was perhaps
said as a mark of special confidence. It was
however
a very critical juncture
with David. He had no alternative but to follow his liege lord into the battle;
but every mile of those fifty or sixty which had to be traversed must have been
trodden with lowering face and troubled heart. There was no hope for him in
man. If by your mistakes and sins you have reduced yourself to a false position
like this
do not despair; hope still in God. Confess and put away your sin
and humble yourself before Him
and He will arise to deliver you. You may have
destroyed yourself; but in Him will be your help. An unexpected door of hope
was suddenly opened in this valley of Anchor. When Achish reviewed his troops
in Aphek
after the lords of the Philistines had passed on by hundreds and by
thousands
David and his men passed on in the rearward with the king. This
aroused the jealousy and suspicion of the imperious Philistine princes
and
they came to Achish with fierce words and threats. “What do these Hebrews
here?” etc. They pointed out how virulent a foe he had been
and how tempting
the opportunity for him to purchase reconciliation with Saul by turning traitor
in the fight. In the end
therefore
the king had to yield. It cost him much to
inform David of the inevitable decision to which he was driven; but he little
realized with what a burst of relief his announcement was received. He made a
show of injured innocence: “What have I done
and what has thou found in thy
servant so long as I have been before thee unto this day
that I may not go and
fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” But his heart was not with his
words; and it was with unfeigned satisfaction that he received the stringent
command to depart from the camp with the morning light.
III. By the Divine
dealings with him in respect to the burning of Ziklag. It was by God’s great
mercy that the Philistine lords were so set against the continuance of David in
their camp. They thought that they were executing a piece of ordinary policy
dictated by prudence and foresight; little realizing that they were the shears
by which God was cutting the meshes of David’s net. As David was leaving the
battlefield
a number of the men of Manasseh
who appear to have deserted to
Achish
were assigned to him by the Philistines
lest they also should turn
traitors on the field. Thus he left the camp with a greatly increased
following. Here
too
was a proof of God’s tender thought
fulness
because at
no time of his life was he in greater need of reinforcements than now. God
anticipates coming trial
and reinforces us against its certain imminence and
pressure. On reaching the spot which they accounted home
after three days’
exhausting march
the soldiers found it a heap of smouldering ruins; and
instead of the welcome of wives and children
silence and desolation reigned
supreme. The loyalty and devotion which he had never failed to receive from his
followers were suddenly changed to vinegar and gall. But this was the moment of
his return to God. In that dread hour
with the charred embers smoking at his
feet; with this threat of stoning in his ears; his heart suddenly sprang back
into its old resting place in the bosom of God. From this moment David is
himself again
his old strong
glad
noble self. For the first time
after
months of disuse
he bids Abiathar bring him the ephod
and he enquires of the
Lord. With marvellous vigour he arises to pursue the marauding troop and he
overtakes it. He withholds the impetuosity of his men till daylight wanes
loosing them from the leash in the twilight
and leading them to the work of
rescue and vengeance with such irresistible impetuosity that not a man of them
escaped. He was sweet as well as strong
as courteous as he was brave. (1 Samuel 30:26). The sunshine of
God’s favour rested afresh upon his soul. (F. B. Meyer
B. A.)
Disaster and deliverance
To what fluctuations
what ebbs and flows of spiritual power
the
same man is subject! Moral victories are often succeeded by terrible
weaknesses. Days differ not so much as the men who live through them. Elijah
flung himself beneath the juniper in unbelieving despondency directly after the
fire from heaven had honoured his faith in God.
I. David nursing
doubt. The pendulum of his faith has swung right back. His heroism
patience
and fortitude are gone. He turns his face and feet toward the enemies of
Israel. Tides are not the sport of chance
nor is David’s declension. No man
retreats before a conquered enemy unless there be reason and cause.
1. God is not consulted. “David said in his heart” (verse 1). He
omitted to lay the case before God
and turned to commune with his own heart.
He is simply a man moved by his fears and inclinations. How they shut us out
from prayer! To the busy no time
to the perplexed no need
to the anxious no
use. How hurriedly we move to obey these promptings when once admitted! If
David’s inclinations tended towards Gath
he would not wish to ask God. Do not
affect surprise; plunge the test right into your life. Are you afraid lest the
answer from God should be against your inclinations?
2. Indifference to past mercies
“I shall now perish one day by the
hand of Saul.” Unbelief finds voice here--open
blank
base
ungrateful
unbelief! What reason had David to doubt God’s care for and over him?
3. Doubt thus led David to draw false conclusions. “There is nothing
better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the
Philistines.” The Seventh Psalm shows us how he suffered at this period of his
life.
II. Distrust of God
prepares the way for deceit. Doubt brought
forth deceit. Deceit led to cruelty
(verse 11). He slew the Amalekites
“so that none should tell the king.”
1. Deceit producing difficulty. Achish tells David be must join with
his people and fight against Israel (1 Samuel 27:1)
and
moreover
appoints him captain of his bodyguard (verse 2). Deceit weaves difficulties
which bind as chains. How could David go forward? Christian
you went with the
multitude to do evil
and since then you have found the way of transgressors is
hard.
III. Disaster
following and yet producing deliverance. While David was away
the Amalekites
seizing their opportunity
pillaged and destroyed Ziklag. Home destroyed
wives
and children gone
wounded where most susceptible in his affections
it was no
wonder David “was greatly distressed.” If this was an hour of bitterness
it
was also a blessed hour. Repentance does not always follow sorrow for
sin--never
only in a gracious heart. David’s faith
chained down during these
last sixteen months
sprang up through the gloom
and in the day of sorrow made
itself heard. (H. E. Stone.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》