 Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,
‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” 11 So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel. Meditation A good shepherd protects sheep even when the animals do not realize they are in danger. The Lord is our Good Shepherd and, truly, “The Lord will keep you from all evil…” (Psalm 121:7) even when the danger we find ourselves in is because of our own sin. David was in a dilemma. After living with the enemy for over a year, the anointed king of Israel lined up for battle against Israel (1-3). David’s enemy was not the Philistines but himself! Yet God’s invisible hand of providence moved the hearts of the Philistine leaders (4-7; see Proverbs 21:1) to protect David from himself, saving David from his own depravity and re-directing David for Divine purposes. God’s gracious providence protects His people from passivity against sin in our hearts and pushes us towards pastures of His grace. The staff of God’s authority rules in the midst of His enemies (Psalm 110:2), and in an amazing display of God’s sovereign grace David is sent away peaceably (6-11). The providence of God governs the greatest and the least of life’s details (WCF 5), working “all things according to the council of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). God’s invisible hand guided David away from the danger of self-inflicted wounds. David, the shepherd boy (1 Samuel 17:34-37) who had been anointed to shepherd Israel (1 Samuel 16), was saved from himself by the Lord who is the Good Shepherd of His people (Psalm 23). So too our Good Shepherd will protect us from ourselves, even when we do not realize our danger. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the danger David was in because of his own sin? -Where do you identify with David, allowing sin to slowly lead you into compromise to the point where you are working against yourself in the journey of sanctification? -How does the work of our Good Shepherd Jesus who laid His life down for His people empower you to examine your hearts to see where the enemy may have a foothold, repenting in areas where you realize you need grace? Key Verse 6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you Comments are closed.
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