Day 170: 1 Samuel 29- From The Ranks of the Enemy

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
How big is God’s grace? How sovereign is God’s power? Is anyone too far gone for the grace of God? Today’s story is a powerful response to these questions.
 
The scenario is almost unimaginable- After living with the enemy for over a year David is now lining up with the Philistine army to fight Israel, the people he had been anointed to lead as king.  Left on his own, David would have stayed with the Philistine army and fought his own people. But the scepter of God rules even in the midst of His enemies (Psalm 110:2) and God’s sovereignty worked in the hearts of the leaders of the Philistines (Proverbs 21:1) to save David from his own depravity and re-direct him toward his Divine purpose.
 
God’s grace is great enough to turn an enemy into a family member (Romans 5:10); no one is too far-gone for His grace and love. But how can God accept an enemy? The Philistine leaders saw the only way David could be made right from his rebellion was through sacrifice of the men he was about to fight along-side (4). What they could not see was the ultimate sacrifice would be David’s greater Son who was handed over to His enemy so enemies like you and me could become family, refocused for God’s purposes. Jesus paid the price for our treason so by grace alone we can be redeemed and re-directed for the purposes of Jesus.
 
God’s grace is sufficient and through the sacrifice of Christ anyone can come back to Him.
 
Richly Dwelling
- Do you struggle believing God’s sovereignty is great enough to rule over his enemies? Or that His grace is big enough to welcome an enemy?
 
- Paul teaches we were all enemies of God at one time (Romans 5:10). How has God’s grace rescued you in the past from the power of the enemy? How does His faithfulness form your steps moving forward?
 
-Who do you know who needs to be rescued from the enemy and re-directed for the purposes of Jesus? Pray for them now.
 
Key Verse
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?