It is a dark time for David – he and his men flee Israel and move in with the Philistines. They make an occupation out of raiding and murdering the peoples around them for spoils.
“And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household… Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites… And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. When Achish asked, ‘Where have you made a raid today?’ David would say, ‘Against the Negeb of Judah,’ or, ‘Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,’ or, ‘Against the Negeb of the Kenites.’ And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, ‘lest they should tell about us and say, “So David has done.” ‘ ” (v3a,8-11a)
David and his company become a band of professional pillagers operating out of Ziklag (a well-known Philistine city). When the Philistine prince would ask David where they raided, David would lie and say he raided his own people, Israel. These lies were likely so David could gain favor with the Philistines (spoiler alert, this soon backfires on David).
When I said it was a dark time for David, that’s because during this time David is operating without the guidance or leadership of God. Even though David is killing the enemies of Israel, which was probably how he justified his actions, nowhere does the text indicate this was God’s calling or will for them. This was straight up murder and deceit on a daily basis for 16 months (the length of their stay in Philistia). I’m sure this is one of the reasons David is not permitted to build God’s temple (see 1 Chr 22:6-8).
Despite the distance of David’s heart from God, God still protected David and his men, keeping them safe for His future plans. David may have been done with God at this point, but God was not done with David.
Have you ever experienced hills and valleys in your walk with God? David certainly did. Last chapter he was on a moral high ground showing mercy to Saul and obeying God’s commands, and now he hits a record low by plundering and murdering people. Talk about extremes. Yet, we know that David’s greatest high points with God are yet to come.
My encouragement for us today is to never give up on ourselves or write ourselves off. No matter how many sins we’ve committed in recent times, no matter how low we may think we’ve sunk, God isn’t finished with us yet and there is great hope. Like David, God may still have your greatest moments ahead of you. Let’s repent of any past and present sin, and live in the truth that God can still work in and through us as long as we’re still breathing.
Father God, our Merciful and Gracious King, glorious and mighty is Your name. You are compassionate and forgiving beyond measure, and we humbly admit our many sins against You. Father thank you for the gift of forgiveness from our sin, and salvation from the eternal death that is our just reward. Father please forgive us, and lead us on the path of righteousness from this day forward. Thank you Jesus for the gift of Your blood which washes away our sin, and cleanses our souls. In Your name we seek to serve the Father, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training