29 The Philistines gathered their whole army together at Aphek. Israel’s army camped by the spring of water at Jezreel. 2 The Philistine rulers marched out in groups of hundreds and thousands. David and his men were marching with Achish behind the others. 3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, “Why are these Hebrews here?” Achish replied, “That’s David, isn’t it? Wasn’t he an officer of Saul, the king of Israel? He has already been with me for more than a year. I haven’t found any fault in him. That’s been true from the day he left Saul until now.” 4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They said, “Send David back. Let him return to the town you gave him. He must not go with us into battle. If he does, he’ll turn against us during the fighting. In fact, he might even cut off the heads of our own men. What better way could he choose to win back his master’s favor? 5 Isn’t David the one the Israelites sang about when they danced? They sang, “ ‘Saul has killed thousands of men. David has killed tens of thousands.’ ” 6 So Achish called David over to him. He said, “You have been faithful to me. And that’s just as sure as the Lord is alive. I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. I haven’t found any fault in you. That’s been true from the day you came to me until today. But the Philistine rulers aren’t pleased to have you come along. 7 So now go back home in peace. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t please the Philistine rulers.” 8 “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against me from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against your enemies? After all, you are my king and master.” 9 Achish answered, “You have been as pleasing to me as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘We don’t want David to go up with us into battle.’ 10 So get up early in the morning. Take with you the men who used to serve Saul. Leave as soon as the sun begins to come up.” 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning. They went back to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

The philistines are preparing to go to war against Israel. Both sides are mobilising their forces. As David and his men are under the protection of Achish the Philistine and have been his servants for over a year, they must line up with him to attack Israel. But David’s reputation as a warrior goes before him and the philistine commanders demand that he be sent home. They are smart and know better than to allow a man with divided loyalties to go into battle with them. I don’t know from this story what David’s intentions were. He was caught between love for God and Israel, and fear of King Saul.
As Christians we are to be wholly devoted to God and to our brothers and sisters in Christ. This story shows that we can’t serve the world and rely on its rulers for our security or we, like David, will find ourselves compromising our Christian values. Likewise, there are those who profess Christian morality but are not truly walking with Jesus, in the important battles they are likely to let us down.
Dear Lord please help me to be only for you all the time. Not to hide from you when the going gets tough and not to compromise on anything you have written in the bible even when our culture disagrees with your commands for us. You are a loving God who knows what is best. The battle is yours- eternal victor.

Written by Dimity Milne

27 David thought, “Some day Saul will destroy me. So the best thing I can do is escape. I’ll go to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop looking for me everywhere in Israel. His hand won’t be able to reach me.” 2 So David and his 600 men left Israel. They went to Achish, the king of Gath. He was the son of Maok. 3 David and his men made their homes in Gath near Achish. Each of David’s men had his family with him. David had his two wives with him. They were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel. Abigail was Nabal’s widow. 4 Saul was told that David had run away to Gath. So he didn’t look for David anymore. 5 David said to Achish, “If you are pleased with me, give me a place in one of your country towns. I can live there. I don’t really need to live near you in the royal city.” 6 So on that day Achish gave David the town of Ziklag. It has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since that time. 7 David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months. 8 Sometimes David and his men would go up and attack the Geshurites. At other times they would attack the Girzites or the Amalekites. All those people had lived in the land that reached all the way to Shur and Egypt. They had been there for a long time. 9 When David would attack an area, he wouldn’t leave a man or woman alive. But he would take their sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and clothes. Then he would return to Achish. 10 Achish would ask, “Who did you attack today?” David would answer, “The people who live in the Negev Desert of Judah.” Or he would answer, “The people in the Negev Desert of Jerahmeel.” Or he would answer, “The people in the Negev Desert of the Kenites.” 11 David wouldn’t leave a man or woman alive to be brought back to Gath. He thought, “They might tell on us. They might tell Achish who we really attacked.” That’s what David did as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David. He thought, “David’s own people, the Israelites, can’t stand him anymore. So he’ll be my servant for life.” 28 While David was living in Ziklag, the Philistines gathered their army together. They planned to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “Here is what you must understand. You and your men must march out with me and my army.” 2 David said, “I understand. You will see for yourself what I can do.” Achish replied, “All right. I’ll make you my own personal guard for life.”

This passage shows that David was a very real, multifaceted, and often flawed human being. The David represented in 1 Samuel 27 is not the David that usually first comes to our minds; a man after God’s own heart, flinging stones at Goliath, defeating the Philistines.

In this scripture, we see David as a man whose thoughts and actions show that he has doubts in who God is and what God can and will do. This David moves himself, his family, and his 600 men plus their families into idol-worshipping Philistine territory, seeking peace. This David becomes a man who makes alliances with his enemies, who kills and plunders, and then proceeds to lie about his actions. How has this happened?

I think the very first line of this passage shows David’s undoing. Verse one says “David thought…” David did not seek wise counsel, he did not consult a godly prophet, he did not pray and approach The Lord. Instead he relied on his own thoughts, already permeated with fear and exhaustion, to be his guide. Unfortunately with his thoughts leading the way, David’s actions did not reflect God’s heart.

I am grateful that passages such as this have been included in scripture. It is heartening to see that even great people of God, like David, also struggled in areas that I struggle with. I am encouraged to learn from the actions and example of David, that I may make decisions based not on fear or my own thoughts. Rather may I remember and be motivated to seek wise counsel and to present my burdens, feelings and thoughts to God, that I may rely on Him to lead and guide me.

Lord, thank you that your ways are always the best ways, and that we can rely on you to faithfully guide us. Help us to remember this each and every day as we seek to make decisions in our lives that honour you and reflect who you are. Amen.

Written by Madelaine Tarsenko

25 When Samuel died, the whole nation of Israel gathered together. They were filled with sorrow because he was dead. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David went down into the Desert of Paran. 2 A certain man in Maon was very wealthy. He owned property there at Carmel. He had 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep. He was clipping the wool off the sheep in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal. His wife’s name was Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman. But her husband was rude and mean in the way he treated others. He was from the family of Caleb. 4 David was staying in the Desert of Paran. While he was there, he heard that Nabal was clipping the wool off his sheep. 5 So he sent for ten young men. He said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him for me. 6 Say to him, ‘May you live a long time! May everything go well with you and your family! And may things go well with everything that belongs to you! 7 “ ‘I hear that you are clipping the wool off your sheep. When your shepherds were with us, we treated them well. The whole time they were at Carmel nothing that belonged to them was stolen. 8 Ask your own servants. They’ll tell you. We’ve come to you now at a happy time of the year. Please be kind to my men. Please give me and my men anything you can find for us.’ ” 9 When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal the message from David. Then they waited. 10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are running away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I give away my bread and water? Why should I give away the meat I’ve prepared for those who clip the wool off my sheep? Why should I give food to men who come from who knows where?” 12 So David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported to David every word Nabal had spoken. 13 David said to his men, “Each of you put on your swords!” So they did. David put his sword on too. About 400 men went up with David. Two hundred men stayed behind with the supplies. 14 One of the servants warned Abigail, Nabal’s wife. He said, “David sent some messengers from the desert to give his greetings to our master. But Nabal shouted at them and was rude to them. 15 David’s men had been very good to us. They treated us well. The whole time we were near them out in the fields, nothing was stolen. 16 We were taking care of our sheep near them. During that time, they were like a wall around us night and day. They kept us safe. 17 Now think it over. See what you can do. Horrible trouble will soon come to our master and his whole family. He’s such an evil man that no one can even talk to him.” 18 Abigail didn’t waste any time. She got 200 loaves of bread and two bottles of wine. The bottles were made out of animal skins. She got five sheep that were ready to be cooked. She got a bushel of grain that had been cooked. She got 100 raisin cakes. And she got 200 cakes of pressed figs. She loaded all of it on the backs of donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead. I’ll follow you.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal about it. 20 Abigail rode her donkey into a mountain valley. There she saw David and his men. They were coming down toward her. 21 David had just said, “Everything we’ve done hasn’t been worth a thing! I watched over that fellow’s property in the desert. I made sure none of it was stolen. But he has paid me back evil for good. 22 I won’t leave even one of his men alive until morning. If I do, may God punish me greatly!” 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey. She bowed down in front of David with her face toward the ground. 24 She fell at his feet. She said, “Pardon your servant, sir. Please let me speak to you. Listen to what I’m saying. Let me take the blame myself. 25 Please don’t pay any attention to that evil man Nabal. His name means Foolish Person. And that’s exactly what he is. He’s always doing foolish things. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see the men you sent. 26 Sir, the Lord has kept you from killing Nabal and his men. He has kept you from using your own hands to get even. So may what’s about to happen to Nabal happen to all your enemies. May it happen to everyone who wants to harm you. And may it happen just as surely as the Lord your God and you are alive. 27 I’ve brought a gift for you. Give it to the men who follow you. 28 “Please forgive me if I shouldn’t have done that. The Lord your God will certainly give you and your family line a kingdom that will last. That’s because you fight the Lord’s battles. You won’t do anything wrong as long as you live. 29 Someone may chase you and try to kill you. But the Lord your God will keep your life safe like a treasure hidden in a bag. And he’ll destroy your enemies. Their lives will be thrown away, just as a stone is thrown from a sling. 30 The Lord will do for you every good thing he promised to do. He’ll appoint you ruler over Israel. 31 When that happens, you won’t have this heavy load on your mind. You won’t have to worry about how you killed people without any reason. You won’t have to worry about how you got even. The Lord your God will give you success. When that happens, please remember me.” 32 David said to Abigail, “Give praise to the Lord. He is the God of Israel. He has sent you today to find me. 33 May the Lord bless you for what you have done. You have shown a lot of good sense. You have kept me from killing Nabal and his men this day. You have kept me from using my own hands to get even. 34 It’s a good thing you came quickly to meet me. If you hadn’t come, not one of Nabal’s men would have been left alive by sunrise. And that’s just as sure as the Lord, the God of Israel, is alive. He has kept me from harming you.” 35 Then David accepted from her what she had brought him. He said, “Go home in peace. I’ve heard your words. I’ll do what you have asked.” 36 Abigail went back to Nabal. He was having a dinner party in the house. It was the kind of dinner a king would have. He had been drinking too much wine. He was very drunk. So she didn’t tell him anything at all until sunrise. 37 The next morning Nabal wasn’t drunk anymore. Then his wife told him everything. When she did, his heart grew weak. He became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal down. And he died. 39 David heard that Nabal was dead. So he said, “Give praise to the Lord. Nabal was rude to me. But the Lord stood up for me. He has kept me from doing something wrong. He has paid Nabal back for the wrong things he did.” Then David sent a message to Abigail. He asked her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel. They said to Abigail, “David has sent us to you. He wants you to come back with us and become his wife.” 41 Abigail bowed down with her face toward the ground. She said, “I am your servant. I’m ready to serve him. I’m ready to wash the feet of his servants.” 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and went with David’s messengers. Her five female servants went with her. She became David’s wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam from Jezreel. Both of them became his wives.

What an interesting story in the midst of Saul’s pursuit of David. Samuel – the Man of God dies & Israel mourns. Then we have contrasts between graciousness & selfishness; generosity & meanness; wisdom & folly. In it all Abigail shines as a woman of reason, wisdom, graciousness & the mediator of peace. She knows David’s story, the destiny that God has for him & she saves him from killing outside of war.

I am impressed with this woman. I see in her courage, insight, diplomacy & the presence of mind to know what to do in a bad situation. I see her Christ-like nature, her heart after God, her servant heart – willing to wash feet, a bringer of grace & peace, and generous. A woman to aspire to be like.

Father, thank you for this story, this woman’s story to encourage me today. May I grow to be more like her Christ-likeness. Amen.

Written by Suzie Hodgson

15 David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph. There he learned that Saul had come out to kill him. 16 Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh. He told David that God would make him strong. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul won’t harm you. You will be king over Israel. And I will be next in command. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant of friendship in front of the Lord. Then Jonathan went home. But David remained at Horesh. 19 The people of Ziph went up to Saul at Gibeah. They said, “David is hiding among us. He’s hiding in places of safety at Horesh. Horesh is south of Jeshimon on the hill of Hakilah. 20 Your Majesty, come down when it pleases you to come. It will be our duty to hand David over to you.” 21 Saul replied, “May the Lord bless you because you were concerned about me. 22 Make sure you are right. Go and check things out again. Find out where David usually goes. Find out who has seen him there. People tell me he’s very tricky. 23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses. Come back to me with all the facts. I’ll go with you. Suppose he’s in the area. Then I’ll track him down among all the family groups of Judah.” 24 So they started out. They went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the Desert of Maon. Maon is south of Jeshimon in the Arabah Valley. 25 Saul and his men started out to look for David. David was told about it. So he went down to a rock in the Desert of Maon to hide. Saul heard he was there. So he went into the Desert of Maon to chase David. 26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul. Saul and his army were closing in on David and his men. They were about to capture them. 27 Just then a messenger came to Saul. He said, “Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking the land.” 28 So Saul stopped chasing David. He went to fight against the Philistines. That’s why they call that place Sela Hammahlekoth. 29 David left that place. He went and lived in places of safety near En Gedi.

The value of faithful friendships. I admire so much the brotherly love and faithfulness of Jonathan to David, and it is well described from chapter 18 through to this chapter. They were kindred spirits. Many a time did Jonathan protect David against his father’s desire to have him killed. He tried reasoning with his father against hurting David, and gave warnings to David on numerous occasions.

This set of verses today again shows Jonathan warning David, but he did more than that. V16 “ and helped him (David) to find strength in God”.

Jonathan was an encourager as well as a protector. David is one of the great Bible heroes of faith, and I am sure that in his younger days, the influence, care, faithfulness and encouragement of Jonathan helped mould David into the man he became.

I would so love to see how this simple, but profound verse, was played out. Jonathan was truly a great friend.

Lord, help me to be a faithful friend, one that encourages and protects. Help me to always see how I can build into friend’s lives, that they may be encouraged to find strength in God, in all situations of life. Amen

Written by Stephen Fell

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and the other members of his family heard about it. So they went down to join him there. 2 Everyone who was in trouble or owed money or was unhappy gathered around him. He became their commander. About 400 men were with him. 3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab. He spoke to the king of Moab. He said, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you. Let them stay until I learn what God will do for me.” 4 So David left his parents with the king of Moab. They stayed with him as long as David was in his usual place of safety. 5 But the prophet Gad spoke to David. He said, “Don’t stay in your usual place of safety. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. 6 Saul heard that the place where David and his men were hiding had been discovered. Saul was sitting under a tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah. He was holding his spear. All his officials were standing at his side. 7 Saul said to them, “Men of Benjamin, listen to me! Do you think Jesse’s son will give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make some of you commanders of thousands of men? Do you think he’ll make the rest of you commanders of hundreds? 8 Is that why all of you have joined together against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son. None of you is concerned about me. No one tells me that my son has stirred up Jesse’s son to hide and wait to attack me. But that’s exactly what’s happening now.” 9 Doeg was standing with Saul’s officials. He was from Edom. He said, “I saw Jesse’s son David come to Ahimelek at Nob. Ahimelek is the son of Ahitub. 10 Ahimelek asked the Lord a question for David. He also gave him food and the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.” 11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek, the son of Ahitub. The king also sent for all the men in his family. They were the priests at Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Son of Ahitub, listen to me.” “Yes, master,” he answered. 13 Saul said to him, “Why have you and Jesse’s son joined together against me? Why did you give him bread and a sword? Why did you ask God a question for him? Now he has turned against me. He is hiding and waiting to attack me right now.” 14 Ahimelek answered the king, “David is faithful to you. In fact, he’s more faithful to you than anyone else who serves you. He’s your own son-in-law. He’s the captain of your own personal guards. He’s highly respected by everyone in your palace. 15 Was that day the first time I asked God a question for him? Of course not! Please don’t bring charges against me. Please don’t bring charges against anyone in my family. I don’t know anything at all about this whole matter.” 16 But the king said, “Ahimelek, you will certainly be put to death. You and your whole family will be put to death.” 17 Then the king gave an order to the guards at his side. He said, “Go and kill the priests of the Lord. They are on David’s side too. They knew he was running away from me. And they didn’t even tell me.” But the king’s officials wouldn’t raise a hand to strike down the priests of the Lord. 18 Then the king ordered Doeg, “You go and strike down the priests.” So Doeg, the Edomite, went and struck them down. That day he killed 85 priests who wore linen aprons. 19 He also killed the people of Nob with his sword. Nob was a town where priests lived. Doeg killed its men and women. He killed its children and babies. He also destroyed its cattle, donkeys and sheep. 20 But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelek, escaped. Ahimelek was the son of Ahitub. Abiathar ran away and joined David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “One day I was at Nob. I saw Doeg, the Edomite, there. I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. Your whole family has been killed. And I’m responsible for it. 23 So stay with me. Don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you wants to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

The story of two men. Each man positioned for kingship and leadership. I’m constantly struck though by how distinctly different their journey’s are. The story today demonstrates two different hearts and two different allegiances.

David is fleeing, under attack, being hunted and yet his concern is for his family and that he should ‘learn what God will do for me’. ‘For’ me. That’s a declaration of confidence that God has his back. He is still full of love and full of faith despite his circumstances. He’s still walking forward, listening to God and making progress.

Then there’s Saul … ‘seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree’. He’s full of fear. His concern is to portion blame and to punish … and that he does in full measure to the priests of Nob. Fear and despair leads to death of hope.

Saul has forgotten his God and acts from a place of fear and desperation. David remembers His God and finds direction and hope.

May I remember you today Lord God. All you are, all you’ve done, all you will be. In remembering, may I find and place my hope in you and move forward in love and mercy. Amen

Written by Rosie Walker