1 Samuel 27:1-12 CSB
David Flees to Ziklag
27 David said to himself [Then David said to his heart], “One of these days I’ll be swept away by Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape immediately to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me everywhere in Israel, and I’ll escape from him.”
Saul has proven to be unstable
David would rather live with Philistines than endure being pursued by Saul.
2 So David set out with his six hundred men and went over to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.
Recall Achish king of Gath from ch 21
David acted like a madman & escaped
3 David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow.
David has 600 men with him & all their families
Family Life in the wilderness would be difficult & dangerous
David must find a place for them.
David is responsible.
4 When it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he [Saul] no longer searched for him.
Saul wants nothing to do with the Philistines
5 Now David said to Achish, “If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”
Why would David find favor with King Achish?
David & his men will be mercenaries
6 That day Achish gave Ziklag to him, and it still belongs to the kings of Judah today. 7 The length of time that David stayed in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.
Ziklag was a border town
At least 20+ miles south of Gath (safe enough distance)
Border of Amalekite territory & southern Israel (or Judah)
8 David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, [Gezerites] and the Amalekites. From ancient times they had been the inhabitants of the region through Shur as far as the land of Egypt.
Amalekites are south of Israel/Judah
Geshurites & Girzites are west of the Amalekites
Geshurite/Girzite lands extend south to eastern border of Egypt
They are ALL enemies of Israel, but Philistine allies
Exodus 17:14-16 CSB
14 The LORD then said to Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua: I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven.”
15 And Moses built an altar and named it, “The LORD Is My Banner.” 16 He said, “Indeed, my hand is lifted up toward the LORD’s throne. The LORD will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Amalekites will remain enemies of Israel
YHWH has promised to blot out even the memory of Amalek.
9 Whenever David attacked the land, he did not leave a single person alive, either man or woman, but he took flocks, herds, donkeys, camels, and clothing.
David is destroying the enemies of God’s people
YHWH will use the man of His choosing to accomplish His mission
Then he [David] came back to Achish, 10 who inquired, “Where did you raid today?” [“Against whom did you raid today?”]
David replied, “The south country of Judah,” “The south country of the Jerahmeelites,” or “The south country of the Kenites.”
David is attacking & slaughtering God’s enemies
These are the enemies of God & His people.
YHWH promised to wipe them out completely.
Jesus had enemies to conquer as well.
Colossians 2:13-15 ESV
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him [the cross].
Jesus disarmed His enemies
Isaiah 54:17 CSB
17 No weapon formed against you will succeed,
and you will refute any accusation[d]
raised against you in court.
This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants,
and their vindication is from me.”
This is the LORD’s declaration.
Jesus plundered their goods
He took away their right to accuse us
He made their weapons useless
He triumphed over His evil, demonic enemies
He annihilated them
Should Jesus have wiped them out completely?
Or should He have been compassionate with His enemies:
Satan? Sin? Death? Demons? Hell? Evil?
What was that process like for Jesus defeating His enemies?
Brutal. Bloody. Horrific.
11 David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Or they will inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was David’s custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory. 12 So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself repulsive to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”
David is just trying to survive.
But, David has taken responsibility.
David is waiting on the LORD.
While he waits on the LORD…God is still using him!
God is defeating the enemies of His people.
Psalm 138:7-8 ESV
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
You may feel surrounded, but God wants to accomplish His purposes in & through you.
Surrender.
Submit yourself to His sovereignty.
Take responsibility.
There is a very real enemy.
Ephesians 6:12 CSB
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
He has disarmed…& is destroying His enemies
His kingdom has come & is coming!
There are enemies of God out in the world that He wants to make His friends
1 Corinthians 15:25-26 CSB
25 For he [Jesus Christ] must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.
1 Samuel 28:1-2 CSB
28 At that time, the Philistines gathered their military units into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army [battle] with me.”
2 David replied to Achish, “Good, you will find out what your servant can do.”
So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.”
Sounds like David will meet Saul on the battlefield
What is next for Saul & David?
How will YHWH’s king ever become king?