1Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines [a]passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. 3 Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”
And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me.”
4 But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, “Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these men? 5 Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying:
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you. 7 Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.”
8 So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
9 Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with [b]you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.”
11 So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
1 Samuel 29 – A Compromised Life
Summary:
David lives with the enemy for over a year raiding and pillaging, lying and deceiving. This gains him the favor of the king but not the lords of the tribes. As battle with the Israelites ensues, David is asked to go home and sit this one out.
Key Verse:
“So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” – 1 Samuel 29:6 (NKJV)
Keyword Study: "Appointed" – פָּקַד (pāqad)
- Hebrew Word: Appointed = Hebrew pāqad
- Meaning: assigned, designated, or put in position
- Used here as: Achish assigning David a specific place under his authority (not sending him to battle)
Achish "appointed" David a "safe place" among his enemies.
Main Themes:
Serving Two Masters: David, calling Achish "my lord", shows his attempt at serving God and mammon.
A Life Of Compromise: Because of David's wayward, fear-driven, decisions he discovers discord with those he loves.
God's Patient Mercy: God isn't surprised at what David is doing. He is longsuffering knowing that a work is being done in David's heart.
Reflection & Application:
Have you ever acted out of fear even to the point of hanging with the enemy? David’s actions are our own at times when we allow our carnal mind to guide us rather than our spirit mind. Jesus tell us that we can't serve two masters: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." (NIV) And Paul says: "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."
1. What can you do to safeguard your mind from thinking in the flesh?
2. Are there any areas of your life where you may be serving two masters?