1 Samuel 29:1-11
Q.1. Why did the lords of the Philistines mistrust David and his men? How did Achish and David respond? In what way was this an intervention from the Lord? – (1 Sam.23:1-11)
David had earned a fearsome reputation amongst the Philistines when he disposed of their champion, Goliath. The commanders of the Philistine army said to Achish – 4 … Make the man go back, that he may return to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, or in the battle he may become an adversary to us. For with what could this man make himself acceptable to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men? 5 Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousand? (1 Sam.29:4-5). Achish defended David and his men but urged them to return home (1 Sam.29:7). David protested that he had acted honourably toward Achish and wanted to fight his enemies (1 Sam.29:8). Achish admitted – I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God (1 Sam.29:9). Achish urged him to go back to Ziglag so David and his men left the next morning (1 Sam.29:9-11). God overruled in a gracious way, to prevent David from fighting against the people he would eventually rule. He brought David and his men back to Ziglag, which had been burned by the Amalekites. The Amalekites had also taken their women and children captive (1 Sam.30:1-2). If David and his men had joined the Philistines in battle against Israel, their losses would have been irretrievable.