1 Samuel 29 is an interesting chapter. David continues in his deception of Achish and even lines up to go to battle against Israel with him. The other Philistines do not trust David due to his reputation against their people. They are wise, Achish is deceived, and David is righteous one… it gets confusing. We should note that David’s deception in this case was exclusively aimed against those who were enemies of God and His people and it was only when his life was in jeopardy due to Saul’s persecution of him.
My kids ask me about who is good and who is bad in some situations, either in real life or in movies. The truth is that often it may not be as clear as “good” and “bad”. Sometimes there are two parties both of which are offensive to God and they are battling. Sometimes there are two that claim to honor God and fight. Sometimes even the righteous seem to do things which seem inappropriate.
Ultimately no one is perfect and we should test everything against the word of God. Not everything David does is righteous. However, he is often rebuked if he is doing something which is bad. He is not rebuked in this situation. Take time to pray and reflect on the situation recorded in 1 Samuel 29.
The Philistines Mistrust David
1Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel. 2And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish. 3Then the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him from the day he deserted to me to this day?” 4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “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 thousands’?”
6Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords. 7“Now therefore return and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9But Achish replied to David, “I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’ 10“Now then arise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have arisen early in the morning and have light, depart.” 11So David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
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