Chapter 68—David at Ziklag
This chapter is based on
1 Samuel 29
;
30
;
2 Samuel 1
.
David and his men had not taken part in the battle between Saul
and the Philistines, though they had marched with the Philistines to the
field of conflict. As the two armies prepared to join battle the son of
Jesse found himself in a situation of great perplexity. It was expected
that he would fight for the Philistines. Should he in the engagement
quit the post assigned him and retire from the field, he would not only
brand himself with cowardice, but with ingratitude and treachery to
Achish, who had protected him and confided in him. Such an act
would cover his name with infamy, and would expose him to the wrath
of enemies more to be feared than Saul. Yet he could not for a moment
consent to fight against Israel. Should he do this, he would become a
traitor to his country—the enemy of God and of His people. It would
forever bar his way to the throne of Israel; and should Saul be slain in
the engagement, his death would be charged upon David.
David was caused to feel that he had missed his path. Far better
would it have been for him to find refuge in God’s strong fortresses
of the mountains than with the avowed enemies of Jehovah and His
people. But the Lord in His great mercy did not punish this error of
His servant by leaving him to himself in his distress and perplexity;
for though David, losing his grasp on divine power, had faltered and
turned aside from the path of strict integrity, it was still the purpose
of his heart to be true to God. While Satan and his host were busy
helping the adversaries of God and of Israel to plan against a king
who had forsaken God, the angels of the Lord were working to deliver
David from the peril into which he had fallen. Heavenly messengers
moved upon the Philistine princes to protest against the presence of
David and his force with the army in the approaching conflict.
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“What do these Hebrews here?” cried the Philistine lords, pressing
about Achish. The latter, unwilling to part with so important an ally,
answered, “Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel,
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