606
Patriarchs and Prophets
Saul exclaimed, “Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do
great things, and also shalt still prevail.” But the son of Jesse had no
hope that the king would long continue in this frame of mind.
David despaired of a reconciliation with Saul. It seemed inevitable
that he should at last fall a victim to the malice of the king, and he
determined again to seek refuge in the land of the Philistines. With the
six hundred men under his command, he passed over to Achish, the
king of Gath.
David’s conclusion that Saul would certainly accomplish his mur-
derous purpose was formed without the counsel of God. Even while
Saul was plotting and seeking to accomplish his destruction, the Lord
was working to secure David the kingdom. God works out His plans,
though to human eyes they are veiled in mystery. Men cannot under-
stand the ways of God; and, looking at appearances, they interpret the
trials and tests and provings that God permits to come upon them as
things that are against them, and that will only work their ruin. Thus
David looked on appearances, and not at the promises of God. He
doubted that he would ever come to the throne. Long trials had wearied
his faith and exhausted his patience.
The Lord did not send David for protection to the Philistines, the
most bitter foes of Israel. This very nation would be among his worst
enemies to the last, and yet he had fled to them for help in his time of
need. Having lost all confidence in Saul and in those who served him,
he threw himself upon the mercies of the enemies of his people. David
was a brave general, and had proved himself a wise and successful
warrior; but he was working directly against his own interests when he
went to the Philistines. God had appointed him to set up his standard
in the land of Judah, and it was want of faith that led him to forsake
his post of duty without a command from the Lord.
God was dishonored by David’s unbelief. The Philistines had
feared David more than they had feared Saul and his armies; and by
placing himself under the protection of the Philistines, David discov-
ered to them the weakness of his own people. Thus he encouraged
these relentless foes to oppress Israel. David had been anointed to
stand in defense of the people of God; and the Lord would not have His
servants give encouragement to the wicked by disclosing the weakness
[673]
of His people or by an appearance of indifference to their welfare.
Furthermore, the impression was received by his brethren that he had