"Then said Saul, I have sinned; return, my son David, for I will no more do thee harm.. . . And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel; so shall I escape out of his hand" (1 Sam. 26:21; 27:1).
David had just had a fresh reminder of the almighty power of God on his behalf (1 Sam. 26). We would think that his faith would have been greatly encouraged by this, and that he would continue in the simple course which he had heretofore pursued. But here in God’s faithful record, which never flatters His most devoted servants, we have an account of failure in David more glaring than his temporary lapse in the case of Nabal (1 Sam. 25). The deliberate purpose which he formed of dwelling among the Philistines sprang from a heart which for the time had lost sight of the all-sufficiency of God. "David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul."
How opposite is the arguing of unbelief to that of faith! Faith reasons, "Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice" (Psa. 63:7). Every past mercy is a pledge for mercy to come. Unbelief, on the other hand, looks upon every fresh danger as a greater menace than all that had previously occurred; and, forgetting the mercy of God, recalls only the various dangers to which it has been exposed. We need not chide David severely, but rather ask ourselves, Have not we too often fallen in the same way? The disciples also, again and again, forgot the Lord’s sufficiency when we would think it impossible for them to do so. He had fed the five thousand; and when the need was presented again, with four thousand to be fed, they asked the same unbelieving question. This is always nature’s way. Unless our faith is in living exercise, we dishonor the Lord by doubting His care and His power. But if we lose sight of the Lord and His sufficiency, what other resource have we?
David here had lost sight of God, and there was nothing better for him than to go speedily down into the land of the Philistines. But what an exchange! Those enemies against whom he had fought all these years, over whom he had won such notable victories, whose champion he had laid in the dust, he must now seek refuge with. How humiliating! David, like most of us, wanted to get rid of the constant assaults of persecution and trouble. Without grace, we weary of oft-repeated attacks, and the soul, losing sight of the Lord, asks, Shall I not for the time being sacrifice my principles, give up my testimony, leave the ground that is the heritage of God’s people, to secure a little ease? Here we find David taking the ground to which hitherto all the power of Saul had not been able to drive him. It is ever true that our greatest enemy lurks in our own hearts. Not all the malice of Satan, nor the cunning craftiness of men, can dislodge the soul which has put its unwavering trust in the living God. It is only when faith falters that a servant-maid can lead one to deny his Lord (Mark 14:66-69).
David went, with all his household and his men of war, back to the court of Achish, to the very city of Gath where Goliath once lived. He did indeed thus rid himself of Saul; but in giving up his trouble how much more did he sacrifice with it! It was told Saul that David was fled to Achish, and he sought no more again for him; but it is one thing to rid ourselves of trial, and another to keep the sense of God’s approval.
Thus we may say in summary that whenever we are pressed to sacrifice a distinct principle and a true position, either under pressure of opposition or the plea that we shall thereby gain fresh adherents, we are practically leaving the land of Judah and going down into Philistine country.
(From King Saul.)