FRIDAY September 27, 2019
Commissioned for War
Now it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “You assuredly know that you will go out with me to battle, you and your men.” So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”
1 Samuel 28:1-2
Imagine, David was in a difficult place; the Philistine army was set to fight against Israel. King Achish thought David had changed sides and formed a strong alliance with him. He was fully persuaded in his mind that David would remain among his warriors forever.
David assured King Achish it was no problem for him and his men to fight against Saul, Jonathan and the men of Israel. David was a skilled warrior. Can you imagine his internal conflict? David was under tremendous pressure. He had been commissioned to fight in a war against his own people. David knew that whoever came against the Lord’s people would be cursed (Genesis 12:3). He could not touch Saul; he was the Lord’s anointed.
David could not use deception to cover his whereabouts this time. He had been cornered and he knew it. Would David be forced to fight against Israel? No way! David could not come against Israel! God would help David. He would intervene so that he did not have to fight against his own people. God would change the plans and redirect David’s life. Sadly, the Philistines whom David had remained with for so long would be the same men to kill King Saul, and his best friend Jonathan.
The Bible NEVER flatters its heroes. It tells us the truth about each one of them in order that against the background of human breakdown and failure we may magnify the grace of God and recognize that it is the delight of the Spirit of God to work upon the platform of human impossibilities.
~Alan Redpath~
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