Saul is trapped in compromise while David narrowly avoids it
August 13, 2021
Commentary
This chapter opens with a new act of war being declared by the Philistines against Israel. David found himself in a compromising situation as King Achish asked David and his troops to join forces with the Philistines against Israel. If he said no, he would be in big trouble and if he said yes, he would be fighting against his own people. He had no choice but to reply ambiguously and start toward the battle field.
As Saul watched the buildup of Philistine forces, he became afraid. He inquired of the Lord what he should do but God refused to answer him. In desperation, Saul went to the witch of Endor, asking her to bring Samuel back from the dead so he could get his advice as to what he should do. To her amazement, Samuel spoke and informed Saul that his kingdom was being taken from him. In terror, Saul fell on his face before Samuel, but he was not moved to repentance and went back to his troops.
To a devout Hebrew, the land of Canaan was the Lord’s sanctuary, the place where the Ark and Tabernacle rested and where the presence of Jehovah dwelt. To live outside the limits must have been very difficult for David and his followers. You can understand how David must have felt as he was asked by Achish to fight against his own countrymen. Now, as he was in route to Aphek with the Philistine army, you can be sure that he prayed often and in earnest that somehow he would be spared from entering the field of battle.
The Philistine commanders knew that David was the one who, as a young man, had killed Goliath and hundreds of the Philistine soldiers. When they saw him marching to battle with their army to fight the Israelites, they protested. They expressed their concern that in the heat of battle David might turn against them. Though Achish argued that David and his men should stay, he was outvoted and they were asked to go back to Ziklag. Although David was greatly relieved, he could not allow Achish to know his true feelings so he offered a feeble protest (v.8). As a result, early the next morning before the camp was awake, with a sense of intense relief, David and his men set out for Ziklag.
Application
When David was placed in a position of fighting against his own countrymen, he called out to God to somehow spare him from this. When I may be asked to compromise, my first reaction should be to cry out to God.
1 Samuel 28:1– 11 (NET)
1 In those days the Philistines gathered their troops for war in order to fight Israel. Achish said to David, “You should fully understand that you and your men must go with me into the battle.” 2 David replied to Achish, “That being the case, you will come to know what your servant can do!” Achish said to David, “Then I will make you my bodyguard from now on.”
3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land. 4 The Philistines assembled; they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified. 6 So Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him—not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets. 7 So Saul instructed his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants replied to him, “There is a woman who is a medium in Endor.”
8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, “Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.”
9 But the woman said to him, “Look, you are aware of what Saul has done; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land! Why are you trapping me so you can put me to death?” 10 But Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not incur guilt in this matter!” 11 The woman replied, “Who is it that I should bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up for me Samuel.”