David flees to the Philistines and Saul seeks out a witch
When we are fearful, especially for our lives we default to seeking security in areas where we not normally consider. Such was the case with David as he seeks shelter with the Philistines. Saul seeks a witch and the Philistines reject David.
1 Samuel 27: David Flees to the Philistines
1 Then David said to himself, "Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines. Saul then will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel, and I will escape from his hand."
2 So David arose and crossed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's widow.
4 Now it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he no longer searched for him.
5 Then David said to Achish, "If now I have found favor in your sight, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may live there; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?"
6 So Achish gave him Ziklag that day; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.
7 The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.
8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites; for they were the inhabitants of the land from ancient times, as you come to Shur even as far as the land of Egypt.
9 David attacked the land and did not leave a man or a woman alive, and he took away the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he returned and came to Achish.
10 Now Achish said, "Where have you made a raid today?" And David said, "Against the Negev of Judah and against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites and against the Negev of the Kenites."
11 David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring to Gath, saying, "Otherwise they will tell about us, saying, 'So has David done and so has been his practice all the time he has lived in the country of the Philistines.'"
12 So Achish believed David, saying, "He has surely made himself odious among his people Israel; therefore he will become my servant forever.".
1 Samuel 28: Saul and the Medium of En-dor
1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, "Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army."
2 David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."
3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.
4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at En-dor."
8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you."
9 The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?"
10 But Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing."
11 Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me."
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul."
13 The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth."
14 He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do."
16 And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy?
17 The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbour, David.
18 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.
19 Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."
20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me.
22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way."
23 He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.
24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it,
25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
1 Samuel 29: The Philistines Reject David
1 Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel.
2 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish,
3 the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day."
4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here?
5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you.
7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines."
8 And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"
9 And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'
10 Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light."
Things to think about…
1. 1 Samuel 27 is a description of one of the lowest points in David’s life. While later he would morally fall with Bathsheba, here we see him fleeing to the Philistines, the sworn enemy of the Israelites. Remember David had killed their champion Goliath, he killed 200 as a bride price for Micah (Saul’s daughter) and had gone out on many successful raids as a commander in Saul’s army against the Philistines. One wonders why the Philistines accepted him into their land. But ultimately the world will have us back if we reject and turn away from the promises of God. In this case it was David inheriting the Israelite kingdom and thereby fighting against them.
2. David continues to raid the enemies of Israel, 1Sam 27:9 but lies about it to Achish the Philistine king. God can still use us regardless of our wisdom or moral maturity. While this is not ideal, it shows that God’s grace is the only thing that is of everlasting worth. David is only sustained through this period of fear and uncertainty by God’s grace.
3. David by seeking protection with the Philistines was at this point setting himself up to be a direct enemy with the nation of Israel. We will see that this scenario starts to play out. Eventually our poor choices catch up with us. God uses these situations to humble us and bring us back to Himself.
4. David wouldn’t put Saul to death because he feared killing ‘the Lord’s anointed’, but here we see him fronting up to side with the Philistines who are about to go to war with Israel, 1 Sam 28:1,2. David’s fearful life on the run had led him to be in opposition to the very people God had called out for Himself. Have you ever been at war with other Christians? Who was at fault? Did you have a part to play? Was it ever resolved? Why/why not?
5. Samuel has died and the Lord had left Saul. He would not answer him by the common means of consulting prophets or the Urim. Saul had sent all the mediums out of the land, 1 Sam 28:3-6. The climax of his life was drawing near as he sees the army of the Philistines – he is fearful. When death is staring you in the face you would think this would be the primary time to repent and surrender to the Lord’s will. But Saul had hardened his heart over many years in false repentance, broken promises and lies. This pattern had seared his conscience. Do you know people like this? They have had many religious experiences, but their lives do not match up with having a conformity to Christ. May I ask the question - Is this you? If so, repent and be restored. Get a mature Christian to pray with you and keep you accountable for how you live, before it’s too late.
6. Saul had been forsaken by the Lord and turns to the only means available, a witch, 1Sam 28:7. It is interesting that Saul says “surely as the Lord lives…” 1Sam 25:10, as he promises protection to the witch at En Dor. It was on his lips but sadly not in his heart. May our words and heart devotion to Christ align.
7. 1Sam 28:7-25 is about Saul’s hypocrisy in consulting the medium at En dor. Whiles there are issues surrounding mediums and the calling up of spirit’s for the Christian, we must consider the passage. The passage says “the woman saw Samuel”, vs 12 and then was fearful. She knew who Samuel was and was afraid as she would have known of his ministry and connection with Saul. Saul reveals himself to the woman but assures her of his protection. The spirit comes up out of the earth. Surely Samuel would have come from above, being in the Lord’s presence. But this could also mean that he has departed and hence being risen. The word in the ESV interpreted as “god” simply means spirit or soul. The witch described his appearance to Saul and Saul affirmed it was Samuel, vs 14. The spirit affirms that he is indeed Samuel. Although we know Satan is a liar and the Father of lies, this whole passage affirms truth and even the future regarding Saul and his sons, vs 19. Things of which Satan has limited knowledge. The interaction affirms the truth of Samuel’s earthly ministry, vss 16-18. There is no reason to believe that this was none other than Samuel and that the Lord allowed this to occur. We are to commune with the Lord through His Spirit and His Word. Even though departed family and friends are sadly missed, they should never be consulted after death. Indeed to do so is to speak to the devil via a familiar spirit. Christ, His Spirit and Word are all the counsel we need. Saul even at this point I believe still had an opportunity to repent and be restored. Where there is life there is hope. But his heart was too hard at this point because he had reaped the fruit of living a life in rebellion to the Lord. His conscience was seared and he was unable to repent. Although you do hear of it, the reality is, death bed conversions are a rare occurrence because of this reason. Praise God they do happen though. It says he was full of fear at the words of Samuel. Samuel’s ministry did not change in life or in death towards Samuel. Jesus said even though one rise from the dead they will not believe. Here is an example in Samuel’s post death experience with Saul.
8. Look at chapter 29. This is one of the lowest points in David’s life in a spiritual sense. What was David thinking!? He had not only deceived Achish, the king of the Philistines, he had deceived himself. Fortunately, God in his mercy and grace, through the counsel of Achish and the Philistine lords had not allowed David to fight against His people Israel. This was fortunate because he would have made himself a stench towards the people he was called to rule over as king. Can you remember a time when the Lord restrained you from doing something really dumb or dangerous? What lessons did you learn as a result?
9. Achish had had godly counsel to David and also to us if we are heading away from the Lord into sin. He says, 1 Sam 29:10 “rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light." Amen. Don’t allow the light of another day shine on your present trajectory of rebellion.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups off over this week. Prepare your heart for the Easter services.
Prayer Points
1. New members course – 3 weeks after church. First week completed
2. Pray for new people as they settle into CBC
3. Pray for Israel/Gaza, Ukraine wars.
4. New Life group starting soon in Fernvale/Lowood after membership course
5. Those that haven’t come to church for a while to return.
6. Revival over our city.
7. Finances to cover our needs
8. Pray for PlayPatch, Kids church, Creche and Kids Hope at Karalee State school.
9. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. First week new members course – 16 on the course
2. The Lord’s grace over our lives and country
3. Café, music, kids church, admin, sound and technical team every week
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. 2nd week of membership course this Sunday 4th May.
2. Ministries this week. Life group, Kids@Church, Kids Hope - Karalee.
3. PlayPatch 1-5yos, Fridays 9:30am at church starting May 2nd.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for May...
Q. 32. What is a change of heart called? A. Regeneration.
Bible References – Titus 3:5-7.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” Jer 33:3
