1Sa 27:8 | KingComments | STEP | David is behaving here in accordance with what Saul said of him. For he acts very cunningly ( ). He not only goes to the enemies to live there, but he behaves as if he were an enemy of his own people. David can no longer go his way straightforward. His life consists of deceiving Achish, in whom he creates the false confidence that he has “surely made himself odious among his people Israel”. The longer one propagates the lie, the more one believes in it oneself and is distorted by it in one’s character. What a misrepresentation! This false and hypocritical behavior becomes a habit of this man after God’s heart. How is it possible he perseveres in it? It is necessary that we pray: “Remove the false way from me, and graciously grant me Your law” [that is, God’s Word] ( ). If the conscience of God’s servants tells them that they are in a wrong position, one of their excuses is that they are dedicating themselves with new energy to a certain good thing. In so doing, they make themselves believe that such a thing will silence their conscience. Thus David is committed to fight against the enemies of God and His people. For the Amalekites must be eradicated by order of God and Saul has failed to do so. David makes up for that omission. He goes there and defeats them, apparently because the LORD is with him. However, we should not focus on success. This is what happens frequently in professing Christianity. It is not asked whether a particular matter is in accordance with the Scriptures or not, but whether something produces results. Result is the only thing that counts. The advice of the world is sought to make a ‘church’ attractive. Evangelists use worldly methods to offer the gospel. If only souls are saved, that is the justification. However, we should not judge things by what we see, but by whether something is according to Scripture and reject everything that contradicts it. It is a walk in faith, not a walk guided by what we see.

‏ 1 Samuel 27:8

David’s Double Life

David is behaving here in accordance with what Saul said of him. For he acts very cunningly (1Sam 23:22). He not only goes to the enemies to live there, but he behaves as if he were an enemy of his own people. David can no longer go his way straightforward. His life consists of deceiving Achish, in whom he creates the false confidence that he has “surely made himself odious among his people Israel”.

The longer one propagates the lie, the more one believes in it oneself and is distorted by it in one’s character. What a misrepresentation! This false and hypocritical behavior becomes a habit of this man after God’s heart. How is it possible he perseveres in it? It is necessary that we pray: “Remove the false way from me, and graciously grant me Your law” [that is, God’s Word] (Psa 119:29).

If the conscience of God’s servants tells them that they are in a wrong position, one of their excuses is that they are dedicating themselves with new energy to a certain good thing. In so doing, they make themselves believe that such a thing will silence their conscience. Thus David is committed to fight against the enemies of God and His people. For the Amalekites must be eradicated by order of God and Saul has failed to do so. David makes up for that omission. He goes there and defeats them, apparently because the LORD is with him.

However, we should not focus on success. This is what happens frequently in professing Christianity. It is not asked whether a particular matter is in accordance with the Scriptures or not, but whether something produces results. Result is the only thing that counts. The advice of the world is sought to make a ‘church’ attractive. Evangelists use worldly methods to offer the gospel. If only souls are saved, that is the justification. However, we should not judge things by what we see, but by whether something is according to Scripture and reject everything that contradicts it. It is a walk in faith, not a walk guided by what we see.