Day 79 – 1 Samuel 29:1-5
Scripture Review
1 Samuel 29:1-5
"Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel." (1 Samuel 29:1)
The chapter opens with both armies dug in against one another.
The "fountain in Jezreel" is commonly identified as a large spring at the base of Gilboa. One of my commentaries said it may be the same spring as Harod from Judges 7. Nevertheless, the armies are sitting where real water, real elevation, and real military advantage matter. Saul has taken the strong ground, the Philistines have gathered for a full campaign.
And that quiet little fountain detail does something to the mood of the verse. The Philistines muster all their armies; Israel camps by a spring. The enemy looks like iron and momentum. Israel looks like a thirsty people trying to steady themselves before the storm. An old country preacher would say the flesh always loves the drumbeat, while faith is often found huddled around whatever refreshment God has left in the place.
"And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish." (1 Samuel 29:2)
David appears here in the rear with Achish as the commander of Achish's lifeguard or personal force, a role that fits Achish's earlier promise to make him keeper of his head. So David is not drifting along unnoticed like a following soldier. He is visibly attached to Achish in a position of trust, and that is exactly why the trouble begins.
The word "rereward" is defined as being in the back or behind something. Think about that, the LORD's anointed, the man who ought to be delivering Israel, is found in the rear guard of the Philistine parade. This is the ugly fruit of Ziklag. David is not merely near the world; he is marching in its order of battle. I have seen many brothers and sisters in Christ end up like that in smaller ways, not denying Christ, but standing in the wrong line, wearing the wrong colors, answering to the wrong commands.
"Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?" (1 Samuel 29:3)
The Philistine princes see David as a threat. "these days, or these years" means a considerable time, enough to test David's fidelity. Achish's defense is almost affectionate, David is Saul's former servant, he has been with me long enough, and I have found no fault in him. I believe that God used the Philistine princes' resistance to keep David from plunging further into sin.
The phrase "these Hebrews" makes me think of times when people I work with would say "Ya'll Christians". David may have been living at Ziklag and talking like Achish's man, but to the other Philistine lords he is still a Hebrew.
"And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?" (1 Samuel 29:4)
They are "wroth." I see the tone of this conversation change drastically. The Philistines are better theologians of David's real identity than David is at this moment. Sometimes the world sees our spiritual inconsistency before we are willing to admit it ourselves. I also see this as one of those happy providences that rescued David from a dangerous dilemma, while also saying plainly that David is not free from blame in how he had spoken and acted toward Achish. God rescues him, but not because his compromise was clean.
"Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?" (1 Samuel 29:5)
And now the old song comes back from the grave of memory. The same popular refrain from David's earlier triumphs, sung in festive dances and public celebration. The princes are effectively saying, Have you forgotten who this man is? Israel hasn't. Achish may have gotten comfortable with his private reading of David, but the Philistine commanders remember the public record. David's reputation has outrun his compromise.
That is often how God's conviction pricks you when you start to drift. The past rises up and blocks the lie. A backslider may talk himself into the new plan, but then some old song, old testimony, old sermon, old calling comes walking back in and ruins the whole false peace. This is the moment the past bites the present. His old victories for Israel now become the reason Philistia will not trust him.