1 Samuel 29:9

New International Version

Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’

For Meditation

How was David thinking when he marched with Achish into battle against Israel? This is one of the many questions we wish to  ask many Biblical heroes and heroines when we get to heaven. I have mine and you have yours, but here, David had a problem.

Here he was, the anointed future king of Israel, going to fight his people with the Philistines. Where did his loyalty belong—with Achish or Israel?

We all have experienced such conundrums before—situations that have challenged our loyalty in some ways. How do we decide, and what reaction can we expect?

Fortunately, the Philistine commanders rescued David (4-5); but he questioned Achish about his decision to send him and his men back to Ziklag (8-10). However, you could hear David breathe a gigantic sigh of relief.

In all of this, God was working for David as He has worked for many of us in different but similar circumstances. Consider the times you lost it between the hard place and the rock—the moments when your mind had reached its horizon and couldn’t function anymore. How can your thanksgiving fountain dry so soon?

God could not allow His anointed king to act against his good conscience and soil his hands with the blood of his people; neither would the Lord allow David to act ungratefully to Achish for his hospitality. Therefore, His gracious hand reached out and pulled David back to Ziklag. (11).

When God tells you to give him thanks in every situation, say hallelujah with the loudest shout. The Amalekites had ransacked Ziklag and taken the women and everybody else in the town captive (30:1-2). Imagine David and his men staying away for as long as the war would have lasted—but now they have time to recover their family members and restore their lives.

Isn’t God good?

It hurts when people reject you or leave you out of something you deserve. I can imagine your struggle. Maybe this is the response to the questions you have posed to the Lord for so long—why Lord? Take the time and meditate on this story of David, Achish, and the Amalekites and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you.

May the Lord open your heart for you to smile, with thanks welling up in worship of Him who is merciful and gracious, as you see His goodness in your disappointment. Amen.