1 Samuel 27, 29-30 || An Unlikely Kingdom
1 Samuel 27:1-12 (ESV)
Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 So David arose and went 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, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.
5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the number of the 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 made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”
How Did We Get Here?
David inquires of the Lord — 1 Samuel 23
David responds with radical mercy to Saul — 1 Samuel 24
David repents of his misplaced anger against Nabal — 1 Samuel 25
David refuses to act against God’s anointed — 1 Samuel 26
“Then David said in his heart…” — 1 Samuel 27:1
The Hebrew word for heart (lev) refers to the center of thinking, decision-making, and motivation.
“What you say and keep saying to the center of you will determine your way.” - Dale R. Davis
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
The Way That Seemed Right to David
Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” (1 Samuel 27:1, ESV)
David’s Motives
1. Motivated by fear and comfort: “I shall perish one day…”
2. Motivated by reputation and status: “nothing better for me…”
3. Motivated by securing a future: “Then Saul will despair…”
Reflection: What are you saying in your heart?
Have you ever made plans driven by a desire for comfort, for things to finally be at rest?
Have you ever felt so hopeless that you settle for whatever seems “safe”?
Have you ever compromised, trying to secure the future you long for?
So David arose and went 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, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him. (1 Samuel 27:2-4, ESV)
The ways that seems right is often marked by compromise
A. Geographical Compromise
Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. (1 Samuel 27:5-7, ESV)
The ways that seems right is often marked by compromise
B. Moral Compromise
Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. (1 Samuel 27:8-9, ESV)
The ways that seems right is often marked by compromise
C. Identity Compromise
When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.” (1 Samuel 27:10-12, ESV)
God’s Rescue Plan
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.” 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? (1 Samuel 29:1-4, ESV)
“Yahweh is with David everywhere… surely with him among the Philistines as elsewhere, surely in chapter 29 as in those places where it is explicitly stated.” - Walter Brugerman
“We are still no match for our God, who has thousands of unguessable ways by which he rescues his people.” - Dale Ralph Davis
The Work of the Lord is Relentless
The Work of the Lord is Holistic
The Work of the Lord is Gracious
The Work of the Lord is Complete
Epilogue
David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David’s spoil.” (1 Samuel 30:18-20, ESV)
The Lord is Faithful to Restore What is Lost
David recovered his people and possessions.
David recovered his trust and reputation.
David recovered his identity.
Test #1 | Comfort
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” (Matthew 4:1-3, ESV)
Test #2 | Reputation
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” (Matthew 4:5-6, ESV)
Test #3 | A Lesser Kingdom
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8-9, ESV)
A Kingdom Identity
Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (Matthew 4:10-11, ESV)
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17, ESV)
COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS
1) Read the following passages for an overview of this week’s Bible story:
• 1 Samuel 27:1-4
• 1 Samuel 29:2-4
• 1 Samuel 30:1-8
• 1 Samuel 30:18-20
2) Reflecting on Self-Reliance vs. God-Reliance: Like David, we can often shift from relying on God to depending on our own wisdom when we feel uncertain or distant from Him.
• How do you recognize when you are trying to navigate life without God’s direction? How does this impact your relationship with Him?
• What motives might be at work (consciously or subconsciously) when we pursue our own wisdom over God’s wisdom?
3) Identity in Christ vs. Identity in the World: David’s alliance with the Philistines represents a shift away from his God-given identity.
• What are some ways the world tries to offer you an identity that competes with your identity in Christ?
• What are some ways the world tries to offer you validation that is outside of God’s bestowed identity in your life?
4) God’s Faithfulness in Our Failures: When David falters, God’s faithfulness remains.
• Can you recall a time when God rescued you from the consequences of your own choices, even when you strayed from His path? What does that teach you about His character?
5) God’s Relentless Pursuit of Grace: Amos 5:18-19 gives us a vivid metaphor for God’s relentless pursuit, describing a person who, even after escaping a lion, falls into the grasp of a bear. God often uses intense situations to drive us back to Himself, revealing the emptiness of following our own way.
• Where have you felt God relentlessly calling you back to Him, especially when you’ve drifted?
• How does knowing God’s presence is always available—even when we fail—change how you respond to life’s struggles?
6) Trusting God for Complete Restoration: Is there an area in your life where you are waiting on God’s restoration? Are you comfortable sharing that with the group for prayer?
• How can this story encourage you to trust Him for complete restoration?