David, the Actor
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It was a common practice for fugitives to hide among the enemies of their own people. Knowing he would not be safe in Israel, David fled to the Philistine town of Gath, less than thirty miles from Nob. Here he sought sanctuary with Achish, the king of Gath.
David’s fame as a warrior had spread beyond the borders of Israel.
He had conquered Goliath and recently slain two hundred Philistine men to obtain the dowry for Michal. Yet here we see an example of the ancient proverb “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Achish and Saul were mortal enemies.
David might prove a valuable mercenary.
On the other hand, he also might be a spy and should not be trusted.
David knew he was on shaky ground with Achish, and there was a good chance he would not live to see Bethlehem or his family again. Seeking refuge with the Philistines was perhaps not a good idea. David decided to act as if he had lost his mind, making him of no use to the Philistine king. Apparently, David was a very good actor, for Achish said, “Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?” (1 Samuel 21:14).
“The first error of David was his distrust of God at Nob, and his second mistake was his deception before Achish. David had displayed noble traits of character, and his moral worth had won him favor with the people; but as trial came upon him, his faith was shaken, and human weakness appeared. He saw in every man a spy and a betrayer. In a great emergency David had looked up to God with a steady eye of faith, and had vanquished the Philistine giant. He believed in God, he went in His name. But as he had been hunted and persecuted, perplexity and distress had nearly hidden his heavenly Father from his sight. “Yet this experience was serving to teach David wisdom; for it led him to realize his weakness and the necessity of constant dependence upon God.” “Every failure on the part of the children of God is due to their lack of faith.”
