The saying “God moves in mysterious ways” is an often repeated phrase, but it is often repeated because it is true. God does indeed move in ways which surprise us, even when we do not expect it. While God certainly works directly through miracle or other direct intervention, God also works through ordaining circumstances or even through the hands of unbelievers.
Unbelievers were certainly the surprise saviour for David. Stuck in a situation of his own making due to listening to his heart instead of trusting in God’s promises, David found himself appointed as the personal bodyguard to King Achish, as the Philistines launched an invasion of Israel. Despite David’s sinful predicament, God still delivered David from his circumstances.
The author of Samuel appeared to be setting up a final grudge match between David and Saul, lined up against each other. David, forced onto the Philistine side by his recent choices. Saul, about to face the hour of his final judgement due to his own past choices. This, despite the many situations in the past when David could have killed Saul, but refused to.
In chapter 29 the apparent setup is unwound. David will escape the consequences of his understandable but unfaithful acts of sixteen months previous.
The Philistines gathered their forces together for battle at Aphek (v.1). The place was the site of the fateful battle in the beginning of 1 Samuel (ch.4) which ultimately led to the Israelite desire for a king like the rest of the nations. Now another fateful battle will see that same king defeated and discarded, so that a king after God’s own heart could arise.
As the Philistine kings paraded their armies into camp, David and his band joined in the rearguard with Achish (v.2). As they passed across the parade ground, the other Philistine commanders noticed David and his detachment and loudly cried out “What are these Hebrews doing here?” (v.3).
Achish immediately jumped to David’s defence, announcing that it was David who was now well acknowledged as an enemy of Saul, “and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day” (v.3). David’s deceit was well hidden; Achish was thoroughly snookered.
Sadly for Achish, the Philistine commanders were not as easily convinced. They were angry at Achish for bringing David along like any other mercenary, as they feared that David could seek to redeem himself in Saul’s eyes by turning on them (v.4). They feared David’s men were really a fifth column.
The Philistine commanders had not forgotten the old folk tune “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands” and demanded Achish send David away (vv.4-5).
Poor Achish must break the bad (good) news to David. Acknowledging that as God exists, he believed David had been a faithful servant, Achish must send David and team home since the Philistine commanders object (vv.6-7)!
David, who had found himself in terrible strife, is now delivered from having to cross the Rubicon and fight Israel on their enemies’ side. What relief must have washed over him. But appearances must be kept, and so ironically David challenged the decision (v.8). Nevertheless Achish’s hands are tied, and David must go (v.9).
When morning comes, as soon as it is light, David and his band must depart from the camp and return to their home (v.10). While light meant only impending doom for Saul (28:19), for David it meant redemption.
Sure enough, morning came, and David and his men departed the Philistine camp for their base in the Philistine lands (v.11). Meanwhile, the Philistines themselves broke camp and departed for Jezreel, where Saul and the Israelites nervously awaited the hour of battle (v.11).
Nowhere in this passage is God described as directing or acting. The only mention of God comes, ironically, from the pagan mouth of King Achish, commending David before God for his faithfulness to him (a faithfulness which was not real) and the injustice of David being unable to fight at his side. Yet, just like in the Book of Esther, God’s hand clearly lies over the circumstances and situations.
Yet God indeed acted to save his servant. Through the Philistine commanders objecting to David’s presence, David is delivered from a situation which would have made his kingship untenable. There is no way that Israel would have accepted as king a man who fought against them, even if he later turned on the Philistines mid-battle.
God works in the same way in our lives. Sometimes, God works through the most surprising of events or people to set us apart from God’s enemies. Like when we read this deliverance of David, we should not respond with indifference and muteness but with praise to God for his goodness and greatness towards us.
That goodness and greatness which God showed to David, and to us despite our own unfaithfulness, was only because of Jesus, the true king after God’s own heart. It was not David’s wit that saved him. It was God, through a surprise saviour.
