1 Samuel 29:8-11 – Nothing happens to us by chance

The Philistine commanders’ objection to the presence of David and his men joining them has presented him with the best opportunity out of his predicament. It was an unsolicited solution out of his tricky situation. He could now be free from any accusation of betraying Israel. It was an opportunity that anyone would have jumped at. Therefore, it was astounding to hear all these words David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 

David made it looked as if he was so disappointed that they should mistrust him. He protested and insisted on his innocence. He took advantage of the situation to make Achish feel even worse. Or was it? The whole situation could be seen from another angle. In the light of the God he served, and Israel and King Saul whose life he refused to take, suggested that David might have another plan up his sleeves. He crafted his words with two ways of interpreting it. It appeared to Achish as if he was for the Philistines and yet his intention was another. He could possibly have planned to turn on the Philistines in the midst of the battle and fight for Israel. So he was truly disappointed that his plan was foiled. But he didn’t realize that God had another plan. For that very night, God had already told Saul through Samuel what He was going to do. He had pronounced the defeat of Israel and the death of Saul and his sons. That was the plan of God. If we could see the whole situation in a proper light, David’s faithfulness to God, King Saul and the people of Israel had never been in question. Amazingly, the affirmation of his integrity was given by Achish who said to him, “I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God.”

Achish then sent David and his men back in compliance with what the lords of the Philistines wanted. The chapter then closed by saying that “David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.” Remarkably, David was delivered by divine providence. So he was not engaged in the battle in which Saul met his death. Though we are not explicitly told that God was behind all these, but there’s no way to see otherwise but that God’s handprints were over everything.   

These verses teach us about divine providence. How could God allow David to be sneered upon by his own people even before he took the throne? Imagine what would be said of him if he had been involved in a battle where Saul’s dynasty fell. So everything we see here did not happen by chance, it was the outworking of divine providence. These events highlight for us that what Romans 8:28 says is true. No matter what happens to us, like Paul, we can say with full confidence and conviction that, “…we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called to His purpose.” Thanks be to God!