Youth STS Lesson 224 – David’s Deception and Rejection

MEMORY VERSE: “And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle” (1 Samuel 29:9).

TEXT: 1 Samuel 27:1–12; 29:1–11

David had enjoyed the favour and protection of God. Though Saul wanted him dead, his children who would have been the easiest instruments to achieve it did not co-operate with him. Jonathan made his love and loyalty known to David and sealed it up with an oath (1 Samuel 23:17,18). Michal on her part chose to frustrate her father by asking David to escape through a window the night Saul would have killed him. God also made him escape Saul’s javelin thrice (1 Samuel 18:11; 19:10). He was also delivered from being captured in the cave and on two occasions, Saul was delivered into his hand (1 Samuel 24:3–10). However, he refused to lay hands on him because he was God’s anointed (1 Samuel 26:11).

From this, saved youths should put their trust and confidence in the Lord. He is able to save and to deliver those who trust in Him. Christian youths should rest assured that God will not allow anyone to harm them. The testimony of Apostle Paul is, “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10). It was unfortunate that David still allowed fear to lead him into the decision to flee from the people of God to a foreign land. The protecting covering of God is with His people. No matter the situation, Christian youths should not allow fear to make them indulge in self-management.

1. David’s Decision and Departure to the Philistines

(1 Samuel 27:1–4; Proverbs 3:5; Romans 12:16; 1 Chronicles 12:22; 2 Chronicles 14:11; Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 10:4)

Fear made David flee to the land of the Philistines as the enmity between him and Saul continued. “And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand” (verse 1). His aim was to get out of the sight of Saul where the king would not seek him anymore.

Question 1: Why did David flee to the land of the Philistines?

God had proved to David that He is the One who secures life. Thrice, He delivered him from being pinned to the wall with Saul’s javelin. Twice, He delivered him from being captured by Saul in the cave. God also delivered him in an uncommon manner by allowing the Philistines to invade the land, thus distracting Saul from pursuing him. Since God is unchanging, and His promises unfailing, David should have rested, assured that it was impossible for Saul to harm him.

The six hundred men with David who were stirred up by the Spirit of God to help him achieve victory were preserved. “And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath” (verse 2). The lesson here for Christian youths is that no matter the unfavourable condition, they should keep trusting God’s unfailing promises. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). And again, the Scripture says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). Christian youths have better information on God’s help during trouble than David. Christ has conquered the world and we pray in His name without fear or panic; He will direct our steps into victory. David’s presumption seemed to work out. Saul stopped seeking him on learning that he went to Gath; but it was only a temporary relief.

2. David’s Deceptive Destruction of the Philistines

(1 Samuel 27:5–12; Matthew 24:4; Ephesians 4:14)

While David was in the land of the Philistines, he was favoured by the king of Gath. At his request, the king gave him Ziklag (verses 6,7).

Question 2: What was David’s real intention for wanting to stay away from Achish?

The action of David later proved that he had a secret motive for asking a separate city. After living there for a year and four months, he began to reveal his hidden agenda by invading “the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish” (verses 8,9). What a deception! Christian youths should not be deceivers or accept a deceiver.

Question 3: What are the lessons for saved youths from David’s attitude?

David was a stranger to the king of Gath, Achish. It was wrong for him to assume that the misunderstanding between him and Saul would lead to hatred for Saul and the whole nation. A discreet person like David could not have transferred his aggression on his own nation. This teaches youths that taking decisions on the basis of feelings could be destructive. Achish accommodated his enemy David and gave him a free hand with hopes that he was now loyal to him. Christian youths should be careful of endorsing people they are not sure of their salvation. It leads to faulty decision. The Bible commands us to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

Furthermore, David did not show a grateful heart to Achish. A king who accommodated him at a time of trial without restriction should not be rewarded this way. David paid Achish’s well-doing with evil. This is not a good example. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Some people in the Bible showed acts of ungratefulness and suffered for it. The children of Israel were highly favoured by God, but they forsook Him for other gods. Most of them were destroyed or delivered into captivity by God. Jeroboam and Judas Iscariot are other examples of people with ungrateful spirit who lost the favour of God.

3. David Denied Defending the Philistines

(1 Samuel 29:1–11; 4:1,5–12; 1 Chronicles 12:32; Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:6)

After David had lived a few months in the land of the Philistines, there was a battle between them and Israel. “Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel” (verse 1). As “the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish” (verse 2), the lords of the Philistines probed Achish, their king, and queried David’s inclusion. Though Achish gave them reasons for his inclusion, they did not accept it and presented strong reasons for their disagreement. They saw that he could pose a great threat to them in battle. Likewise, fellowship leaders and officers ought to be more vigilant when enlisting members into the workforce: “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Question 4: What can we learn from the princes of the Philistines’ rejection of David?

The attitude of the princes of the Philistines is commendable. (1) They were courageous to approach their king to express their feelings about David’s inclusion. (2) They could discern between friend and foe; thus, they saved their nation from foreseeable doom. (3) They were firm in their stand against the king’s position on the issue till he consented to their opinion. (4) They refused to be intimidated by the king’s position and authority. They expressed their minds without fear. When necessary, Christian youths should speak up without fear or intimidation.

Moreover, there is a battle between the host of Satan and believers. Saved youths should learn to redeem their time. They should be able to discern when an enemy is around to deceive them. Just as the princes of the Philistines did everything possible to convince Achish to exclude David and his men from joining them in the battle to avoid being destroyed, believing youths should take note and beware of mixed multitude that pose a threat to their Christian life and ministry. They should also make diligent efforts to reach out to sinning youths with the gospel so they would be saved. They should access every means — personal evangelism, social media, print media, etc. — to win them.

Question 5: What is the danger of deception?

“So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel” (verse 11). David was rejected by the princes of the Philistines. Today, when deception is discovered, it usually leads to the rejection of the deceiver by the deceived. It leads to humiliation and shame; in the end, if not repented of, it leads to destruction in hell fire. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).