“So David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines.” (v.11)
Here in chapter 29 we will see how God worked in David’s life; 1) to spare him from the dilemma of fighting against king Saul and 2) free him up to rescue his own people from the Amalekites (Ch.30).
Back in chapter 27, we saw David had left Israel (to escape Saul) and fled to the land of Israel’s enemy, the Philistines. Then in chapter 28, David was so convincing in his betrayal of Israel that King Achish enlisted David to fight with him against his enemies (v.1-2). Now here in chapter 29, king Achish has brought David and his men with him to fight against king Saul. What will David do? How will he escape this dilemma?
Mysteriously the Philistine commanders began to complain of David to king Achish and demand that David return Ziglag, for they feared this would provided David an opportunity to prove his loyality to king Saul (v.4). King Achish then said to David, “Now therefore return and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines” (v.)
The idea that “God moves in mysterious ways” is often overused, but it still contains much truth. David was now both free from having to draw his sword against king Saul and return to Ziklag to carryout God’s plan of rescuing his people from the Amalekites.
The Truth: “Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor?’ (Isaiah 40:13)
