BIG IDEA:
GOD CAN MAKE A WAY OF ESCAPE WHEN THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY
(Popular song: “God Can Make a Way”)
(:1-2) INTRODUCTION: BACK TO THE BATTLEFIELD / MARSHALLING THE TROOPS / STAGING AREA
A. (:1) Philistines Lining Up Against the Israelites
1. Philistines
“Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek”
“And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands”
2. Israelites
“while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel”
B. (:2) David is the Wild Card
“David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish”
– Dilemma for the Philistines:
Will David be loyal to Achish and aid in the battle or will he ambush the Philistines from behind as a turncoat?
– Dilemma for David
Will he be a traitor to his homeland and fight against his God or will he arouse suspicion on the part of Achish and be put to death?
I. (:3-5) DISAGREEMENT AMONG THE PHILISTINE WAR COMMAND —
THE REPUTATION OF DAVID AROUSES SUSPICION ON THE PART OF THE PHILISTINE WAR LORDS WHO PRESSURE ACHISH TO SEND DAVID PACKING
A. (:3a) Shock of Philistine Commanders Upon Seeing David and His Men in such a Strategic Role (bringing up the rear)
“What are these Hebrews doing here?”
B. (:3b) Naiveté (Blind Trust) of Achish Defending His Decision
“Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days . . . and I have found no fault in him from the day he deserted to me to this day?”
C. (:4-5) Demand of Philistine Commanders that David not be Trusted
1. Responded to Achish in Anger
“But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him”
2. Demanded that David and His Men be Sent Packing
“Make the man go back, that he may return to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us”
3. Cited the Hero Reputation and Cult Following of David among the Israelites
“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands”
4. Feared David as a Potential Formidable Adversary
“lest in the battle he become an adversary to us”
II. (:6-10) DECEPTION WINS OUT OVER NAIVETE (BLIND TRUST)
IN THE MIND GAME BETWEEN DAVID AND ACHISH
A. (:6-7) Achish Diplomatically Dismisses David
1. Achish Has No Problem with David
“you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day”
2. His Commanders Have Huge Problems with David
“Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords”
3. Pragmatic Decision
“Now therefore return, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines”
B. (:8) David Shrewdly Protests His Loyalty
1. Check Out My History with You
“But what have I done? And what have you found in our servant from the day when I came before you to this day”
2. How Can You Deny Me This Opportunity
“that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
C. (:9-10) Achish Refuses to Reconsider the Decision
1. If it were up to Achish no problem
“I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God”
2. He has decided to yield to the demands of his commanders
“nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’”
(:11) CONCLUSION: DAVID AND HIS MEN EXIT THE BATTLEFIELD
“So 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.”