1 Samuel 27:1

1 Samuel 27:1 says, 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. David still wasn't putting much faith in God, it would seem to me.  He said if he stayed in Israel that Saul would surely kill him, even though this could not happen if God had already anointed him king.  David said going into the land of the Philistines was the only way for him to survive Saul’s wrath.  We need to pray that there never comes a time when we have to leave those who are supposed to be God's people and go to those who are His enemies in order to survive.  Verse two adds, 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.  David and his six hundred men went to Achish, the son of Maich, king of Gath.  This was a decision that David had come to on his own, without consulting the ephod or a prophet, as Matthew Henry says, and he put his plan in action.  We need to make sure that whatever we do as Christiaans today is done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and is not just our plan.  We certainly should never make plans based on fear.  Verse three continues, And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, David’s wives. his men, and their families, and David dwelt in Achish.  This really wasn't what God had called David to do nor where God had called David to be, not to mention the two wives.  David was called a man after God's own heart, as has been stated, but David was far from perfect.  We as followers of Christ are called to be people after God's own heart, but even when we are called to a specific purpose, we often fail to live up to that calling at all times.  Still, just as God didn't give up on David, He doesn't give up on us.  Verse four concludes, And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.  When Saul heard that David had fled to Gath, he quit hunting him.  David may have been safe from Saul, but I don't believe but he was where God wanted him to be.  We may decide to just live like the rest of the world if we feel persecuted as Christians so that we will be physically safe, but this will never be God's will.  We must have faith that He will protect us no matter what, even if we lose our life because of our faith.   Verse five states, And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?  David asked Achish to give him a place in the country where he could live, because there was no reason for him to live in the royal city.  Matthew Henry says this was partly done to keep Achish from becoming envious with David and partly so David and his men could freely exercise their religion.  As Christians, we should never attempt to compromise with the world just to remain safe.  Verse six adds, Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.  Achish gave David the city of Ziklag.  This had been a part of he tribe of Judah, so Israel regained what had once been their's anyway.  Even if we are not acting under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, God can still bring good from our actions.  Verse seven continues, And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. David lived in the land of the Philistines for sixteen months.  He may have been safe, but he wasn't living by faith in God at this time, but instead by faith in the goodness of his enemies and faith in himself and his plan.  We may devise a plan on our own that keeps us physically safe, but that doesn't mean we are following God's plan for our life.