1 Samuel Review continued

We are told of the great fear of the people of Isreal when God showed His displeasure at their demanding a king and also of Samuel giving them the assurance that God would not abandon His people because of their evil in asking for a king.  We need to realize that if we truly are followers of Christ that He will never abandon us.  After Saul reigned for two years, Jonathan his son attacked and defeated some Philistines, which led to the Philistines declaring war on Israel.  The people of Israel instead of standing firmly by  before God ran and hid.  When we face our enemies today, we can either stand firm in faith or run and hide.  Samuel had told Saul to wait seven days in Gilgal and he would come to him.  During the seventh day, Saul grew impatient and assumed the role of priest for himself and offered a burnt offering that the priest should have offered to God.  We then see Samuel telling Saul that he had acted foolishly and that instead of being established forever that the kingdom would be taken from him.  We will not lose our salvation if we act foolishly before God as Christians, but we may lose a lot of His blessings.  Then we have an account of Jonathan and his armor bearer sneaking into the camp of some Philistines and killing them under God's direction.  We need to never be afraid of the enemies of God today but must engage with them under God's direction.  We learn of Saul's foolish edict that no one could eat until the Philistines that they pursued were killed under a penalty of death, and of Jonathan defying that edict.  There may come times in our life when we have to choose between obeying the edicts of man and obeying the edicts of the world.   Saul calling on God's name said that Jonathan should certainly die after he confessed to what he had done, but the people prevented Saul from killing him. We need people who will stand with us if we come under attack today simply because we have been following God's guidance.  We have an account Saul's destroying the Amalekites, but not all of them and taking the spoils of war, which he wasn't told to do by Samuel.  Saul arose early the next morning and told Samuel to see what he had done following God's command, and Samuel asked him what the bleating of the sheep meant.  Saul confessed his sin to Samuel, and he often confessed his sins later on,but there was no real meaning behind his words.  If we are xerving God today simply for material gain,we need to sincerely confess our sins and ask for God's forgiveness.  After ths, Samuel never returned Saul.  If we reject God's call too many times, He may no longer come to us calling on us to repent and be forgiven by accepting Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord. Of course, once we do, He will never reject us, though we may at times lose His protection in the world if we do fall back into sin.

1 Samuel review.

Samuel was a miracle baby we might say, born to Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, and she had prayed to God and asked Him for a child after being barren for many years.  She also dedicated the child, Samuel, to God.  Of course, all children are really miracles from God, and we as followers of Christ should dedicate our children to God.  As soon as Samuel was old enough, his mother took him to Eli the priest and left him with him.  She fulfilled her vow to God, and so must we.  Samuel grew up serving God under Eli's guidance, and our children should grow up serving God under our guidance.  Eli's own sons were perverted priests, and Eli was told that his house would be cut out of the priesthood.  Not everyone who is a priest, as we all are as Christians, is truly obedient to God and thereby pervert His law.  One night while Samuel was still, young, God called him to serve Him, though at first he did not recognize God's voice.  We today after we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord will be called to serve God in a particular way, and we like Samuel need to say yes to His call,but first we must have acknowledged that it was God Who called us.  When the Philistines attacked at one point, the people demanded that the Ark of the Covenant be brought into the battle, without consulting God, and the Israelites were defeated, Eli's two sons were killed and the Ark of the Covenant was captured. Just having things associated with God with us doesn't guarantee our victory over our enemies.  We also have the record of the statue Dagon, the god of the Philistines, falling on its face before the Ark of the Covenant and the Philistines returning the Ark to Israel.  We can be certain that there is coming a day when all false gods will fall on their faces before God.  Of course, they could have acknowledged God instead of sending the Ark back along with sacrifice offerings.  After the Ark was returned, the Israelites defeated the Philistines and reclaimed their lost land.  If we have fallen away from God and return to Him in repentance,  He will restore our lost relationship with Him, and material things will never matter. After Samuel had grown old, the people came to Him demanding that he give them an earthly king, even though they had always had God to rule them through His priests and still did.  Samuel warned the people of the problems of having an earthly king, but they still insisted on having one.  They had not talked to God about this, even though they were His chosen people.  Today, people are still putting more faith in earthly rulers than they are in God, even some who at least  profess to be Christians.  The people chose Saul, who seemed to be an ideal candidate, even to Samuel.  Again, God was not consulted about their decision.  When we elect leaders today, we should always pray about our decision.  Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel.  Saul was disobedient to God, and God rejected him. We may be a powerful authority in the world, but if we turn away from God we will one day find out how powerless we are.  God did not reject Saul until Saul rejected Him, nor will He with anyone today.  

1 Samuel 31:1

1 Samuel 31:1 says, Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.  When the Philistines fought against the Israelites, the Israelites fled and fell down and were slain at Mount Gilboa.  As Christians, we may be slain for our stand for God, as Christians often have been, but I don't believe that we should ever be running if this happens.  Had Saul, and the people of Israel stood firm in their faith in God, I don't believe this would have been the outcome.  Still, there may come a day that even if we do stand firm in our faith that we will lose our physical life, but we are forever secure spiritually, so there is no need to run.  Verse two adds, And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.  The Philistines chased the men of Isreal hard, and they slew Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua, Saul’s son.  Jonathan had been loyal to David and to God, but he was still killed.  Again, we may be faithful to God and still lose our physical life to those who oppose God, but we already have everlasting life with God spiritually if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse three continues, And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.  The battle went badly for Saul and he was wounded by the archers of the Philistines.  Things had really been going badly for Saul since he failed to be obedient to God.  If we fail to accept the salvation made available by Jesus Christ, no matter how successful we may be materially, things will always be going badly for us spiritually.  Verse four states, Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.  Saul asked his armor bearer to take his sword and kill him, because he was afraid of falling into the hands of the Philistines.  I believe that Saul could have still sincerely repented and turned to God and even if he were captured and killed he would not have been afraid and have wanted to kill himself.  Since his armor bearer wouldn't kill him, Saul killed himself by falling on his sword.  I also believe that things should never become so bad that as long as we have hope of getting better physically that we should ever kill ourselves.  Verse five adds, And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.  When Saul’s armor bearer saw what he had done, he killed himself as well.  Our actions may lead others to make bad decisions.  If we are afraid of the enemies of God, this may lead others to be as well.  Verse six continues, So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his men, that same day together.  His men, his three sons, and Saul wee all killed that day.  I have to wonder how different Saul’s story would have been had he chosen to be faithful to God.  Though it may seem that God rejected Saul and Saul had no choice but to fail, I believe that he and we always make the choice about our relationship with God.   He does not reject anyone but calls all to salvation, and we then make the choice of whether to accept His call to salvation or not.  Verse seven states, And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.  When the other people of Israel saw that his men and Saul fell to the Philistines, they left their cities and fled.  The Philthen moved in to live in their abandoned cities.  If we abandon our position with God, we should not be surprised if sinful men move into what should be our place in the world.  Verse eight adds, And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.  The next day, the Philistines found Saul and his three sons fallen at Gilboa.  Though they were already taking possession of the cities, they evidently did not know the Saul was dead until now.  Verse nine continues, And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.  The Philistines cut off Saul’s head and sent it and his armor into their land to publicize his defeat to the people and their idols.  Not only were they taking credit for Saul’s defeat, they were giving credit to their gods as well.  There are still people today who are killing Christians and giving credit to the gods when they do.  Verse ten concludes, And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.  They displayed Saul’s armor in the house of Ashtaroth, one of their gods, and his body on the wall of another, Bethshan.  Saul had killed himself to avoid being abused by the Philistines, but his body was still abused along with the bodies of his sons we find out later on.  We will find that people of the world today will still do all that they can to discredit Christians.   Verse eleven says, And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;  Verse twelve adds, All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.  When the brave of Jabeshgilead heard what had happened, they went all night and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, and they then burned them in Jabesh.  If the bodies were burned, the Philistines couldn't recapture them and abuse them any more.  It is better to be totally destroyed physically than to allow anyone to use our life and death to bring honor to false gods.  Verse thirteen continues, And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.  They then took the bones of Saul and his sons, buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted for even days.  Saul may nor have been a great king, biput he was their first earthly king, so they mourned his loss.  

1 Samuel 30:21

1 Samuel 30:21 says, And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.  David returned first to where the two hundred men who had to drop out were.  Verse twenty-adds, Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.  When they reached the men who had been too weak to continue those who had gone on with David, who were referred to as wicked men and men of Belial, said they weren't going to share anything with them except their wives and children and then they could leave. They didn't want them to remain as a part of the nation, much less the army of David.  Sometimes, Christians can have the same attitude toward weaker Christians today, believing that those who have been unable to do as much as they have are somehow less deserving of God's blessings.  Verse twenty-three declares, Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hate given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.  David said this was not going to happen and gave credit for their victory to God and not to the four hundred men and himself.  As long as we acknowledge that God is responsible for our victories as Christians, we should never have a problem with becoming too self-important.  Verse twenty-four adds, For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.  David said that those who had remained to guard the stuff would share equally with those who had gone on.  As Matthew Henry points out these men had not remained behind because they didn't want to go but because they were physically unable to go,  Also, they served a purpose in remaining behind and that was to guard the stuff.   We cannot all be on the front lines in the battle against evil today, but if we are, we need to realize that there are many people behind the lines guarding our stuff.  Verse twenty-five continues, And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day. David, who was anointed king though he had yet to assume the throne, made the sharing of the spoils equally a statute and ordinance from that day forward.  We as followers of Christ have God's directive to share with the less fortunate to today, but we often fight against it.  Verse twenty-six concludes, And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;  When David returned to Ziklag he sent some the spoils to the elders of Judah and told them he had a present for them and shared the spoils with them as well.  I am sure this really didn't make some of the four hundred happy.  They would have even less for themselves, but what we need to realize is that as Christians, we are all in this together.  The next few verses simply tell us who those were that shared in the spoils.  Verse twenty-seven states, To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,  Verse twenty-eight adds, And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,  Verse twenty-nine continues,  And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,  Verse thirty adds, And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,  Verse thirty-one adds, And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.  We are told at last that David shared with all those where his men and he were likely to travel. 

1 Samuel 30:11

1 Samuel 30:11 says, And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;  While pursuing those who had burned Ziklag and taken the women and children captive, David’s men encountered an Egyptian in a field.  They brought him to David and gave him water since he was in bad shape.  At least David’s men had enough compassion to bring him to David.  There are people today who are abandoned by the world and in bad shape physically and spiritually that we need to have compassion on and bring to Christ.  Verse twelve adds, And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.  They then fed the Egyptian lad and his spirit returned to Him.  He had been without food or water for three days.  When we met people in need today, we need to feed them physically, but more importantly we need to point them to Jesus, the Living Bread and Water.  Verse thirteen continues, And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.  When David asked the lad who he was, he said he was an Egyptian who had been a servant, or slave would probably be more accurate, to an Amalekite.  He said he had fallen sick three days ago and had been abandoned by his master.  When people are of no use or a burden to those who have been the ones to provide for hem, even if they had to work for their provisions, we will find that they are often abandoned, especially if they would become a burden.  We as Christians need to help them and not ignore or condemn them.  Verse fourteen concludes, We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.  The lad had been a part of the force that destroyed Ziklag.  David could have just seen him as part of the enemy force and killed him, but the lad didn't realize this.  We need to make certain that we do not judge all people to be enemies just because of where they are from or even what they may have been involved in.  This lad had no choice about being involved in the raid on Ziklag.  Verse fifteen states, And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.  David asked the lad if he could bring him to this company.  As we may imagine, the lad had some concerns and asked for some assurances from David.  He first asked that David not kill him, and he then asked that David not return him to his master.  Even if we are helping non Christians today, they may be wary of our help.  Verse sixteen adds, And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.  When they reached the camp of the raiders, they were celebrating their great victory over Ziklag and the spoils that they had gotten.  Those who are not Christians often celebrate what they see as victories over Christians and have little fear of this victory ever being taken away.  Verse seventeen continues, And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.  David and his men killed the Amalekites from the morning of one day until evening the next day.  No one escaped, except for four hundred young men who fled on camels.  David only had four hundred men with him, but after destroying a much larger force an equal number of men escaped.  Of course, this time David had gone under the direction of God and thereby under His power.  If we are engaging the enemies of God today, they will often be a larger force, but if we are acting under the authority and leadership of God, we will always be victorious, though it might not be in this lifetime.  Of course, we are not sent out to destroy the lost but to reach them with the gospel instead.  Verse eighteen says, And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.  David and his men rescued everything that had been taken, including his two wives. We can be certain that anything we lose in the battle against evil today will one day be returned though not necessarily physically  but with an even greater reward.  We will be with God forever.  Verse nineteen adds, And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.  Everything was recovered because David had acted under God's direction.  If we are acting under God's direction.  Today, we will never lose anything spiritual as Christians, and the physical or material doesn't matter.  Verse twenty continues,  And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.  David took everything with him and said that it was his spoil.  We will find that he restored everything to his men that they had lost and didn't just keep it all for himself.  Matthew Henry says that David could have said this to point out how wrong the people had been when they sought to stone him.  When we have victory over the world today, we need to give God the glory and never attempt to claim that glory or rewards for ourselves. 

1 Samuel 30:1

1 Samuel 30:1 says, And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;  Three days later, when David and his men got back to Ziklag, it had been burned to the ground by the Amalekites in his absence.  Our enemies today will take advantage of every opportunity to harm us when they see the opportunity.  We must stay alert to the best of our ability at all times, led by the Holy Spirit.  Verse two adds, And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.  Not only had the Amalekites burned the city to the ground, they. Had taken the women and children captive.  David had made enemies of the Amalekites and had left his city without proper defenses when he had gone to join the Philistines in their battle against Israel, his own people.  If we join the battle against God's people, who are are own people as Christians today, we will leave our families without proper defenses against those that would destroy them.  Still, as Matthew Henry points out, if Saul had done as he should have and had destroyed all the Amalekites, this wouldn't have been a problem.  We cannot allow certain sins to remain in our life as followers of Christ, but we must work to destroy them all.  Verse three continues, So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive.  When David and his men returned to the city, they saw what had happened.  The city was buried to the ground and their women and children had been taken captive.  If we stray away from God, we may find our families have also become captives of sin.  If we are not faithful to God, we should not expect them to be.  Verse four states, Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. David and those with him cried until they could cry no more.  If we have strayed away from God, and I don't believe God would have ever approved of David fighting for the Philistines, when we see the devastation that it can cause, then we should cry until we can cry no more, but we first need to ask for God's forgiveness and guidance.  Verse five  adds, And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.  David’s two wives were among those taken captive.  Though I don't think we can defend David having two wives, we can expect that he would have put their safety above his loyalty to the Philistines.  Even if we are guilty of some other sin, as Christians we must put the safety of our family first under God's guidance.  Verse six continues, And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.  David was distressed, and the people were ready to stone him,blaming him for what had happened.  They may have been willing to follow David into battle, but when things went wrong they were also ready to stone him.  Some people may be willing to stand with us in our fight against evil in the world today until it costs them something personally and then they may turn against us.  David then did what he should have been doing all along and that was to turn to God for guidance and encouragement, and we should do the same today.  Verse seven says, And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.  David asked Abiathar the priest to bring him the ephod which contained the urim and thummin used to seek God's guidance.  We as Christians today just have to turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance.  Verse eight adds, And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.  This time, unlike when he left to join the Philistines, David asked God if he should pursue the Amalekites, and God answered that not only should he pursue them, but He gave David assurance that he would recover everything.  When we return to God after straying away, spiritually we will, recover everything important, which is being in fellowship with God.  Verse nine continues, So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.  David and his six hundred men caught up to the rear forces at the brook Besor. Verse ten concludes, But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.  David went on with just four hundred men, since two hundred were too weak to go on.  If not physically, then at least spiritually, we may find that some who have been with us n the fight against evil become to weak to carry on.  We should not allow this to keep us from continuing the fight under the guidance and power of God.  

1 Samuel 29:1

1 Samuel 29:1 says, Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel. Both armies were gathered together to go to war with each other.  We may not like to admit it, but we are at war with Satan and his forces today, and we need to always be ready to engage in the battle under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse two adds, And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.  The Philistines passed by in hundreds and thousands.  This was a large, organized army.  David was in a bad situation.  He was ready to go to war against his own people out of loyalty to Achish, but if he did and Saul was killed in the battle, then the people of Israel would say he was just out to kill Saul so that he could claim the throne.  Remaining neutral would have brought his courage into question.  We can not just remain neutral in the battle against evil today.  Verse three continues, Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day? The Philistines asked what David and his men, who were Hebrews and therefore the enemy, were doing in the camp of the Philistines.  Achish said it was David, who had never done anything to harm him.  We might be safe in the enemy camp today, but that doesn't mean that we should be or that they will ever truly trust and respect us.  Verse four states, And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?  The other Philistine leaders told Achish to send David back to where he had been staying.  They were afraid that in the battle David might decide to be loyal to Saul and fight against them from within.  They were providing David with a way out of his dilemma without even realizing it.  Of course, I believe that God was at work in the situation, just as He will be in any situation that we find ourselves in today, even if it is of our own making.  Verse five adds, Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?  They pointed out that David had killed many more Philistines than Saul had, not to mention killing Goliath when Saul was afraid to face him.  As Christians we should be known for standing up to the forces of evil today.  Verse six continues, Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.  Achish called David and told him that he had always been upright in his dealings with him,and then said that the lords of the Philistines didn't favor David being in the battle.  Of course, David had done some things that Achish did not know about.  I believe that we as followers of Christ should always be open and honest in our dealings with the people of the world, but even if we are, some are still going to see us as a threat, whether we really are or not.  Verse seven says, Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.  Achish told David to return to where he had been staying and to go in peace.  He told David to do this so that the lords of the Philistines would not be displeased.  God was providing David with a way out, even if He may not have been behind David’s decision to go to the Philistines to start with.  As Christians, if we get ourselves into a bad situation, as long a we remain faithful to God, He will be at work to get us out of it.  Verse eight adds, And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?  David swore loyalty to Achish, calling him his lord and king and asking what he had ever done to make Achish distrust him.  It seems that even though David would not kill Saul when he twice had the chance that he was willing to go to war against his own people.  I don't believe this was something that God would have ever endorsed, just as He doesn't endorse His people being at war with each other today.  If we are, we are helping the enemies of God.  Verse nine continues, 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.  Achish said he knew David had been faithful to him, but the rest of the lords of the Philistines didn't want David in the battle with them.  It would be a good thing if those who oppose God would see us as a threat to them, even while we are in their midst and haven't really done anything to harm them.  Verse ten states, Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master’s servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.  Achish told David to get up early the next day and take his men and leave.  Verse eleven adds, 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.  David and his men got up early and returned to where they had been staying in the land of  the Philistines, who went up to Jezreel to get ready to make war against Israel.  Again, I don't believe that we as Christians should ever be hiding out in the enemy camp, even if we are physically safe there.  In the war with the enemies of God comes, we need to be standing firmly with our fellow Christians.