Fragile Faith

David's decision to flee to the Philistines is totally understandable. He had been relentlessly pursued by Saul and had heard his pleas for forgiveness before. Experience had taught David that Saul was not to be trusted no matter how genuine the appeal sounded. He also had those with him: some 600 men and their families. To continue moving and managing that horde was both taxing and troublesome. It made sense to put all that behind him, at least for a while, and find safety under the protection of Achsih, king of Gath, a Philistine city.

His fragile, faltering faith put David in a precarious position that, unless the Lord had intervened, would have caused him to participate in grievous sin.

But the Lord did intervene and therein lies the lesson.