1Sam028 Bodyguard for Life

Sin has an odd way of making sinners feel at ease and comfort, and then it stings like a scorpion. David fled to Philistia believing his life would be taken by Saul if he remained in the land of Promise, thinking Philistia would be a place of refuge for him and his family. If "results" indicate divine approval, then David's decision to go to Philistia was fully justified; as he skipped Judah for Gath, he grew in wealth and built up strong relations with Achish as well as many of the tribesmen of Israel. All was well until it was time for Achish to call upon David to authenticate his "conversion" by strapping on a sword and heading out with his new family, the Philistines, to fight his old family, Israel. Conscripted into the Philistine army and dubbed by Achish, "bodyguard for life," David finally tastes the rotten fruit of his sin of seeking refuge in Philistia and is confronted with the very real prospect of losing the kingship by marching out to fight against the people of God. Sin became a terrible net which swept David it up into slavery to Philistia and left the prospects of the kingdom of God hanging in the balance. If David would find deliverance, it would only be by the sovereign and gracious hand of the Heavenly Father.