Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

1 Samuel 27 Devotional

Talking Only to Ourselves

After all of God's protection, David reaches a bleak conclusion. Speaking to himself, he decides that Saul will surely sweep him away one day, and that his best option is to escape to the Philistines (27:1). He moves his men and their families to Gath, and Achish gives him Ziklag. He raids other peoples, leaves no one alive to tell the truth, and tells Achish he has been raiding Judah (27:9-11). The plan works. Achish trusts him completely (27:12).

It is worth noticing what is missing. In earlier chapters David asked the LORD before he moved. Here he consults only himself, and the chapter never mentions God at all. The text does not praise his strategy, and soon David is told he must march with the Philistines against Israel (28:1). Talking only to ourselves, we can lose sight of God's promises. Yet God has not lost sight of his anointed. When your own plans have led you into a corner, he is still able to bring you out.

To think about: Where have you been making plans by talking only to yourself instead of bringing them to God?

About 1 Samuel 27: David Settles at Ziklag

Fearing Saul would eventually kill him, David takes his band of six hundred and their families into Philistine territory under Achish, king of Gath. Achish gives him the town of Ziklag, and David raids Israel's enemies while telling Achish he has attacked Judah, so Achish comes to trust him.

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