1 Samuel 29:1-7
Verse 6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you.
It wasn’t very long and David sees his opportunity to prove himself to Achish. The Philistines are going out to war and that meant that David and his men are being called up to duty. This is their first battle with the Philistines and that means this is their moment to shine and ensure their future safety among their former enemy. There are just a couple of issues – they are going out to battle against the army of Israel and Achish’s men don’t trust David and his men in the same way that their leader does.
Just as with the first time that Achish had helped David escape from Saul, the men of Gath don’t want David to be with them. They would have known the truth of David’s prior conquests including his first when he was still a teen, their hero, Goliath. Whether their hate of David was because of his killing the giant or the fact that he was an Israelite doesn’t really matter because the fact was, they hated him.
Achish’s men come to him with a reason that they are pretty sure even Achish can’t deny, the scenario they are putting forth could be how things would play out. Did he really know David enough to trust him in this situation? He had a basic trust in him, enough to want him as a bodyguard but did he trust David enough to take him into battle against his own people? These men may be making a good point.
Now Achish had a problem. If he told David that he didn’t trust him, the man would be worthless to him as a bodyguard in the future and Achish didn’t know if he could take the risk. David was one of the best, if not the best, warrior he had ever met and this made him the best option for a bodyguard. He didn’t want to lose him for good but yet this didn’t seem like a good time to test the level of dedication David had to him.
So Achish calls David to him and does the same thing any of us would do, soften him up for the blow. The Philistine tells the Hebrew warrior that he holds him in such high regard. He goes on to tell him that he thinks he is one of the most honorable men he knows. And then came the “but” as he went on to say he had to listen to the men of Gath and ask David to go home.
Making It Personal
Have you ever struggled with trusting someone that you had previously trusted? How much did other’s opinion fuel that wavering trust? Have you ever said anything to cause someone not to trust someone they would normally trust?
Making It Personal Kids
Have you ever stopped trusting someone? Why? Can people trust you?
Closing Prayer
Father, there are times it is hard to know who to trust and if we can always trust them. Thank You for being someone we can always trust. Give us wisdom in who we can trust so that Your name is never marred. In Jesus’ name, amen.