Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Comment: David had fooled Achish, but the other Philistine leaders didn’t trust him. David hadn’t been against the people of Gath, but he had plundered, murdered and prospered – he hardly deserved to be called an angel! Besides, although he was waiting on the sidelines, his future was aligned with Israel. He had been crowned by Samuel. So I’m not sure where David’s tongue was when he claimed to desire to fight against the enemies of Achish, the Israelites, of whom he was prophesied and destined to become king.
Prayer: May there be no tinges of hypocrisy in me, O Lord.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. The interesting questions is – Would David have actually fought with the Philistines, against their enemy, who was Israel? We will never know the answer because it did not happen. But David had been anointed to be the next King of Israel, so it was better that he did not fight against his own people. Was he simply trying to fool Achish, or was he genuine? This answer too, we will never know. God bless you.
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