Life in Gath

From Doubt to Faith

1 Samuel 27–30

Summary: In these chapters, we see David facing difficult circumstances that lead to his doubts and fears. However, we also witness God's faithfulness and provision amidst his struggles. We see David’s heart after God redeem the day.

Application: This passage offers a powerful reminder that even when we face doubt and fear in our lives, God remains faithful and provides for us. It encourages us to trust in Him and seek His guidance in our darkest moments. Through David's example, we learn that it is normal to experience doubt and fear, but we should not let them control us. Instead, we should turn to God in prayer and trust in His promises.

1. Seeking Secular Sanctuaries

Doubt Drives David’s Decisions

1 Samuel 27:1 “And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.””

David, at a low point of doubt and fear, chose to seek refuge and security among the Philistines rather than trusting in the Lord. Doubt can lead us away from God's path, but also highlight the importance of recognizing our moments of fear as opportunities to turn back to God for guidance, protection, and provision.

We have tendencies to lean on our own understanding in times of doubt and fear.

Self-preservation over co-crucifixion leads us away from the promises.

Natural thinking and a lack of faith in God’s promises have brought David to Gath.

Somehow he didn’t remember God’s faithfulness in his many miraculous deliverances.

He had no history of God’s abandoning him.

He had been anointed and yet turned his back on trusting the God that anointed him.

Thinking Affected by circumstances

David’s environment affected his mind. Dan 7:25 Satan wants to “wear out the saints.”

Suffering has a way of driving us to God or away from God.

It’s a long battle with no end in sight!

David was tired and consumed and his viewpoint changed

1 Samuel 26:20 “So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”” instead of standing up for who God had made him to be. He viewed himself no better than a bug to be swatted.

The truth was that Saul was exposed, but David was the one running away!

2. Guilt-Ridden in Gath

Compromise is not in God’s Vocabulary

David allies himself and his men with the Philistines.

Unbelief produces sin.

He goes to Gath with his 600 men as mercenaries.

God gives him a provision for the kingdom and he uses it for his own security.

He has returned to the world for protection. Outside the covering of Israel David is living among foreign “gods” and starts to tell Half-Truths.

1 Samuel 27:10–11 “Then Achish would say, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David would say, “Against the southern area of Judah, or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites.” David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’ ” And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.”

Deception and lies always are accompanied by consequences.

David made Achish believe he was fighting Israel, but in reality was fighting the allies of the Philistines.

2. Consulting Counterfeit Comforts

Saul’s Desperation has Similar Results.

1 Samuel 28:7 “Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.””

Saul consulting the witch of Endor is an example of seeking guidance in the wrong places when overtaken by fear and doubt. The contrast between Saul's and Christ's source of guidance becomes stark. Seeking God's will and wisdom, as Jesus always did, can lead us out of uncertainty and into faith will inspire us to turn towards prayer and Scripture in times of doubt. David didn’t turn to a witch, also didn’t seek God’s guidance in leaving Israel.

Saul’s consultation with the Witch of Endor represents the depth of doubt and fear that can lead us away from God. In moments of desperation, turning away from God and seeking answers in the world only deepens our fear, instead of turning to prayer and faith in God's promises.

David went to Gath and Saul consulted with the witch of Endor. Despair and doubt can consume us when we feel disconnected from God. Seek God first, rather than turning to worldly or ungodly sources for guidance, Christ is the one mediator between God and mankind, and He is always available to us.

4. Divine Detours and Direction

David goes from the Depths of Deception to Despair

1 Samuel 29:3 “Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me.””

How the mighty have fallen.

There is irony of David's situation among the Philistines. He is distrusted by the generals leading to his dismissal. Sometimes our detours, even those made in doubt, can be part of God's protection and guidance, steering us away from battles not meant for us, and reminding us of Jesus’ experience of being misunderstood and mistrusted and rejected

Just being who he was (David the anointed king) saved him. He had a reputation that followed him around, do you?

5. Returning to Righteous Roads

Divine Direction Delivered

Meanwhile…

The Amalekites attack Ziklag and take all. David last every thing, family, wealth, prestige.

His men spoke of stoning him.

Here is David again, penniless, alone, and despised.

1 Samuel 30:6 “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

1 Samuel 30:7–8 “Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.””

Key Thought: Victory starts when David encouraged himself in the Lord. It was his moment to return to sanity.

In the midst of doubt and fear, we can find strength and hope in God's faithfulness and provision. Trusting in His promises and seeking His guidance can lead us from doubt to unwavering faith.