Deeper Reflection
DAVID DID NOT WANT to fight Israel with the Philistines, but he was caught in a tangled web of his own doing (vv.1-2). Perhaps, David was desperately asking himself, “What shall I do now?” It was just at this point that a dispute arose between the lords of the Philistines and King Achish over David, marked by “Is this not David…?” (vv.3, 5), expressing contrasting views of him. The Philistine lords strongly objected to David going with them to battle. But Achish defended David, testifying to his long-time loyalty to him, and that he was totally dependable (v.3). The Philistines lords, however, argued from prudence – that there was the great risk of David turning into “an adversary” to them in the battlefield (v.4); and from history: “Saul has slain thousands, and David his ten thousands” (v.5). For both sides, a decision had to be made. Should the Philistine lords prevail, David could escape from his self-made dilemma. But should Achish prevail, David would have to live through a very difficult dilemma. At this point of the narrative, a decision had yet to be made. Perhaps, God was intervening through the Philistine lords. But David cannot make that conclusion at this point. And David was helplessly at the mercy of the Philistines’ decision. In life, we may find ourselves helplessly hanging in this kind of tension and dilemma. And our only hope is divine intervention. But what if it seems there isn’t any? We can still and must only, hope against hope and hope in the God of hope.