David probably felt elated when Samuel anointed him to be the next king of Israel. For a time, he appeared to be making some progress toward that goal. He killed Goliath, was called to serve in Saul’s court, was made a commander in the army, was given the king’s daughter in marriage, and won the favor of the people. Then calamity struck. In a few short days, he was
- Evicted from Saul’s court and from his military command at the point of a spear (1 Sam. 19:10)
- Evicted from his own home when he fled through a window to escape Saul’s men (1 Sam. 19:12). His wife was given to another man, and he was separated from his best friend, Jonathan.
- Evicted from his homeland when he could find safety with neither the prophets at Ramah nor the priests at Nob (1 Sam. 19:18 ff.; 21:1 ff.).
He was a man without a country. He felt cut off from his family, friends, traditions, and even his God. Later when describing the condition Saul’s allies had imposed on him, he said, “They have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’” (1 Sam. 26:19 ESV). David was desperate, and in his desperation, he fled to Gath, one of the chief cities of the Philistines located 20 or 30 miles southwest of Nob.
When the Philistine court attendants recognized David as Israel’s champion, they told Achish the king and apparently closed the city gates to cut off his escape. David had no wife to watch for him, no friend to mediate, and no prophets or priests to encourage him. He was alone and surrounded by enemies. Knowing he was watched, David pretended to be insane. He drooled in his beard and scribbled on the doors of the gate. At the same time, he sought the Lord.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
-- Psalm 34:4-7 (ESV)
When Achish learned that David was a “madman,” he allowed David to escape. David learned that even when he was brokenhearted and desperate, God would never abandon him.
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
-- Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV)
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