"And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever." (1 Samuel 27: 12)
David had declared in his own desperate heart that Saul would never cease pursuing him (1 Samuel 27: 1), even though Saul had declared that he would no longer pursue "his son" David following the young shepherd-king's near opportunity to slay the deranged and rejected monarch in his sleep (1 Samuel 26).
David then hired himself to be a servant to the king of the Philistines, the worst enemy of the Israelites, and David esteemed himself so little, that he voluntarily removed himself from the pagan people's royal city (1 Samuel 27: 5)
So much so did David identify with his enemy and the enemy of his nation, that the king declared that David would be his servant forever.
Achish even confides in David as his greatest protector:
"And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever." (1 Samuel 28: 2)
In a sudden reversal, however, Achish rejects David. As the Philistines prepare to battle against Israel, the members of the hordes disparage David:
"Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day? 4And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?" (1 Samuel 29: 3-4).
The other Philistines feared that David would turn on them and attack, joining forces with his own people.
Even though Achish justified him before all his fellow Philistines, he ultimately rejected David:
"Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines." (1 Samuel 29: 7)
David was rejected by the very king whom he had served for a year and four months.
Then he returns to Ziklag, only to meet more distressing news: Amelakites have pillaged the town and kidnapped the women and children. David's men were so afraid and saddened, they cried until the could not cry anymore, and in their grieved frustration they discussed killing David.
Instead of trying to save himself, instead of cursing God and his circumstances, David sought the Lord:
"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30: 6)
David remembered His God, the same God who chose him to be king of Israel, the same king who saved him from Goliath of Gath, the same God who granted him favor and honor before the Israelites, the same God who had mercy and granted him favor before his sworn enemies, the same God who used the rejection of men to promote him on the path toward being king.
Even though David despaired, and Achish declared, God's plans came to pass in David's life.
For us today, who have the greater than David, Jesus Christ, we can trust that God makes all things work together for our good (Romans 8: 28). We can trust that because we are in Christ, He strengthens us for all things (Philippians 4: 13), He supplies all our needs (Philippians 4: 19), and that He will grace us with all things in Himself (Romans 8: 32)
No matter what we say, whether against ourselves or because of our circumstances, we can trust that He who began a good work in us will finish it (Philippians 1: 6), since He works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2: 12-13)
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