Honest Living
Posted 8/25/2001
For the past several chapters, and several years, David has been running around in the wilderness areas of Israel hiding from Saul. Twice he has spared the king's life, who repents only to turn around and head out for another manhunt. David's really tired of the cat and mouse game, and after Saul's second "repentance" David heads off to Gath and his old aquaintance Aschish. Funny, because the last time David was there he pretended to be a lunatic in order to get out of town alive.
This time around David and his four to six hundred strong band traipse on into Gath, and declare their allegiance to Achish. It seemed to work, because Saul immediately gave up chase, and never did again.
Well, David and his men made forays into the territory of Israel's enemies, attacking and decimating the towns. He'd report back to Achish that he had actually attacked Israelite cities, convincing Achish that David had completely turned against his homeland. David maintained this illusion by making sure every person in the target towns was dead.
Just when he thinks all is going well, the Philistines make a campaign against Israel, and David and his men are expected to go along with Achish as his special bodyguard. Fortunately, the rest of the Philistine lords thought this was foolish and ridiculous beyond reason, and pressured Achish into making David return home.
Meanwhile Saul is scared to death in the face of the Philistine offensive, and turns to a witch for some advice. She conjures up Samuel, who tells Saul it's over for him in this battle.
David and his men head home, to find their town burned to the ground, all their families taken away captive, and all their goods stolen. David asks God what he should do, and determines that he will be successful in chasing after the bandits and retrieving his family and stuff. God kept His word.
Is this kind of living right? Did David's lies work out in the end anyway? Why didn't he get in trouble for his lies? Well, his town was burnt to cinders and all he held dear was stolen, and he didn't get it back until he again looked to God for his direction.
- Abraham lied about Sarah to Pharoah in Egypt, and ended up richer than ever as a result.
- Jacob's lies to his father Isaac got him the coveted blessing. Ge 27:35
- What about the lies of the Hebrew midwives in Ex 1:19-20 to protect the Hebrew children, and God dealt well with them anyway?
- Rahab is rewarded even though she lied about harboring the spies in her home Jos 2:4-5
- David also lied to Ahimelech the priest in 1Sa 21:2 to get some food, which forfeited the lives of 85 priests at the hand of Doeg.
- Later in his years during his trouble with Absalom, a woman lied about hiding some of David's spies so they could avoid Absalom's men and bring an important message to David. 2Sa 17:19-20
This is deceit we're talking about
- You shouldn't be deceitful: Ps 32:2, Ps 34:13, 1Pe 2:1
- A long, enjoyable life is found with those who are not deceitful 1Pe 3:10
- God abhors it Ps 5:6
- Riches are very deceiving, promising happiness and never delivering Mt 13:22
- Over and over again, deceit is warned against and hated
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