Deeper Reflection
THE INTERRELATED EVENTS narrated in 1 Samuel 27:1-29:2 happened around three persons: David, Saul and God – represented by the prophet Samuel. What each of the three persons thought, did and said construct a tale of three perspectives. It all centres on one thing: David will be the next king of Israel. God had anointed David to be Israel’s next king (1 Sam 16:12-13) and had assured him through Jonathan that he “will surely be king” (1 Sam 24:20) – and even, ironically, through his arch-enemy, Saul: “You will both accomplish much and surely prevail” (1 Sam 26:25). But still David feared that he would one day perish in Saul’s hand, and fled to Gath from the land of his destiny, Judah,⁴⁷ for self-preservation (vv.1-3), and put himself into a tangled web (1 Sam 28:1-2; 29:1-2). That was David’s perspective on his circumstances. As for Saul, his relentless pursuit after David’s life stopped only when David had fled to Gath (v.4). Saul’s perspective was: He had the kingly power to get what he wanted. What Samuel said to Saul points to God’s perspective on the whole matter (1 Sam 28:16-19): “The LORD has done accordingly as He spoke…the LORD has torn…and given…the LORD has done… the LORD will give….” God alone, His Word and His purpose, stand (Psa 33:9-11; Isa 14:27). How we look at things determines how we live our lives. Fundamentally and ultimately, it has be to see as God sees.

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⁴⁷ Robert B. Chisholm Jr., 178