I Samuel 27
To read this text CLICK HERE
I Samuel 27:5-7, Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”
So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.
David has gotten tired of this cat and mouse game with Saul. Thus, David takes his family and his large army to live in the land of the Philistines. By this point, David has made a name for himself; he is essentially a famous outlaw and Achish, the king of Gath, allows him to stay there (remember that my enemy’s enemy is my friend so Achish saw David as an ally). That being said, this was no small thing for the king to do. David and his 600-man army, many with families, would have taken over a small Philistine town. You can imagine the townspeople might not have been too happy. Knowing this, David asks Achish to give them a town, a space of their own, to live in and not be too disruptive in the Philistine territory. David pretends his request is an act of humility (“Why should I live in the royal city with you?”) but David clearly knew what he was doing.
Interestingly, the king gives David the town of Ziklag. This was an area that was part of Judah, part of the territory that God had given the Israelites, but they had never gotten around to conquering it. David and his men promptly conquered it and made a home there. David’s time in exile was certainly not a waste, as he actually used it to continue Israel’s conquest of Canaan. For that point on, the land belonged to Judah.
After reflecting on David’s time in Philistine territory, I began to think about times in my own life that felt a bit like an exile. I’m sure you have those seasons of life as well. Maybe it’s a health issue, a stagnant job, caregiving responsibilities, quarantine, or something else that keeps you from doing what you really want to do, that keeps you from feel like you are moving forward in your life. But those times in exile are not wasted. In fact, God doesn’t waste anything! These are times that God can use to teach us and help prepare us for what’s to come. If you are like me, you may get a bit impatient during these times. Instead, think of them as seasons of healing, growth, and preparation.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, In our seasons of exile, help us see you at work. Grow us, heal us, work in us to prepare us for what’s to come. God, we trust that you waste nothing in our lives. In Your Name, Amen.