(12) And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. (13) And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. (14) Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? (15) Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
The fears and distresses of David were very great, no doubt, when: he feigned madness, in order to escape the danger which threatened him. Certainly there was enough to alarm him, had he not had resource in the Lord. For he was now in the very spot which Goliath came from. He had the very sword of Goliath on him. He was now surrounded with an host of foes. But, amidst all these dangers, and the feigning himself mad, never perhaps in any period of his life was his mind more composed and settled upon God. It was to this state of mind that we are indebted, under the Holy Ghost, for those most beautiful Psalms which he then wrote, and which have refreshed, and will continue to refresh, the church of the Lord in the afflictions of his people in all ages. I mean Psalms 34:1 and Psalms 56:1, to which I refer the Reader. The latter is called Michtam of David; meaning a golden Precious Psalm of David. The title also, upon Jonath-elem-rechekim, some have thought intimates himself, because it means, the silent dove that is afar off, alluding perhaps to his distance from home, and in the midst of his enemies. How beautiful is it to see, in this man's experience, how faith works when the Lord gives grace. When his natural fears had prompted him to throw himself into the very bosom of his enemies, his spiritual faith, which the Lord had given him, led him to throw himself into the very bosom of his God. There, blessed Jesus, it is I would be found living and dying; in my best and in my weakest frames. For thou art my hiding place: thou shalt preserve me from trouble: thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. Psalms 32:7.