CONTENTS
The Holy Ghost in holding forth to the church the history of David, hath in this Chapter given us a view of this great man in the infirmities of his character. Here are his fears respecting Said, and his want of faith in God recorded: his flight to Gath in consequence thereof: Achish the king of Gath, his kind reception of David: gives him Ziklag for a dwelling place. During his residence in the country of the Philistines, David maketh excursions upon the neighbouring states and conquers them, but deceives Achish in the account. These are the principal contents of this Chapter.
(1) В¶ And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me anymore in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
Surely the Holy Ghost had a most gracious design in giving the church the true portrait of David in this verse. Was it possible for David after two such remarkable interpositions, as 1 Samuel 24:1 relates at the cave of Engedi, and as 1 Samuel 26:1 relates of the event in the wilderness of Zeph: was it possible for David ever to question the Lord's care of him, even if he had not also been anointed for the succession to the kingdom? But Reader! in David we behold what all human nature affords evidence of, to demonstrate what a man's faith is when supported by God, and what the same man is when left to himself. Put it down, my brother, as a maxim of everlasting truth and, certainty, if the Lord leaves our faith alone to act of itself, that act will be weak indeed. It is but for the great author and finisher of faith to withdraw the arm of his power, and then the poor believer falls into fears and doubts, as David did. Reader! if you know anything of precious faith, I would charge it upon yon as one of the grand lessons of the soul: learn to make Jesus the finisher as well as the author of your faith and salvation. There are many souls who know Christ as the author, but very few are so highly taught as to make him the finisher.