Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 27

Verses 1-12

David's sense of his danger increased until he became almost pessimistic, and he said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." And who can wonder at, or blame him? Long and weary indeed had been his period of suffering.

The whole story is parabolic. The anointed king was driven out by the rejected king. All this was repeated long after in the history of the one true King. The difference, however, is marked. No fear ever made the anointed One quail. He also spoke, and often, of the fact that men would kill Him, but always ended with the prophecy of His ultimate resurrection and victory. Moreover, He never crossed over to the Philistines for refuge. This David did, going to live in Gath.

From there he made occasional raids on other ancient enemies of his people, and with success. In order to hide this from those among whom he dwelt he was driven to the expedient of untruth.

When a man is in a false position no matter how strenuously he may desire to be true to divine purpose, he is inevitably in grave danger of violating some fundamental principle of his loyalty. It is impossible to see David taking refuge in Gath without feeling that he had allowed himself to lose that clear vision of God which had made him invincible against Goliath.