Leaving the Homeland: 1 Samuel 27:1-4
Sometimes, especially when sacrifice is called for, the righteous choice feels very much like a suboptimal one. Life is not perfect. We seldom make a decision without some sort of compromise impacting the decision. Learning how to pick the best solution out of a set of suboptimal choices is a skill.
David heads to Philistia to dwell among the Philistines. He’s tried this before, and the Philistines didn’t trust him. His prior attempt was fresh after a battle with the Philistines, therefore they were already angry with him. This time, David is a rebel. David is being hunted by Saul. Word of Saul’s trouble with David likely spread outside Israel. The Philistines would have every reason to consider taking on David and his men as mercenaries, especially because one of their main enemies was Saul. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, at least temporarily.
David’s plan works. When Saul hears that David moved into Philistia, he stops trying to follow David. It’s one thing to hunt someone down with an armed party in your own territory. It’s another thing to bring an army into someone else’s territory. Had Saul moved his army into Philistia, Saul would be fighting Philistines, not David.
The fact that Saul gave up seeking David implies he was continuing to hunt David. David was right to put Saul aside and terminate the relationship. Saul may have told David he wouldn’t seek to harm him, but Saul’s promise didn’t last. David’s decision to put Saul’s irrationality out of his life was a good one.
Consider the turmoil into which Saul’s irrationality placed David. Through Samuel, God told David he would be king of the Hebrew people. David demonstrated time and again his willingness to wait for the throne and let God deal with Saul. All David wanted was to serve God, largely by serving Saul, and develop into the leader who would one day be king.
Instead, Saul’s irrationality forces David to leave the homeland he believed he would rule. When David goes to Philistia, on some level he likely feels he is turning his back on the very people he would one day rule. There isn’t a sense of betrayal in David’s actions; David is doing what he needs to do to survive. David’s decision is forced by Saul’s hand. David isn’t betraying his people, but he is certainly in a position where he can no longer help them. Saul’s irrationality forces David to find a way to survive that doesn’t involve helping the very people God called him to lead.
Knowing the decision is suboptimal, David still goes to Philistia. He has his men and their families to think about. He cannot guarantee their safety knowing Saul could uproot them at every emotional swing. Therefore, David leaves and finds space where he can find security for his people. Sometimes, especially when sacrifice is called for, the righteous choice feels very much like a suboptimal one.
