LIVING WITH THE ENEMY

LIVING WITH THE ENEMY

1 Samuel 27.1-4

David has been pursued by Saul for several years.

On a couple of occasions,

David had been in a position where he could have taken Saul’s life,

but he refused to because he recognized Saul as “God’s anointed.”

Now David had also been anointed to be the next king of Israel,

but he did not feel that it was his place to eliminate Saul.

Saul has vowed to spare David,

but David does not trust him.

He seeks refuge with the Philistines,

who were enemies of Israel

and were the ones that Saul should have been pursuing rather than David.

The text does not tell us whether David was right or wrong

in his decision to live with the enemies of Israel or not.

At best this was a risky arrangement.

Achish assumed that David had fled from Israel

and that he would be an ally to the Philistines.

It seems that David’s decision was made out of fear and despair

rather that at the leading of the Lord.

Achish gave David and his men the city of Zikliag to dwell in.

This city was supposed to be part of the Israelites land in the first place.

It is not my purpose

to debate whether David should have sought refuge among the Philistines or not,

but to consider our experience while living with the enemy.

WE ARE LIVING IN THE WORLD

>We have been saved if we have trusted Christ as our Savior.

>Philippians 3.20 teaches that our citizenship is in heaven,

but we still live in the world.

>We should realize that the people around us are not our enemies,

but the world system is opposed to God.

>Our enemy is the force of evil that is at work in the world today.

>Ephesians 6.12 says,

“ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

>We should view the lost around us not as enemies,

but as potential brethren if they will come to Christ.

>Even though we live in the world,

we are not to be of the world.

There must be something different about us.

>Jesus said that we would have tribulation in the world,

but He told us to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. John 16.33

WE ARE TO LIVE AS GOOD CITIZENS IN THE WORLD

>David treated King Achish with respect.

>He conducted himself in such a way that he found favor with the king.

>David and his men lived in the land of the Philistines for 16 months.

>He waited out the time until God would deal with Saul.

>We are commanded to submit ourselves to the governing authorities.

>1 Peter 2.13-14 says,

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake:

whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers,

and for the praise of them that do well.”

>We are not supposed to be subversive but should obey the laws of the land.

>Romans 12.18 says,

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,

live peaceably with all men.”

>We should pray for and seek the wellbeing of our community.

>1 Timothy 2.1-4 says,

“ I exhort therefore,

that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks,

be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

>Those around us may not accept our faith but our conduct should be above reproach.

OUR LOYALTY MUST BE TO GOD

>In verses 8-12 we find that David and his men

spent this time routing other enemies of Israel.

>The peoples that David eliminated

were living on a portion of the land that Israel was supposed to possess

but had failed to conquer.

>It may seem cruel to us that David left no survivors in these raids,

but these were people that the Lord had told them to destroy years before.

>Saul had failed to destroy all of the Amalekites,

and this was part of the reason that God had condemned him as king over Israel. 1 Samuel 15

>David was not honest with Achish about exactly where they had raided.

He implied that they were fighting the Israelites,

but they were actually fighting other enemies of Israel.

>We cannot be friends with the world and still be loyal to God.

>James 4:4 says,

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

Conclusion:

>When David went to live with the Philistines,

he found himself living with the enemy.

>Remember the people are not our enemy but are those we should seek to win to Christ.

>As Christians we live in the world,

but we must never forget that God comes first.

>We must let our light shine if we are to be a good witness. Matthew 5.16

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