Favor From a Fooled Philistine By David Harwood
Shabbat Shalom,
Favor From a Fooled Philistine
By David Harwood
David was on the run seeking shelter from Saul. He was desperate. How desperate was he? Desperate enough to seek protection in the land of his enemies. Desperate enough to remove himself from what he understood as the manifest presence of Adonai.
At that time, it was understood that the God of Israel’s kingdom was manifest within the borders of Israel. David was about to place himself in the precarious spiritual condition of living within the boundaries of the spiritual dominion of Dagon, a powerful territorial spiritual principality. Dagon’s worshipers believed he was Baal’s father.
Please consider David’s resentment against those who drove him from Israel. Look at his desire to live where Adonai’s presence was located.
“If Adonai has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if men have done so, then cursed are they before Adonai, because they have now driven me out that I would not cling to Adonai’s inheritance, saying: ‘Go, worship other gods.’ So now, let not my blood fall to the ground, away from the presence of Adonai. For the king of Israel has come out to search for but a single flea, just as one hunts for a partridge in the mountains.” (1 Samuel 26:19–20)
After likening himself to a flea, David fled. He took refuge with King Achish in Gath. He arrived with 600 warriors and their families.
This was not a good fit. Those with David were devoted to the God of Israel. It’s never a good idea to have an organized group of armed men, from a hostile culture, live within another nation’s capital. Trouble may have been on the horizon. As a result, seeking to maintain this sanctuary, David asked for another place to live.
Then David said to Achish, “If now I have found favor (chen/charis) in your eyes, let me be given a place in one of the country towns, so I may live there. Why should your servant stay in the royal city with you?” So Achish granted him Ziklag that day. Thus Ziklag came to belong to the kings of Judah to this day. (1 Samuel 27:5–6)
David and Achish had history. The first time he escaped from Saul he sought safety with Achish. However, his reputation as a Philistine-killer preceded him. Knowing he was in danger, David acted like a lunatic. This was Achish’s response:
“Look, you can see the man is insane. Why did you bring him to me? Do I have a shortage of crazy people that you’ve brought this fellow to go crazy on me? Is this one going to come into my house?” (1 Samuel 21:15b–16)
“Do I have a shortage of crazy people?” Now, that’s funny. At any rate, they drove David out. But now David was giving Gath another try. Since Saul’s persecution of David was well known, Achish offered David refuge.
Achish was gullible. His desire for increased power and status influenced him to believe David’s lies.
Many have noted that both Saul and Achish promoted David to a trusted military position. However, there the similarities cease. Saul mistrusted David when he should have trusted him. Achish trusted David when David deceived him.
Achish trusted David (1 Samuel 27:12a)
Why did David find favor/grace in Achish’s eyes? Well, he saw David’s defection as being beneficial. He liked that, so he liked David.
David and his cohort appeared to strengthen Achish’s kingdom. They were like a battalion of Navy Seals. Battle hardened, devoted to David, on the run from Saul, they looked like a perfect fit.
Achish was deceived when he liked what he perceived. As a result, grace/favor (charis/chen) was given by a king to a treacherous warlord. David found favor (chen/charis) in Achish’s eyes. Achish liked what he saw and gave them Ziklag.
The favor David received was a reflection of God’s favor. God liked what He saw and gave David favor through a naïve Philistine king.
“... man looks at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b)
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat17-May-2025 19th of Iyar, 5785 Parashat Emor
Day 28 of the Omer
Le 24:1-23Ez 44:15-31Lk 12:35-48
Favor From a Fooled Philistine
By David Harwood
David was on the run seeking shelter from Saul. He was desperate. How desperate was he? Desperate enough to seek protection in the land of his enemies. Desperate enough to remove himself from what he understood as the manifest presence of Adonai.
At that time, it was understood that the God of Israel’s kingdom was manifest within the borders of Israel. David was about to place himself in the precarious spiritual condition of living within the boundaries of the spiritual dominion of Dagon, a powerful territorial spiritual principality. Dagon’s worshipers believed he was Baal’s father.
Please consider David’s resentment against those who drove him from Israel. Look at his desire to live where Adonai’s presence was located.
“If Adonai has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if men have done so, then cursed are they before Adonai, because they have now driven me out that I would not cling to Adonai’s inheritance, saying: ‘Go, worship other gods.’ So now, let not my blood fall to the ground, away from the presence of Adonai. For the king of Israel has come out to search for but a single flea, just as one hunts for a partridge in the mountains.” (1 Samuel 26:19–20)
After likening himself to a flea, David fled. He took refuge with King Achish in Gath. He arrived with 600 warriors and their families.
This was not a good fit. Those with David were devoted to the God of Israel. It’s never a good idea to have an organized group of armed men, from a hostile culture, live within another nation’s capital. Trouble may have been on the horizon. As a result, seeking to maintain this sanctuary, David asked for another place to live.
Then David said to Achish, “If now I have found favor (chen/charis) in your eyes, let me be given a place in one of the country towns, so I may live there. Why should your servant stay in the royal city with you?” So Achish granted him Ziklag that day. Thus Ziklag came to belong to the kings of Judah to this day. (1 Samuel 27:5–6)
David and Achish had history. The first time he escaped from Saul he sought safety with Achish. However, his reputation as a Philistine-killer preceded him. Knowing he was in danger, David acted like a lunatic. This was Achish’s response:
“Look, you can see the man is insane. Why did you bring him to me? Do I have a shortage of crazy people that you’ve brought this fellow to go crazy on me? Is this one going to come into my house?” (1 Samuel 21:15b–16)
“Do I have a shortage of crazy people?” Now, that’s funny. At any rate, they drove David out. But now David was giving Gath another try. Since Saul’s persecution of David was well known, Achish offered David refuge.
Achish was gullible. His desire for increased power and status influenced him to believe David’s lies.
Many have noted that both Saul and Achish promoted David to a trusted military position. However, there the similarities cease. Saul mistrusted David when he should have trusted him. Achish trusted David when David deceived him.
Achish trusted David (1 Samuel 27:12a)
Why did David find favor/grace in Achish’s eyes? Well, he saw David’s defection as being beneficial. He liked that, so he liked David.
David and his cohort appeared to strengthen Achish’s kingdom. They were like a battalion of Navy Seals. Battle hardened, devoted to David, on the run from Saul, they looked like a perfect fit.
Achish was deceived when he liked what he perceived. As a result, grace/favor (charis/chen) was given by a king to a treacherous warlord. David found favor (chen/charis) in Achish’s eyes. Achish liked what he saw and gave them Ziklag.
The favor David received was a reflection of God’s favor. God liked what He saw and gave David favor through a naïve Philistine king.
“... man looks at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b)
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat17-May-2025 19th of Iyar, 5785 Parashat Emor
Day 28 of the Omer
Le 24:1-23Ez 44:15-31Lk 12:35-48
Recent
Archive
2025
May
RR Psalm 28:5 Part 5RR Psalm 28:6 Part 6RR Psalm 28:7a Part 7RR Psalm 28:7b Part 8RR Psalm 28:7c Part 9RR Psalm 28:7d Part 10RR Psalm 28:8 Part 11Rabbi’s Reflections - Saturday, May 10, 2025 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 28:9 Part 12RR Psalm 28:9 Part 13RR Psalm 28:9 Part 14RR Psalm 28:9 Part 15RR Psalm 29:1 Part 1RR Psalm 29:2 Part 2Favor From a Fooled Philistine By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:3 Part 3RR Psalm 29:4 Part 4RR Psalm 29:5 Part 5