Bible Study: David - from foe to friend of the Philistines?

City of Gath By Ori~ (Own work) [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons

Putting this into proper perspective

Time line of events (1 Samuel 16 – 1 Samuel 31)

- David is secretly anointed as future king while Saul is still king

- David fights against the Philistines (slays Goliath)

- Saul becomes angry with David's success in battle and the praise he receives for it

- Saul hunts David and tries to kill him (several times)

- David eventually flees to the Philistines – 1 Samuel 27:1-4

      logically - 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' – ancient proverb

- David fights alongside the Philistines against many other pagan nations

- the Philistines prepare for war against Israel

- the Philistines send David away for fear of him turning against them in battle

- it is during this battle that Saul & his son Jonathan perish

Providence of God as seen through these events

- God is sorry he had made Saul king & chooses David to replace Saul

      Saul is rejected as king yet still remains king for several years

- David must rely on & grow his faith in God while waiting to be king

- David flees from Saul and helps the Philistines clear out several pagan groups

      this simply means less work David must do while he is king

- David is rejected from the Philistines shortly before Saul is killed in battle

      the position of king of Israel is now free

      David is also free to move to Israel & fully become its king

- Ultimately God's will is done & the reign of David is ready to begin

      David is called a man after God's own heart – 1 Samuel 13:14 & Acts13:22

           Isn't that an appropriate description for the king for Israel?


Search the Scriptures to find out even more details about this strange situation.