My God and My Country

My Daily Meditation

Today’s Reading

The First Book of Samuel

Chapter 27

1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: is it not better for me that I save myself in the land of the Philistines, and that Saul may have no hope of me to seek me anymore in all the coasts of Israel, and so escape out of his hand?

2 David therefore arose, and he, and the six hundred men that were with him, went unto Achish the son of Maoch king of Gath.

3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he, and his men, every man with his household, David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.

4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: so he sought no more for him.

5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some other city of the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the head city of the kingdom with thee?

6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that same day: therefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was four months and certain days.

8 Then David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites: for they inhabited the land from the beginning, from the way, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

9 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took sheep, and oxen, and asses, and camels, and apparel, and returned and came to Achish.

10 And Achish said, Where have ye been a roving this day? And David answered, Against the South of Judah, and against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.

11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, and say, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while that he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people of Israel utterly to abhor him: therefore he shall be my servant forever.