Divine Comedy

 1 The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. 3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, "What about these Hebrews?"
      Achish replied, "Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him."

 4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and said, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master's favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 5 Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances:
       " 'Saul has slain his thousands,
       and David his tens of thousands'?"

 6 So Achish called David and said to him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until now, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don't approve of you. 7 Turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers."

 8 "But what have I done?" asked David. "What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

 9 Achish answered, "I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, 'He must not go up with us into battle.' 10 Now get up early, along with your master's servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light."

 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel. 1 Samuel 29

Divine Comedy, wasn't that a poem written by Dante?

Yeah, but that's what I thought of while reading this passage, let me explain.

Here's the comedy part:

There are 5 Philistine lords consolidating all of their forces to attack Israel and who is in the rear? David and his men!

The forces that were put in the rear were usually the bravest, most highly skilled
warriors to protect from enemy forces attacking from the flank. Who's there David, the future king of Israel!

Well, the other lords are not happy with this and insist that David and his men be sent home. Ok, there is a poem here…

" 'Saul has slain his thousands,
       and David his tens of thousands'?"

Can you imagine what the other lords are saying about Achish? "Has he lost his mind?"

Achish, a pagan, uses "church talk", which is pretty funny. Terms like Lord, actually Yahweh, that means one true God and angel of God.

What's up with him?

He is enthralled with David. Little does he know that David has been deceiving him all the while, for well over a year.

David protest, really?

Why?

Then , it's as if he tries to talk them out of their decision.

So far this is a really bad comedy!

Here's the Divine part:

David is rescued from an improbable situation; he is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Think about this; David would have had to fight against his own people, his king, and his best friend Jonathan, who he loved more than life itself.

What seemed like a good idea, fleeing from Saul to the land of Philistines has now put him into a tough spot.

God rescues David through and unlikely source, four Philistine commanders.

Where will your rescue come from?

Will you look back and laugh?