Chapter 27

And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.” (1 Samuel 27:1)

David might have never said it out loud; he may have never said it to anyone else; he may have never said it to God. But David said it in his heart. What we say in our hearts has tremendous power to shape our thinking, our actions, and even our whole destiny.

Discouragement and despair drove David to forsake the land of promise and go over to the Philistines. 

² Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. ³ So David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, and David with his two wives (1 Samuel 27:2-3)

David's heart of despondency and hopelessness did not just impact him; it also caused him to lead six hundred men and their families away from the land of promise to live with those who did not have faith in the God of Israel. Not only that but David's household was also affected by this decision because Ahinoam and Abigail, both of David's wives, were present with him.

So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. (1 Samuel 27:6)

Achish received David this time when he would not in 1 Samuel 21:10-15 for two reasons. 

1. It is clear now that now David and Achish shared the same enemy, Saul. A common enemy will often unite people.
2. David now brought with him 600 fighting men whom Achish could use as mercenaries.