The Way
Feigning Madness in Gath
A hero turned madman at the enemy's gate
Story
David stood alone before the gate of Gath in the land of the Philistines, Goliath's hometown. In his flight from Saul he had run out of places to hide in Israel. Surely in the enemy's land Saul could not reach him. David went before Achish, king of Gath.
But Achish's servants recognized him first. They whispered to the king, “Isn't this David, the king of the land? The very man the women sang about as they danced: Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?” Those words pierced David's heart. He became deeply afraid of Achish.
In front of them David suddenly became another man. He twisted his body, scratched marks all over the doors of the gate and let spit run down his beard. Achish shouted at his servants, “Look, the man is mad! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you bring this one to rave in front of me?” And so David left Gath as good as driven out. Of that fearful day David sang, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and David
Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they danced and sang about: Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?
Look, the man is mad! Why did you bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you bring this one into my house?
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 1 Sam 21:10–15
Background
Gath was one of the five Philistine cities and Goliath's hometown (1 Sam 17:4). It is widely identified today with Tell es-Safi. The headings of Psalms 56 and 34 point to this event.
Pause and Reflect
Instead of covering my fear with pretense, do I come to God honestly?