1. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

2. RECAP OF OUR LAST STUDY
“The foolishness of Nabal”: David requested hospitality from Nabal but he turned down his request and sent David’s men away with insults, though David had taken care of his shepherds. We should be kind to people. David decided to kill Nabal and his household. We should not retaliate but repay evil with good. Abigail quickly intervened and prevented bloodshed. We should be wise and prompt in action. Nabal died as a foolish man. We must prepare for eternity before it is too late.

3. TODAY’S STUDY: LESSON 759: DAVID’S DECEPTION AND REJECTION
MEMORY VERSE: …… “And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines have said, he shall not go up with us to the battle” (1 Samuel 29:9). TEXT: 1 Samuel 27:1-12; 29:1-11

4. INTRODUCTION
In chapter 26, David spared Saul’s life and did not retaliate despite having the opportunity to kill him. He rather fled to the land of the Philistines, Israel’s archenemy. By refusing to kill Saul, he proved that he did not hate Saul. Bringing other people down to gain promotion or privilege or remain relevant is sinful. As Saul’s pursuit of David continued in our text, David’s faith began to weaken, giving way to fear, hasty decision and deception that believers must avoid.

5. DAVID’S FEAR AND FLIGHT 1 Samuel 27:1-7
Fear made David to leave Judah contrary to God’s word (1 Samuel 22:5). He did not pray. Decisions made under pressure or fear do not generally glorify God. When in distress, we must trust God for help (Proverbs 3:5-7). And like Achish accommodated David, we should entertain and help strangers, however with wisdom.
QUESTION 1: What led to David’s decision to relocate to Gath? – 1 Samuel 27:1
QUESTION 2: Mention some Bible characters who took decisions in uncertainty, and the result – Ru 1:1-5; Nu 11:11,14,15; 1 Kgs 19:2-4

6. DECEPTION BY DAVID 1 Samuel 27:8-12; 21:10-15
David lied to Achish, who believed him without proof. David’s lie was to cover his evil deed up. But God had seen him already! Deception or lying cannot be justified: it is sinful, and if not repented of, will take one to hell. Also, we should “prove all things…” to establish the truth. Accepting stories without check can be harmful. There are many deceivers and false prophets in our world. Therefore, Christian leaders should diligently check the state of their flock and avoid laying hands suddenly on anyone to enlist them in the work-force.

7. DECEPTION BY DAVID 1 Samuel 27:8-12; 21:10-15
QUESTION 3: What is the danger of deception or lying, and how can a deceiver or a liar escape judgment? – Revelation 21:8,27
QUESTION 4: What should be the disposition of a Christian leader in the world full of deceivers and hypocrites? – 1 John 4:1; 2 John 7,8; 1 Timothy 5:22

8. DISCERNMENT BY PRINCES OF THE PHILISTINES AND REJECTION OF DAVID 1 Samuel 29:1-11
The princes of the Philistines discovered during routine check of the army that David and his men were Hebrews. Unlike Achish, they were able to identify a personality that posed a threat to their nation. As Christians, vigilance should be our watchword. Christian leaders should have eagle eyes to detect sinners and backsliders, while guarding against suspicion. Finally, like Achish, we must handle rejection gracefully.
QUESTION 5: How should a believer handle rejection? – 2 Corinthians 2:11

9. CONCLUSION
David made a hasty decision to flee to the land of the Philistines in the face of a real and unrelenting threat to his life. He did not consult God and forgot the program of God for his life. When faced with troubles, we should not forget God or make rash conclusions. Rather, we should pray in faith for divine intervention. David deceived Achish. We should guard against deception, regardless of the reason because it displeases God and can take one to hell if not repented of.