We continue this morning in our reading of 1st Samuel, taking up this morning chapter 27. 1st Samuel chapter 27 verses 1 through 12. You'll find this on page 318 of your pew Bible. And in 1st Samuel 27, 1 through 12, we find David at a low point in his life. He chooses to flee from King Saul's relentless pursuits. by seeking refuge amongst the unbelieving Philistines. The decision marks a moment in David's life when he doubted God's promises. Despite many past deliverances, David is overwhelmed with this sense of fear that Saul will kill him. And so he fails to trust in the God who had repeatedly saved him. This passage illustrates the danger of relying on our own wisdom, our own understanding, instead of leaning on God's promises. David's choice to flee to the Philistines, Israel's enemies, God's enemies, was a significant compromise. Because God's people were meant to seek their safety, their security, ultimately their salvation within the promised land. Not in the foreign land surrounding them. Not in the pagan people who were enemies of the Lord. Both geographically and spiritually, David has crossed a significant line. And in this way, David's actions warn us of the consequence of acting out of fear rather than from faith. We must dwell in and abide in God's promises, trusting him even when circumstances seem dire and impossible, even when death appears to be coming and inevitable. Ultimately, your salvation and your safety are found in Christ alone. He is the true Israel. So do not lean on your own wisdom. Do not lean on your own understanding. This, the Bible says, is folly. And do not compromise and ally yourself to the world. which consists of God's enemies. Rather, trust in Christ, for in him you will find the fulfillment of all God's precious promises. Safety from sin, safety through death, safety from your enemies, and more than this, the full enjoyment of eternal life. These are blessings that are found and received in Jesus Christ alone. With that being said, let us give our attention to the reading of God's holy, inerrant, and life-giving word. 1 Samuel chapter 27. Then David said in his heart, Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.' So David arose and went over, he and six hundred men who were with him, to Achish, the son of Mal, king of Gath. And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer saw him. Then David said to Achish, if I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you? So that day, Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Gerzites, and the Amalekites. For these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as sure to the land of Egypt. And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. When Achish asked, where have you made a raid today? David would say, against the Negeb of Judah, or against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites, or against the Negeb of the Kenites. And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking lest they should tell about us and say, so David has done. Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. And Achish trusted David, thinking he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel. Therefore, he shall always be my servant. Thus far, the reading of God's word.