Wise as serpents, harmless as doves!

Some may criticize David for seeking refuge in the hands of the enemy. But David was just doing all he could to keep himself and the men that he led alive. When it seemed obvious that the King might want him dead, he pretends to be crazy. Is David right or wrong here?

I know I might be treading on the line of situational ethics here, but I don't believe that lying or deception for the purpose of saving a life is wrong. If your lie gets someone else in trouble, or keeps you from suffering the circumstances of a wrong action that is another matter and it displeases God.

Later we see David once again seeking refuge with the same King whom he had deceived. By this time, it was well known that King Saul was out to get David. Even though David had lied to him before the king now sees David as an asset and welcomes him.

But David continues to deceive him. He lies about his whereabouts and battles so the king believes that David is on his side. But David has not betrayed his country, his God, or even the enemy King. He has been raiding Israel's enemies but not the Philistines. These countries actually could have represented a threat to the Phillistines as well.

I see David's actions here as being wise as serpents, but harmless as doves. He is in a very difficult situation, but he makes the best of it to continue to fight for his God and honor him. So when the time comes where he might have to make a choice between betraying the people of God or fighting those who have given him refuge, God steps in so he doesn't have to make that choice.

Created 8 months ago