M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

David Escapes to Philistine Territory

27 David told himself, “One of these days I’ll perish by Saul’s hand. There is nothing better for me to do than to escape to Philistine territory. Saul will give up searching for me anymore within the borders of Israel, so I’ll escape from him.” ² So David got up, and he and the 600 men who were with him went to Maoch’s son Achish, the king of Gath. ³ David stayed with Achish in Gath along with his men, each of whom was with his household. David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. ⁴ Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he did not continue to search for him.

Achish Gives Ziklag to David

⁵ David told Achish, “If it pleases you, give me a place in one of the outlying towns,^[a] so I may live there. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?” ⁶ So that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and therefore, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until the present time. ⁷ David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months.

David’s Raids on the Land

⁸ David and his men went up and raided the descendants of Geshur, the descendants of Girzi, and the Amalekites, for they had been living in the land since ancient times, from the entrance of^[b] Shur all the way to the land of Egypt. ⁹ David struck the land and did not leave a man or woman alive. He took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, and then came back and went to Achish.

¹⁰ Achish said, “Where did you raid today?”

David answered, “Against the Negev^[c] of Judah, against the Negev^[d] of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev^[e] of the Kenites.” ¹¹ David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring to Gath. He told himself,^[f] “Otherwise, they’ll say, ‘This is what David is doing, and this has been his practice all the time he has lived in Philistine territory.’”

¹² Achish believed David, telling himself,^[g] “He has certainly made himself repulsive to his people in Israel. He will be my servant forever.”

Concerning Food Offered to Idols

8 Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ² If anyone thinks he really^[a] knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it. ³ But anyone who loves God is known by him.^[b]

⁴ Now concerning eating food offered to idols: We know that no idol is real in this world and that there is only one God. ⁵ For even if there are “gods” in heaven and on earth (as indeed there are many so-called “gods” and “lords”), ⁶ yet for us

⁷ But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are so accustomed to idolatry that when they eat food that has been offered to an idol, their conscience becomes contaminated because it is weak. ⁸ However, food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat food that has been offered to an idol,^[d] and no better off if we do.

⁹ But you must see to it that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block for those who are weak. ¹⁰ For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, who know better, eating in an idol’s temple, he will be encouraged to eat what has been offered to idols, won’t he? ¹¹ In that case, the weak brother for whom the Messiah^[e] died is ruined by your knowledge. ¹² When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak consciences, you are sinning against the Messiah.^{[f] 13} Therefore, if food that I eat^[g] causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, in order to keep my brother from stumbling.

Prophecy against the Mountains of Israel

6 The Lord continued with his message to me. ² “Son of Man,” he said, “turn your face to oppose the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them. ³ Tell the mountains of Israel to listen as the Lord God speaks. This is what the Lord God has to say to the mountains, hills, streams, and the valleys: ‘Look! I’m about to bring my sword against you. I’m going to destroy your high places. ⁴ Your altars will become desolate and your sun pillars will be shattered. I’ll throw your slain down right in front of your idols. ⁵ I’ll place the corpses of the Israelis in front of their idols. I’ll scatter your bones around your altar. ⁶ In all the places where you live, the cities will be desolate. The high places will also be desolate so that your altars will be laid waste, bearing the punishment appropriate to them.^[a] Your idols will be shattered, your sun pillars will be hewn down, and your works will be obliterated. ⁷ The fatally wounded among you will fall, and at that time you’ll know that I am the Lord. ⁸ I’ll leave a remnant among you—those who will escape the sword when I’ll have scattered you throughout the earth. ⁹ Your survivors will remember me among the nations where they’ll be taken captives. I’ve been crushed by their unfaithful^[b] hearts that have turned against me. ¹⁰ Then they’ll know that I am the Lord. I didn’t declare this evil that’s intended for them^[c] without a reason.’”

¹¹ This is what the Lord God says: “Clap your hands and stamp your feet! Say, ‘Oh, no!’ Because of all the detestable evil that has come from Israel’s house, they’ll fall by the sword, famine, and pestilence. ¹² The one who lives far away will die by pestilence and the one who is near will die violently.^[d] The survivors and their surveillance details will die by famine as I exhaust my rage against them.

¹³ “You’ll learn^[e] that I am the Lord, when the fatally wounded will be among their idols, around their altars, on every hill, on top of the mountains, under every luxuriant tree, and under all the full-grown^[f] foliage—every place where they’ve offered fragrant aromas to all their idols. ¹⁴ I’ll stretch out my hands to strike^[g] them and send devastation to the land, from the wilderness of Diblah, throughout all their dwelling places. Then they’ll know that I am the Lord.”

To the Director: An instruction^[a] of the Sons of Korah.

A Prayer in Times of Defeat