Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

them the weakness of his own people. Thus he encouraged these
determined enemies to persecute Israel. David had been anointed to
stand in defense of the people of God. The Lord does not want His
servants to give encouragement to the wicked by exposing the
weakness of His people.
In addition, the Israelites received the impression that David
had gone to the heathen to serve their gods. By this act, many were
led to be prejudiced against him. The very thing Satan desired to
have him do, he was led to do. David did not renounce his worship
of God nor devotion to His cause, but he sacrificed his trust in Him
for his personal safety.
The king of the Philistines received David cordially. The king
admired him and was flattered to have a Hebrew seek his protection.
David brought his family, his household, and all his possessions, as
his men did also. To all appearances he had come to settle
permanently in the land of Philistia. This flattered Achish, who
promised to protect the fugitive Israelites.
At David's request, the king graciously granted him Ziklag as a
possession. In a town wholly separated for their use, David and his
men could worship God with more freedom than in Gath, where
heathen rites might become a source of evil.
While living in this isolated town David made war on the
Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, and left none alive to
bring the report to Gath. He led Achish to believe that he had been
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