Next Sunday I am speaking on Psalm 34. The title of this psalm reads: Psalm 34 Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

You can read the story here. But just note, that in the actual account the king is called Achish. Some explain that ‘abimelech’ is a title for King Achish, as the word means “My Father, the King”. It possible that his title became his name (like Pharoah or Caesar).

That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: ” `Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?” [1 Samuel 21:10-15]

So David lies, or deceives Achish, to protect his own skin. Then he writes a song about how the Lord rescued him through this trickery. Hmmm. I suppose in the comfort of this easy chair I can question this, but if I think of the historical context, then I can look at it differently. If I think of living in Nazi-occupied Europe, and I was being questioned by the S.S., would I lie, or pretend to be someone I was not, to escape? This is how many allied soldiers made their escape. Is it deception? Is it wrong?

I don’t think we can advocate deception as a way of life, but I am sure there are times when fudging the truth can be used by God for good purposes. (‘No officer, there are no Jews hiding in my house’). What do you think, are there times when we can use deception to advance God’s cause?