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1 Samuel 29:9

⁹And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'

In spite of two miraculous deliverances, David feared that Saul would eventually kill him, so he fled to the Philistine territories and lived in the region under King Achish. When David and his men would go out on a raid, he would go to one of the enemies of Israel, but tell Achish that he was raiding Israel. David's fear had placed him in an awkward position. He had to lie to cover where his loyalties really lay.

Then the Philistines gathered for an all-out assault on Israel. Achish wanted to bring David along as his bodyguard. Again David is in an awkward position because he was led by his fear rather than by faith. Achish's words of David being blameless must have stung David's heart. This time the LORD intervened for David. The other commanders did not want David in the battle as they feared he would turn on them. God had intervened for David even when he was reaping the consequences of not trusting God. How gracious is God!

Yet there were still consequences back home. Raiders had come and taken the women and children and goods and burned their city while David was marching with the Philistines. David's men spoke of stoning David for leading them into this situation. Again, God was gracious to David, and all their families were recovered.

The Philistines were fighting a battle in which King Saul and his son Jonathan would die. David was about to become king, but his lack of trust in God had nearly derailed the transition.

Consider: David was not a perfect man, but he was a man after God's heart. There were consequences for his lack of trust, but God's grace is abundant. We find that we are made from the same material. As much as we would like to please God, our lack of faith is often a poor testimony. Think of the ways God has been gracious to you and spared you from the full consequences of your sin. Thank God for His abundant grace!