According to many commentators, David should have known that the Lord could continue to protect him in Israel and thus he should not have gone to Gath.1,2,3 The fact that he thought he would be destroyed by the hand of Saul was then not simply a recognition that Saul would continue to be against him, but a lack of trust in God to look after him and his people in the land of promise (see 1 Samuel 23:17; 1 Samuel 24:20; 1 Samuel 25:30–31; 1 Samuel 26:25).4 Because he feared Saul, he became a crafty individual who fell short of the dignity and integrity that might have been expected of a true covenantal king.5
The text itself, however, does not commentate on the morality of David’s decision, and when considered in its wider context, there appears to a be an apologetic tone.6 David went to Gath because he was driven there, not because he wanted to go there (see 1 Samuel 26:19–20; 1 Chronicles 12:1).7
Though there is no mention of David consulting the Lord in his decision,8 this does not mean that he did not do so. Indeed, given what we have seen previously from David (see 1 Samuel 23:2, 1 Samuel 23:4, 1 Samuel 23:9–12), along with the fact that Abiathar was with him (see 1 Samuel 23:6; 1 Samuel 30:7) and that he was making a big decision that concerned his men and their families (see 1 Samuel 27:3), we have many reasons to assume that he would have consulted the Lord in his decision-making (see 2 Samuel 2:1–2). Also, with David having passed the test in the wilderness (1 Samuel 24:1 – 26:25), the prophet Gad’s instructions to stay in Judah (1 Samuel 22:5) had likely come to an end.
1 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”