https://odb.org/2026/10/06/davids-deliverance
1 Samuel 21:10–15 (NIV): 10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 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’? ” 12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. 13 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. 14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 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?”
In the semifinals of his high school wrestling tournament, Dave cracked a rib on his right side. He won the match but wondered how he’d survive the championship with a damaged ribcage. In the finals, Dave limped out to the mat on his left, uninjured leg. So his opponent targeted Dave’s left leg throughout the match. Dave protected his right side and won.
Another “Dave” used deception to extract himself from a tough situation. David had been fleeing a murderous King Saul. He found refuge among Israel’s enemies, but word soon got to the enemy king that David was a Hebrew war hero (1 Samuel 21:11). Fearing for his life, David “pretended to be insane . . . making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard” (v. 13). The ploy worked (vv. 14-15). Good people can debate such tactics and arrive at different conclusions. But Psalm 34 sheds light on David’s experience. There, David credited not his deception but God for his deliverance. He sang, “I sought the Lord, and he . . . delivered me from all my fears” (v. 4).(Tim Gustafson, Our Daily Bread 6th October 2026)
The use of deception to escape life threatening situations is biblical as seen in David’s example fleeing from Saul who was looking to kill him out of jealousy and envy as the people adored David more than him. Basically, they were saying that although Saul killed thousands, David tens of thousands.
While we may debate the merits of deception as to whether it is ethical, David gave all glory to God for helping him out of his precarious situation. Deception is debatable as it perpetuates a lie and Christians are taught that lying is dishonesty and goes against the commandment not to bear false witness. However, we have to be aware of the context of that commandment. While bearing false witness is lying, lying is not necessarily bearing false witness. I have written a piece on this point before: https://ronnielim.com/2026/08/17/telling-a-lie-and-bearing-false-witness/
If deception is perpetuating a lie and if it is wrong, we should consider whether wealthy and successful people living a low profile life is also perpetuating a lie. Are they also living a lie when they refuse to flaunt their wealth to reveal their true status? But prudence dictates that the less attention we attract, the less likely we will be targeted by criminals and other bad characters. Thus, deception is a defence mechanism for security purposes and in David’s case for the protection of his life!
You will recall that Elisha by the power of God blinded the Syrian army and led them straight into Samaria where they could have been easily slaughtered by the army of Northern Israel. Was that ethical? The use of blindness to cause confusion and entrapment. But we know the saying – “All’s fair in love and war”.
Ultimately, if we attribute our deception or low profile to the glory of God, we are admitting that whoever we are, we are who we are because of the grace of God. Always remain humble before God and man as whatever we have will not last forever. What’s everlasting is the Word of God and the eternal and everlasting life that Christ and the Word of God promises. I pray that the LORD our God our beloved Heavenly Father will always grant us wisdom and discernment in all that we do and bless the work of our hands!
