1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 27:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To prevent confusion later, when some witness how Christ, following the numerous and extraordinary blessings He bestowed in Judea—such as raising the dead, restoring sight to the blind, cleansing lepers, casting out demons, and delivering profound teachings—was honored by the Gentiles who had neither beheld nor heard anything similar, they might feel bewildered or question the likelihood of such events; for God had previously revealed the ingratitude of the Jews and the receptiveness of the Gentiles through the actions of His servants long ago. Consider David, who, after defeating Goliath, was driven away by Saul despite having faced countless dangers on behalf of the king and the city, which he had saved, only to be welcomed and honored by the foreign king Achish. Therefore, when witnessing Christ being persecuted by the Jews yet embraced by the Gentiles, recall these ancient patterns and do not be astonished at the reality of what is unfolding.

What connection do you have with the rulers of this world, who have shown nothing but self-loathing toward Christianity? In making this assertion, you may attempt to categorize these rulers as enemies of the righteous, yet you fail to consider how they might also be recognized as allies. The patriarch Abraham received favor and a mark of kinship from a king who had been warned by divine intervention not to harm his wife Sarah (See Gen. 20:6-12). Similarly, Isaac, Abraham's descendant, encountered a king who was very welcoming towards him (See Gen. 26:6-11). Moreover, Jacob was honored by Pharaoh in Egypt, even having the opportunity to bless Pharaoh himself (See Gen. 47:10).