1 Samuel 21

"So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. " v.13

Read chapter 21

So David plays the madman to fool the king of Gath.  David was known all over the lands as the one whose slain ten thousands, so being alone away from his Israelite army and land put him susceptible to the hands of their enemies.  This made David fearful and cause him to act this way so that he would not be worth the king's time and energy.  There are two psalms that refer to this occasion: Psalm 34's title is "A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed." Also possible Psalm 56 where the title says "A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath."  David must have been some actor to fool the king and his servants so well.  I wonder if this also could have been God blinding these men to it too?  Do you think this  mean of David to act such a part?  Can it be condemned as wicked, since it was only a stratagy to deliver himself out of an enemy's hand?  Such methods as this have been taken by men of the greatest sense and wit in times at the enemies fingertips.