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1SAMUEL
CHAPTER 27

1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. 4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? 6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. 7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

Here God shows the first little "glitch" in David's character of faith. He is thinking and perusing about the matter with Saul. He has tried 3 times now to reconcile with Saul. And he unwisely considers that Saul will one day succeed in killing him.
It is true, as has been said, "When we have difficulties in life, we have weakness within."
Instead of trusting God, and resting in His promises, David goes back to kink Achish of Gath. Before, David had to fake insanity to escape this man (see 21:10-15).
And even now he is not comfortable being there, for he asks to be given a place in the country outside the city (verse 5).
Actually, Ziklag is about 15 miles SE of Gath. Therefore, it is a comfortable distance, yet close enough to be accepted and protected.
Saul found out that David had gone there, and wouldn't pursue him anymore. David moved all his men and his family there and stayed about 16 months.
God used David's weakness for Israel's betterment. Ziklag, the city, had belonged to the tribe of Judah (of which David was a citizen). But it had been lost in battle to the Philistines. Now it was restored, with David actually setting up the first of his "kingdoms."
A lesson we learn here is that long difficulties can weaken even the strongest of faithful men.

8 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. 9 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. 10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. 11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

David made raids on towns of the Amalekites. The Geshurites and Gezrites were probably descendents of the Amalekites. And God had already instructed Israel to drive them out of the "Promised Land." So we needn't think that David was wrong in what he was doing.
Besides, this future king of Israel, is figting for the nation. And God is allowing him the spoils of war for food and booty. Also God is providing grace in the sight of David's would-be enemies (Achish).
David told Achish that he was raiding Jerahmeelites and the Kenites which were descendents of Israel.
David learned from this. In Psalm 119:29 he wrote,

"Remove me from the way of lying: an grant me thy law graciously."