As a political rival to King Saul, David had a target on his back. Saul and his army had been attempting to find him and kill him again and again without success. Knowing his life was in danger, he considered his options. 1 Samuel 27:1 records his decision.

“David kept thinking to himself, ‘Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.'”

David took his 2 wives and a group of men and their families who were loyal to him and left Israel for the border of Gath. Achish, the King of Gath, gave David political asylum and even provided him the town of Ziklag as a home for him and his companions. David lived in Ziklag–safe from Saul–for a year and four months. When Saul learned that David was in Gath, he stopped searching for David.

The fear of political violence is real for many people, and that fear motivates them to seek asylum and safety. But will they be welcomed and protected? Or will they be turned away and returned to their home country? King Achish saw David’s plight and welcomed him. But what would have happened to David, his friends and their families if they had been turned away at the border? Remaining in Israel could have resulted in David’s death.

The United States government has–in the past–vetted asylum seekers after their arrival in the US. However, current policy does not allow people to apply for asylum at the border or ports of entry, and people seeking asylum must remain in Mexico–effectively condemning them to limbo. They become people without a country, without nationality, and without protection or any guarantee of security. As such, they are especially vulnerable to exploitation and harm.

Whether people are coming to the US because of political, religious or societal persecution, the decision to deny them asylum makes us complicit in their persecution. Turning them away or returning them to their unsafe home country places them in danger. Should they be killed, their blood is also on our hands.

Fortunately, God watched over David and his family during their time in Gath through the welcome of King Achish. When we welcome and watch over asylum seekers today, we are doing God’s will, acting on behalf of God, who is the protector of the foreigner. (Psalm 146:9)