Oct 11, 2020. I Samuel 30:16-31

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TRIUMPH FROM TRAGEDY. I Samuel 30:16-31. 10/11/20. #82.

1 Samuel 30:16-31 []New King James Version

¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. ¹⁷ Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. ¹⁸ So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. ¹⁹ And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. ²⁰ Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, “This is David’s spoil.” ²¹ Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. ²² Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.” ²³ But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. ²⁴ For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.” ²⁵ So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day. ²⁶ Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord”— ²⁷ to those who were in Bethel, those who were in Ramoth of the South, those who were in Jattir, ²⁸ those who were in Aroer, those who were in Siphmoth, those who were in Eshtemoa, ²⁹ those who were in Rachal, those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 30 those who were in Hormah, those who were in Chorashan, those who were in Athach, ³¹ those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to rove.

• A goodly return
  • When David and his men arrived at Ziklag, they found their village burned, their family taken, livestock and possessions
    • Cause for uncontrollable grief
    • The men wanted to stone David
    • David focused on a solution, so he inquired of God
    • God confirmed that David would find the raiders and recover everything
  • David crossed the Brook Besor and found an Egyptian who knew where the raiders were
  • The raiders were Amalekites
    • Amalek had taken much spoil from a dozen regions in the Negev (South) and southern Judah areas
    • David arrived at their encampment near evening as they were celebrating their great haul of wealth
  • David attacked immediately at twilight
    • David pressed the battle all night and all the next day until evening (a complete surprise victory)
    • Only 400 young men escaped on camels
  • David not only recovered his people and property, but all else
• Everyone shares in the blessing
  • Since all the other villages were burned by the raiders, David claims all the spoil for himself and his men
    • Nothing is stated about people from the other villages rescued (they would gladly trade their goods for being rescued alive)
    • The Egyptian informant was free to go home
  • When the men come to the Brook Besor, they refused to share the booty with the weary men left behind
    • Many of David’s followers were outcasts and criminals
    • Had the greedy men had their way, a schism would have developed among David’s troops
  • David declared that the men who guarded the supplies would share equally with those who fought the battle
    • Those who are less able to engage in the work are to be treated with equal respect (I Corinthians 12:23)
    • Support staff, helpers, ministry workers, and those too weak to work except praying, are all worthy of sharing in the blessings of God
    • David makes sharing spoil with support staff a law
• Investing in the future
  • David makes a shrewd move, by sending a portion of the spoils to leaders in southern Judah
    • David’s action reminds the elders that he is one of them—a Judean
    • David returns the spoil taken from Judah
    • As the Philistines fight Israel in the north, David seeks to fortify his position in the south
  • David was both a capable general and shrewd politician
    • King Saul had proved to be unstable and arbitrary
    • David made sure that he was the choice to turn to
    • David had roved throughout the South and was known
  • Luke 16:9 making friends with others provide for future help
    • Friends should not be business contacts, but friends should be also for mutual aid
    • Only by developing friendships, do we have support