(1) When everyone did not have strength to weep any more David drew strength from the LORD v.1-6
a. The fact that Ziklag was burned and the families of David and his men were taken captive were repeated from v.1-5. Emotionally they were shocked. Therefore in v.4,
Then David and the men who were with him wept loudly until they could weep no more
(NET) Heb “until there was no longer in them strength to weep.”
(NET) Heb “until there was no longer in them strength to weep.”
Scriptures also said they "grieved bitterly v.6b. Imagine, if your house is burned down by the riot, your husbands and children were taken as ransom. What will be your reaction? In the midst of the hopeless situation David had a stunning reaction:
v.6b But David drew strength from the LORD his God.
Having strength is humanly impossible. The strength can only comes from God. Your situation made you sad and that was normal. However, with faith we can look up to God.
(2) David knew God was their reason of success and therefore, he commanded people to share the plunder v.7-31
I think the pursuit of the Amalekites was not easy. Otherwise, they would not be so upset in the beginning. They were gone for quiet some time and going after them you need to run fast. As a matter of fact, 200 men were so exhausted after a while v.10. Second, they needed to know the direction.
When David inquired before God, the answer was certain.
30:8 David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Should I pursue this raiding band? Will I overtake them?” He said to him, “Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them and carry out a rescue!
God provided the Egyptian men for David and led them to the Amalekites v.16. Scriptures repeated twice that David retrieved everything back v.18, 19.
God provided the Egyptian men for David and led them to the Amalekites v.16. Scriptures repeated twice that David retrieved everything back v.18, 19.
When it was so obvious to David that the success belonged to the LORD he knew the plunder did not belong to him alone.
v.20b People were saying, “This is David’s plunder!”
30:23-24 But David said, “...Look at what the LORD has given us! He has protected us and has delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us...The portion of the one who went down into the battle will be the same as the portion of the one who remained with the equipment! Let their portions be the same!”
David even gave some as gifts to the Judah elders v.26-31.
Thanksgiving is approaching. We thank God for protecting us in the pandemic. We are healthy and has enough to meet our needs. They are obviously given to us from the LORD. If we really believed that then let us follow the example of David and do not consider those things are ours. We are willing to share.
Thanksgiving is approaching. We thank God for protecting us in the pandemic. We are healthy and has enough to meet our needs. They are obviously given to us from the LORD. If we really believed that then let us follow the example of David and do not consider those things are ours. We are willing to share.
Audrey
2024
v.1-8
B:
1. It was out of their surprises that their families had been taken captive when they came home v.2, 3. David's 2 wives were included. In that situation, all men grieve bitterly. David should have no exception. In fact he was very upset because they were speaking or thinking to stone him or held him accountable for their loss.
2. v.6b But David drew strength from the LORD his God. v.7-8 Then David inquired of the LORD to see if he should pursue the raiding band.
Drew strength=Hipatael, strengthen oneself (BDB), but the context is "in Yahweh, his God," gain strength
The men were upset probably because they thought there was no hope to pursue the raiding band after 3 days v.1. But God said they would certainly overtake them and carry out a rescue.
If David did not gain strength in Yahweh then he would be very upset like the rest of them, but now he was leading them.
R: As a leader, the key is we draw our strength from God and come before God when no one else is doing this.
v.9-20
B:
1. Two hundred men stayed bc they were exhausted. That was not a easy chase. They needed to catch up with their enemies who had gone ahead of them.
2. The kindness of David vs the cruelness of the master of the Egyptian slave.
v.12 This greatly refreshed him
v.13 My master abandoned me when I was ill for three days
His kindness was rewarded by the willingness of this E slave to turn his back to his master and led D to find them.
v. 15 "... I will take you down to this raiding party.”
v.16 So he took David down
(NAC) By showing David’s kind and gracious treatment of this Egyptian sojourner, the author demonstrated that even in the midst of personal tragedy David was sensitive to Torah injunctions regarding the treatment of aliens, particularly Egyptians (cf. Exod 22:21; 23:9; Lev 19:34; Deut 23:7).
3. David's obedience to God and his kindness to the E slave was rewarded greatly by God. Note the repetition of the word, "all" and "everything," in description what they got back. And the almost total eradiation of their enemies.
v.17 None of them escaped, with the exception...
18 David retrieved everything the Amalekites had taken;
19 There was nothing missing, whether small or great...and everything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 David took all the flocks...
R:
Other than the reward of obedience, I also noticed that the important to show kindness when we ourselves are in personal tragedy. Do I only shown obedience to God when I was fine and feel well? Or even I was in need I am willingly to put God first?
The E master only saw his slave as his tool and abandon him even when he was sick. Am I so cruel as him sometimes? Is there anyone I just let them stay unheard of the Gospel because I do not like their personality? Or people who speaks things that annoyed me or they spoke too much?
v.21-31
B:
1. How David treated the 200 exhausted men was totally different than the evil and worthless men
v. 21b When David approached the people, he asked how they were doing. 22 But all the evil and worthless men among those who had gone with David said...
the evil and worthless men=(BDB) ethically bad, evil, wicked; quality of being useless, good for nothing
Theses were not the description of those who followed David from ch 22
2 All those who were in trouble or owed someone money or were discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. He had about 400 men with him.
Why were they being called evil and worthless probably from the incident in 1 Sam ch 30.
2. How David faced this opposition?
a. He addressed the reason for his different proposal:
23 But David said, “No! You shouldn’t do this, my brothers. Look at what the LORD has given us!
David and the evil men fought against the P, but he did not think the success was due to him or them, but the LORD! He was the one who protected and delivered them.
b. If it was not the credit of the evil and worthless men, then listen to the way that the LORD will do:
24 Who will listen to you in this matter?
c. Obviously David's proposal passed bc in v.25
25 From that time onward it was a binding ordinance for Israel, right up to the present time.
But why? Was it bc everyone can see what the LORD would do was what David proposed?
3. David did not just shared the plunder with the exhausted men, but also to his friends v.26. They were also the acquainted of him and his men v.30. David's action was beneficial to their whole group.
R:
When we have a meeting for the youth retreat I was shocked by a proposal that was totally different from what I formally agreed on. If David and Jesus was opposed by others I should be more used to be opposed. On the other hand, David looked at things from God's angle. The Bible did not have that principle of sharing plunder, but when David proposed that perhaps everyone could see it was God's will. What is the LORD's will for the youth retreat? Harmony, of course, but David did not just strike for harmony in sharing the plunder neither. What is the best to both groups of the Jr. Youth and Youth?
Q:
1. But David drew strength from the LORD his God.
8 David inquired of the LORD
They attacked Ziklag and burned it; They took captive the women; and all who were in it
David’s two wives had been taken captive
the men were thinking of stoning him
2. Not all the decisions. Sometimes, I think it is too trivial and did not pray, but I was wrong. I should have prayed before I went to the youth retreat meeting.
3. They were eating and drinking and enjoying themselves because of all the loot they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah
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