Sometimes life is a bumpier ride than our own pothole infested roads currently are. Just when you think that things have got better, quickly comes another judder through the tires. Our vehicle suspension helps make the trip slightly bearable, for life what makes these bumps bearable is finding strength and encouragement in God.
David and his men probably thought they were home free when the Philistines dismissed them from battle to return home, but quickly found themselves in another tragedy. Yet David turned to God for strength, and once again experienced both God’s comforting support but also his provision for his chosen servant. What was a tragedy became a triumph.
And tragedy it must have seemed, as David and his band of men arrived home to Ziklag expecting relief but finding destruction (v.3). The place razed, possessions plundered, and all their families taken captive for a future of servitude (vv.1-2). Not even David was spared the loss of wives and family (v.5).
Everyone wept and screamed in anger and upset until there were no more tears (v.4). Then the blame game started, and the crosshairs of blame fell on David for delivering them into this situation (v.6).
But unlike recent situations which had led to a ransacked Ziklag, “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (v.6). How is not exactly stated, but given David’s next steps, it likely involved prayer and meditation on God’s promises to him and to his people.
David then sought God’s guidance through the ephod, which came to him when Saul murdered all but one of God’s priests (v.7). David learned he was to chase the band, and would rescue their beloved (v.8). So off David and his 600 men went, with 200 staying at a brook due to exhaustion while David and 400 carried on (vv.9-10).
Sure enough God providentially delivered. While deserts are big empty places and bands of marauders easily hide in big empty places, David and troops came across an Egyptian (v.11). After giving him food and drink to revive his spirits (vv.11-12), they discovered he was an abandoned slave of the Amalekites who had raided Ziklag days before (vv.13-14). He was more than willing to lead David to the Amalekites in exchange for his life (v.15). God clearly led them where they needed to go.
And arrive they did, to an unsuspecting Amalekite party atmosphere at all the plunder (v.16). Tragedy and triumph reversed, as all but 400 of the younger Amalekites were wiped out (v.17). Most importantly, David recovered everyone and everything (v.18). Nothing which was taken was lost (v.19), and they even came out ahead with all the Amalekite flocks and herds (v.20).
All then made the trip back towards home. First they met with the 200 exhausted men left behind (v.21). Not surprisingly, some of the 400 victors who were of variable background (22:2) suggested that perhaps the 200 men should just get their families back (v.22). In other words, God’s blessing of restoration and compensation should only go to those who worked for it!
David rejected this works-based righteousness. Buttering them up as “my brothers”, David reminded them that this triumph was God’s gift not their works (v.23). Suggesting they were mad to suggest it, he declared that equal shares belonged to all, whether front line or back office “watching the baggage” (v.24). This declaration became military law for Israel from then on (v.25).
Safely back in Ziklag, David went one step further to share God’s largesse. David shared some of the excess loot with many of the local towns of Southern Judah (vv.26-31). Not only would this repay some of these communities who had also suffered loss at Amalekite hands, but pragmatically it would win him friends when it came time to ascend the throne.
This passage, as subtle as it may be, is once again reminding us that every good gift God gives us is a matter of his grace. Like the more disreputable of David’s 400 men, we can view times of triumph or provision through tragedy as our due reward for hard work. Why should we share it with others?
This attitude forgets that everything we have is God’s gift to us. This is not just theological precision, but a way of life. Freely we have received, freely we should give. Of the talents we have, the gifts we have been given, the meals we have, our joys to be shared with others, whether front line or back office.
These gifts were God’s grace to his servant David, who trusted God. Not only David, but his 600 men and the citizens of Southern Judah benefited from God’s largesse to his anointed king.
Is this not a reminder of God’s goodness to us through his anointed king, Jesus? Everything we have received, including our salvation, is a gift of God’s grace through Christ. And that grace is not just for us, but others too. Let’s share the loot!
