DAVID IN VICTORY AGAIN
A. David's distress
1. (1 Sam 30:1-2) Ziklag is plundered by the Amalekites
Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way.
On the third day: This is the third day after King Achish had dismissed David and his contingent from the ranks of the Philistine army. The dismissal could hardly have taken place at Shunem, in the Jezreel Valley, for Shunem is some ninety miles from Ziklag. Achish and his men had marched from Gath along with David. Somewhere in Philistia, after the whole force had been gathered into one, David and his men were told to leave the Philistine army.
The Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev: This was partly in retaliation for the raids David and his men made on the Amalekites, and this partly took place because the Amalekites heard that the Philistine and Israeli armies had left the southern country and had gathered in central Israel for battle. The southern part of Judea (called the Negev) was left void of any military presence. It was the perfect time for the Amalekites to attack.
Overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire: This was an act of revenge. Ziklag was known to be the home of David and his men. While the other cities in the Negev were simply plundered, Ziklag was completely ransacked and burned to the ground.
They took captive...without killing anyone: When the Amalekites attacked, there was no one left in Ziklag to resist the invasion. David--never imagining a sudden invasion--had marched with his entire force into battle with Achish. The Amalekites did not kill any of their captives, which were women and children. The number of women and children probably was significant as we are told in 1 Samuel 27:3 that David's men brought their household with him into the Philistine territory. Women and children possessed a good market value and would be carried off and sold into slavery. Egypt was the most likely destination for the Amalekite's captives as Egypt was its neighbor.
There is a touch of irony in all this. David brought about this exact same calamity on other cities. In 1 Samuel 27:8-11, we read about David's time among the Philistines. David made his living as a bandit, robbing cities and "whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive." The Amalekites, it seems, were more merciful than David in sparing the women and children.
2. (1 Sam 30:3-6) David and his men come upon the empty, burned-down city
When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David's two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
When David and his men came to the city: As they came within a few miles of the city, the hearts of David and his men must have brightened. As soldiers, they had been discouraged they had not been allowed to fight with the Philistines. But, they knew that they were coming home. Home meant family and familiar surroundings. But, that bright thought quickly turned to pain and grief.
It was burned with fire: Even off in the distance, David and his men saw that something was wrong. The smoke rising from their city was not the smoke of cooking fires. No, the smoke was much too black. Perhaps, they wondered why no one had come to greet them afar off as they came near the city. Where were their wives and children? But, when they came to the city and saw it was a pile of rubble with no voice of any any survivor, it seemed that everything was lost.
For all the people were embittered: David's men's great sorrow turns from grief to rage. David was the one they felt responsible for the situation. David was their leader; David left the city unguarded as he followed Achish into battle. David now finds himself on the verge of being stoned and without a friend in the world.
All was lost. At this point, David had no one to support him. No one in Israel could help him. The Philistines did not want him. His family was gone. All he owned was gone. Every support was gone except the LORD.
David strengthened himself in the LORD: As dire as the future looked for David, he did what a man after God's own heart should do--he sought the LORD. It is easy for us to seek comfort in the company of our family and friends. But, when we encounter turbulent times, we should always seek the LORD. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path."
How did David strengthen himself in the LORD? At this time of total loss, David now saw the love of the LORD in the rejection of the Philistines. If God had not sent him back home, it would have been months and months before he would have returned to Ziklag, and the situation would have been far worse. This was a precious expression of God's love.
David could remember God's past deliverances. He could say, "This is a terrible place to be. But, I remember all the times God delivered me from my enemies. It God did it before, He will do it again."
B. David wins back what was lost and more
1. (1 Sam 30:7-8) David inquires of the LORD
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Please bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them" And He said to him, "Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all."
David inquired of the LORD: In 1 Samuel 30:6, we read that David strengthened himself in the LORD. Now it was time to do something with that strength from the LORD. All the time David spent among the Philistines, we never read of him seeking God in anyway. It seems when David left Israel, he also left behind his relationship with the LORD.
Please bring me the ephod: David sought God with the help of the priest, Abiathar. An ephod was a special apron that priests wore to cover their clothing. It is likely that this was not just any ephod. This was the ephod of the high priest, which had the breastplate of judgment attached to it (Exodus 28:15). The breastplate had in it a pouch with two stones known as the Urim and Thummin (Exodus 28:30). When David inquired of the LORD, it is most likely that he asked Abiathar to use the Urim and Thummin.
Shall I pursue this band: At one time, David would have not bothered to even ask these questions. He would simply do what it because when a soldier is attacked, he attacks back. But in returning from his backsliding, David brings everything before the LORD. Nothing is done without consulting God.
He said to Him: In some instances, God answers slowly. However, this situation required great haste for David and his men. God at once gives David an answer to his inquiry. So gracious is our God that he considers even the degree of our necessities and accommodates us accordingly.
Pursue, for you will surely overtake them: God gave David something to do ("pursue"). Then, God gave David a promise ("you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all"). When God gives us something to do, He also gives us a promise.
2. (1 Sam 30:9-10) David pursues the Amalekites who conquered Ziklag
So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those left behind remained. But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for two hundred men who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor remained behind.
So David went: Immediately on receiving the answer of the LORD, David started his rapid pursuit. God told David to "pursue", and David did exactly that. Obedience to the LORD is often that simple.
He and the six hundred men who were with him: David's men were almost at a place of mutiny against him ("the people spoke of stoning him" 1 Samuel 30:6). But now since "he strengthened himself in the LORD his God" (1 Samuel 30:6), since he "inquired of the LORD" (1 Samuel 30:8) and since he did what God told him to do, David's men are back on his side again.
Seeing David leading his six hundred men must have been a magnificent sight. Instead of the men hoping to align themselves with the Philistines and fight against their own people, now David and his men were on a mission from God. When one is walking in God's will, there is not an army on earth which can defeat you.
The brook Besor: The Hebrew word is nachal which means a ravine with a stream at the bottom. The brook Besor is mentioned here only and has not been identified with any certainty.
Two hundred men who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor remained behind: This might have discouraged David that one third of his men could not continue. But, David did not let this stop him. Instead, he allowed the one third to stay behind guarding the supplies and lightening the load of the other 400 men. David continued being full of faith in the LORD.
Although David and his men were setting out to battle a very large Amalekite army, God reduced David's army. Often, when we are in pursuit of fulfilling God's will, God takes away the little bit of strength we have and dwindles it down to almost nothing. It is only with God's strength can we fight our battles and defeat our enemies. When we rely on our own strength and power, we can easily claim the victory as our own. But, when God places us in overwhelming odds and delivers us, it is much easier to see what God has done for us.
3. (1 Sam 30:11-15) David and his men befriend a helpless Egyptian
Now they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David, and gave him bread and he ate, and they provided him water to drink. They gave him a piece of fig cake and two clusters of raisins, and he ate; then his spirit revived. For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" And he said, "I am a young man of Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind when I fell sick three days ago. We made a raid on the Negev of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire." Then David said to him, "Will you bring me down to this band?" And he said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this band."
They found an Egyptian in the field: As David and his men pursued the Amalekites, they came across a collapsed man in the wilderness. It would have been easy and logical to ignore this slave because David and his men had a much greater mission in pursuing the Amalekites. But David showed kindness and compassion to this slave by offering him food and drink. For their compassion, God soon rewards David and his men with an unexpected blessing.
An Egyptian: The Amalekites were a nomadic people. Their wanderings would have taken them to the frontiers of Egypt. Hence, there was a great probability that in one of their raids, they had acquired Egyptians as slaves.
Three days and three nights: This is a significant amount of time in which the Amalekites had a lead on David. It seems the Amalekites were very swift and quick in their plunderings. The cruelty of the Amalekites to their slaves was the cause of their ultimate dislike among the surrounding nations. Thankfully, through the Amalekites neglect of this slave, David and his men were able to obtain valuable information. The cruelty of the Amalekites set the stage for this Egyptian slave to be willing to give up his master's position in hopes of trading his essential information for his own freedom.
We made a raid: The Egyptian gives David a vivid description and scope of the invasions the Amalekites made on the surrounding lands and ultimately ending with the complete destruction of the city of Ziklag.
The Cherethites: These were a Philistine people dwelling in the south along the sea coast. Some have suppsed that the name "Crethites" which represents the Hebrew more accurately, came originally from the island of Crete. Capthor is identified with the home of the Philistines (Amos 9:7) and may have been identical with the island of Crete.
Swear to me by God: The Hebrew here for God is elohim which simply means "gods" and was commonly used among the pagans.
I will bring you down to this band: The Egyptian's accurate knowledge of the route taken by the Amalekites and his clear account of the raids shows that this Egyptian was a person of no ordinary abilities. He most likely was a merchant or trader who knew the land well and was captured in some border feud.
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