Year One, September 8

David Strengthened Himself in the LORD His God1

Fear got the better of David and he again made the mistake of fleeing to the land of the Philistines to escape Saul’s pursuit. He, his family, and his six hundred men and their families were kindly welcomed by King Achish of Gath and lived there for a short time. Then Achish gave them the city of Ziklag to live in. Soon war broke out between the Philistines and Israel and Achish expected David to march into battle with him against his own people. When we walk by sight and not by faith, we are sure to be placed in an embarrassing situation before long. This is what happened to David! The Lord rescued David from this difficulty. The other lords of the Philistines did not trust David and persuaded Achish to send David and his men back to Ziklag. But the Lord, in his love, chastened2 him. A sad scene was waiting for him at Ziklag.

  

1 Samuel 30:1-13; 15-18

1Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Some time before, David had said, “There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines,”3 but this only proved the foolishness of turning to humans for help. He now turns to the Lord his God. This was very different from Saul, who at this time was looking for Satan’s help by asking the witch of Endor for advice.4

7And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. (It was a good thing David always kept the priest and the ephod close to him. Otherwise, they would have been carried off with those who stayed in Ziklag. Whatever else we lose, let us stay close to Christ and his word.) 8And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” (David proved that the God of truth may be trusted, and that the heart that waits on the Lord will be comforted.)

9aSo David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor. 10bTwo hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor. (They were not equally strong. Neither are all the followers of the Lord Jesus equally full of grace. Yet our great leader is full of tenderness, and does not reject even the weakest believers. They will also have a share from his royal treasury.)

11They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, 12and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.” (Only a non-Christian master would turn their back on their servant because of illness. We should not be unconcerned about others just because they can no longer help us.)

15And David said to him, “Will you take 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 take you down to this band.”

16And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives.

David’s faith was honored. The clouds of trouble poured out showers of mercy. Our faith will be given the same honor and blessings.

^{_______________}

¹ 1 Samuel 30:6

² chasten or chastise - An act of discipline which may include pain inflicted for the purpose of correction or moral improvement.

³ 1 Samuel 27:1

⁴ This story is found in 1 Samuel 28