“Balance”

 Background

We find David and 400 men have defeated the entire invading army of Amalekites. He killed everyone save 400 men running away on Camels.

“18And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

19And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

20And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.” (1 Samuel 30:18-20)

David not only rescued all that belonged to him and his army, he brought back more.

This was not David’s doing and he knew it, it was God’s promise fulfilled. David had been losing his balance from the first time Saul threw a spear at him. Every time David fell out of balance God led him back. The problems David has faced come back in the middle of victory.

The Brook

David and his 400 arrive at the brook where 200 of his men had stopped, because they were “faint”. If took the original 600 to move at 25 miles per day for three days, then with no resupply at Ziklag they had to move quickly to rescue the kidnapped families. To be physically “faint” is one thing, to be spiritually “faint” would be something else. It is possible they stopped because they no longer wanted to follow David? We don’t know.

“Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.” (1 Samuel 30:22)

The greed of man is manifest.

David replies, “23Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

24For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” (1 Samuel 30:23-24)

Leaving 200 behind at the brook was part of God’s plan, which is two fold. Had David pressed on and ordered the 200 to stay with him, his army would have moved slower carrying the faint and supplies with him. The men being left at the brook also shows how God forgives us, no matter how slow we are.

David makes his command to his army a statute, “And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.” (1 Samuel 30:25)

David now tours Judah and shares the spoils with them. When God gives to us, we are to give to others.

Stay Tuned…