“The Chase”

 “Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” (1 Samuel 30:4)

BACKGROUND

When we first met David he was full of himself. Cute little shepherd boy tending his father’s sheep. He killed a lion. He killed a giant. He played the harp. He killed tens of thousands. He ducked Saul’s spear. He played a mean harp..but I said that already. David followed God. David made a poor choice when he fled to the Philistines to escape from Saul. Now David faces the consequences.

Sadness

David’s men were in debt, they had lost stature in Israel, now they had lost their families and possessions. All of the hope that had put in David was gone. Their sadness turned to anger.

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6)

David’s sadness would certainly have turned to anger as well. However, he made a much better choice by turning to God for direction.

“And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” (1 Samuel 30:8)

The Egyptian

David departed Ziklag in pursuit of the Amalekites and took his army of 600 with him. It had taken 3 days to arrive at Ziklag entirely by foot. They traveled 25 miles per day to get there. They left Ziklag with only the food they had carried.

When David and his army arrive at a brook, 200 of his men were so tired they were not able to cross a small obstacle. That is what stops many of us in the world. So often the smallest obstacle becomes an excuse to stop following God and just sit.

David continues on with his army now reduced to 400 men, not by battle, but by their weakness. David does not tarry to admonish the 200, he keeps on going.

After crossing the brook, David’s men found an Egyptian in a field. David could have coerced the Egyptian with torture and abuse, which is certainly something many with David would have wanted, but David took a different approach.

David showed the Egyptian kindness.

“11And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;

12And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.” (1 Samuel 30:11-12)

David asks the Egyptian if he knew where the kidnappers had gone. The Egyptian promises to tell David, if David will not harm him, or return him to his master. David agrees. The Egyptian takes David to exactly where the kidnappers are.

David had inspired trust between the Egyptians and himself based on the kindness David had shown.

Stay Tuned…