1 Samuel 30

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Read 1 Samuel 30

David Destroys the Amalekites

1 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. 10 Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.

11 They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat— 12 part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.

13 David asked him, “Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?”

He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. 14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag.”

15 David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?”

He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.”

16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. 17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.”

23 David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.

26 When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.”

27 David sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; 28 to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa 29 and Rakal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; 30 to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athak 31 and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where he and his men had roamed.

Go Deeper

Returning home after being away for a period of time always feels good. Home feels safe. Home includes the ones we love. However, imagine if that wasn’t the case, like in our story today for David. David returned home and his home had been completely destroyed and burned. Everything and everyone had vanished. What a helpless, heartbreaking feeling! It’s no wonder upon returning to Ziklag, David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 

After weeping until we could weep no more, what would we have done next? Call the police? Visit neighbors? Get angry and lash out at God? We see in today’s story that David turned to God. He recognized that the only strength he could muster would have to come completely from God (1 Samuel 30:6). In his moment of despair, David knew God remained steadfast. So David found strength in the Lord, and with the help of the priest Abiathar and the ephod (a special apron priests wore), David inquired of the Lord and the Lord answered. We have this same ability to communicate with our Lord and Savior. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for each of us, we do not have to seek out a priest for help. Through the Holy Spirit living inside us, we can call on God in any and all moments of pain, hurt, and despair (Psalm 145:18-20, Romans 10:13).

God gave David complete victory and David recovered everything and everyone taken by the Amalekites. David’s strength in the Lord resulted in yet another instance of God’s grace and mercy. And David’s decision to share all that was recovered with all of the men, including those that did not go to battle, reminds us of the godly call to generosity. Through David, God reminds us that all that we have belongs to Him. He gives us above and beyond what we need; His mercy and grace are sufficient for the battles we face.

Questions

  1. What are specific steps you can take to strengthen yourself in the Lord?
  2. When was the last time you experienced something disappointing and you immediately turned to God? How can you more quickly turn to God instead of other coping mechanisms?
  3. David shared all that was recovered. What are you good at sharing? In what areas do you need to work on generosity? 

Watch This

Please enjoy the lyric video of MercyMe’s “You Are I Am” which talks about so many of God’s characteristics revealed in 1 Samuel.  

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3 thoughts on “1 Samuel 30”

  1. Ella Snodgrass

    David’s story reminds me that we are in one of 3 places, headed into a trial, in the midst of a trial, or coming out of a trial. God is sovereign in all 3 places and we, like David, can find strength in the Lord our God. Today, I want to wholeheartedly pursue knowing Him and his character/nature so that I can inform my heart where to firmly stand at all times.

  2. I’m so thankful for this personal glimpse of David’s emotions. When I read that David wept until there wasn’t any strength left, I immediately remembered doing the same many times after my spouse’s death. When I was with my Christian friends I would feel strengthened. But when alone, weakness and hopelessness would come over me. On my knees I would cry out to God in desperation. He always brought peace and I would feel strong. It is amazing what God can do when we cry out to Him. After reading this scripture the following song came to mind:

    My life is in You Lord
    My strength is in You Lord
    My hope is in You Lord
    In You it’s in You!

    I will praise You
    With all of my life
    I will praise You
    With all of my strength
    With all of my life
    With all of my strength
    All of my hope is in You

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