1 Samuel 30:1–31:13. David Finds Strength In The Lord His God – Message and Questions

1 Samuel 30:1–31:13                                                                                                        Lesson 18

Key Verse: 30:6                                                                                                                 Kevin E. Jesmer

^“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.”

      When David and his men returned home, they found that tragedy had struck. They wept aloud until they had no more strength to weep. But David found strength in the Lord. He first asked the Lord what to do. Then, with clear direction from the Lord, he pursued the Amalekites and recovered everything. In contrast to David’s victorious life of faith, unrepentant Saul did not experience such a victory however. In the heat of battle, Saul fell on his own sword and died. The Philistines put his armor in the temple of their god and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. How tragic! But in the midst of Saul’s tragic story, we will find some valiant and noble men who truly knew how to be thankful, the men of Jabesh Gilead, who risked their lives to recover the bodies of Saul and his sons. In studying this passage, may we learn to depend on God in prayer, turn to him in times of distress and truly experience God’s glorious victory into our lives. May we also remember God’s grace and the gracious deeds of servants of God. God bless you.

Part l: David Inquires Of The Lord (30:1-20)

David and his men found a very disheartening situation. Look at verses 30:1–3,  “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, ² and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.  ³ When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.” The Amalekites took advantage of David’s weak moment and attacked.  They were about 80 km away (50 miles). David and his men returned to find that all things were plundered and their families were taken.

They were overcome with sorrow upon sorrow. Look at verse 4, “So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.” David also was affected. Look at 30:5, “David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.” They would probably be sold as slaves or become someone else’s wives. All 600 men cried. Who can blame them for their sorrow? In the movie, “The Patriot” one of the American guerilla soldiers, committed suicide on the spot, when he discovered his homestead and his family were destroyed by the British army. This kind of crying is not good because it ended in bitterness. But their sorrow should not end in bitterness or suicide. It should in renewed faith in the Lord.

David’s men did not respond spiritually to their sorrow. Look at 30:6a, “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters….” They were so bitter in spirit. They blamed David for bringing them into this situation. They did not turn to God. They did not pray. They did not try to learn a spiritual lesson from their tragic situation. There is some sorrow that leads bitterness and there is sorrow that is called godly sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 reads, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” When we become sorrowful while we remain in Jesus, then that sorrow can actually leads us to repentance, to faith, and ultimately to God. Think about Horatio Spafford, the author of the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul”. When he traveled over the spot where his wife and children drowned, he did not lash out at the shipping industry. He did not become helpless in his own bitterness. He drew close to God and wrote a timeless hymn to encourage countless people.

The rejection of these men was hard for David to bear. These men were the only people in the world that David could trust. They were his confidents, his comrades. But now he could not even trust them. He felt all alone. David could have been rough and threatened his men. He could have taken the ring leaders and executed them for insubordination. But he did not. It is useless to look for someone to blame or criticize. What could he do, but only turn to God? Verse 6b reads, First, “…David found strength in the LORD his God.” David saw all of this as God’s training. He rested in the knowledge of the sovereignty of God. He asked God’s help. Only strength in the Lord could help him at this time.

Second, David maintained a shepherd heart towards his men. Even though they wanted to stone him, he loved them unconditionally. He knew what they were going through. He reminds us of Jesus. Shepherds need to know what their Bible students are going through and not get mad at them, but help them to turn to God and find their solutions in Christ. And he must do so, even if his Bible students blame and criticize him. Such is the heart of a true shepherd.

Third, David called out to God and God answered. He prayed to “his” God. (6b) It reveals that he had a deep, personal relationship with God. His personal God was with him. We need to pray, not to an unknown, generic God, but to “my God”. If we humble ourselves and pray then God will listen to our prayers.  2 Chronicles 7:13-15 reads, “”When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, ¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ¹⁵ Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” Let us learn how to pray like David.

      Psalm 18:1–6 reveals what is means to find strength in God.  David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: ^“I love you, O LORD, my strength. ² The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. ³ I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. ⁴ The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. ⁵ The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. ⁶ In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” (1984 NIV) Think about all the ways that God has heard your prayer and is delivering you. God is keeping you as a Christian in your college years. He is keeping your purity. He is keeping you in Christ. He is helping you in your school work and finals. He is providing the resources for you to pass school and live a spiritual life. He is helping you to complete your Christian mission. Thank God and trust God as you pray and live by faith.

       David consulted a servant of God to find wise counsel. Look at verses 7–8, “Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, ‘Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him,’” David didn’t go to the tabernacle to ask the Lord for guidance because it was Saul’s territory. Therefore he called for the ephod and the priest. When David called for the Ephod he was really asking for the urim and thummim, which were kept in a pouch attached to ephod. Only the priest could carry and use the urim and the thummim. In the presence of the priest and this priestly garment, he asked God for direction. When David humbly prayed, God gave him clear direction in verse 8, “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.’”  Let us be humble and ask God and others for direction, always. God will definitely show us the way.

When David prayed to God and trusted in God, God began to work in miraculous ways. First, God provided an informant to give him vital information. Look at verses 11–15, “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, ‘To whom do you belong, and 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 and the 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.’” The Amalekites treated this slave cruelly by abandoning him in the desert to die when he was sick.  But David and his men treated the young man kindly, and he returned the kindness by leading them to the enemy. There is a principle here. “Little friends may prove great friends.” and “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_and_the_Mouse)We need to treat those we meet with respect and dignity no matter how insignificant they may seem. They may be sent by God to help you or encourage you in your life and your mission.

Second, God provided the opportune situation for victory. Look at verse 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.’” An example in American history is in Washington’s crossing of the Delaware. The American army was the underdog. But God gave Washington wisdom when he prayed. On Christmas Day 1776, Washington and 2,400 men with artillery crossed the Delaware from Pennsylvania to surprise British forces, chiefly Hessians (soldiers recruited from Germany), in their quarters north of Trenton, New Jersey. They had been celebrating Christmas Eve. They were hung over and tired. Washington and he forces fought and then killed the Hessian commander, Col. Johann Rall, and took 946 prisoners and their weapons. His crossing of the Delaware River and defeat of the British in New Jersey was a miracle from God given to a praying commander. It checked the British advance toward Philadelphia and restored American morale.  (http://www.answers.com/topic/washington-crossing-the-delaware)

Part  ll : David Respected Everyone’s Contribution (9-10; 21-25)

       Not everyone had the strength to follow God’s direction. But that was O.K. Look at verses 9–10, “David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind, ¹⁰ for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit.” Though 200 stayed behind, I’m sure they provided some support service for the rest of the troops. Not everyone is endowed with the same physical strength and endurance. But not everyone in David’s party realized this.

After the battle some to the men thought that those who stayed behind did not deserve anything. Look at verses 21-25, “Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. 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 handed over to us the forces 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.”  These 200 men surely would have fought if they could have. David understood this and he made a law that those who stayed with the supplies were to be treated equally with those who fought in battle. Thank God who raises up shepherds for us so that we don’t have to be ruled by evil people.

Though we may think that we are fighting all alone, we need to stop and realize that it takes lots of people to provide the support service needed for every soldier in battle. Without bookkeepers, secretaries, trainers, and administers, civic leaders cannot do their job. Without a congregation and fellowship leaders and elders a pastor will have no one to preach to, nor a church to run.  We must recognize and never forget those who are backing us up. Never fall into the trap of thinking that it is only you who are doing the work of God. On the flip side, we must know that if God has called us to a supportive role, then we are serving a very important purpose.

David was fair and he gave many of God’s people a share of the plunder. Look at verses 26–31, “When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, ‘Here is a present for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.’ ²⁷ He sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; ²⁸ to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa ²⁹ and Racal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; ³⁰ to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach ³¹ and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where David and his men had roamed.”  David felt that all of God’s people contributed to the victory. They were the Lord’s people and God’s victory belongs to everyone. David had an all inclusive attitude.

Part ll: David’s Qualities As A Shepherd

We can learn many things concerning David’s shepherd heart. First, David was a shepherd to one needy person. The Egyptian was a slave. He was weak and about to die. David fed him and listened to him and cared about him. He was merciful and God blessed him. Second, David was a shepherd for all people. He was just and fair. He even allowed evil men and trouble makers to be part of his group. He overcame his natural desire to crush them and exclude them. He always planted faith and reminded them that God gave them the victory. Third, David was fair and he gave them their share. They were also the Lord’s people and God’s victory belongs to everyone.

Forth, David was also a man who prayed to God and found his strength in God. Let us grow to be good shepherds like David.

Part lll: Saul’s Tragic End (31:1-7)

In 31:1–7 we find the tragic end of Saul.In the end, Saul committed suicide. His armor bearer committed suicide too. Why did he want to commit suicide? The Philistines had a reputation for torturing their captives. Think about Sampson’s fate in Judges 16:18-31. He had his eyes burned out. He was mocked and subjected to slave labor. Saul did not want to risk physical mutilation or other abuses.

     This tragic end had been predicted early by God. Remember 28:17–18, “The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. ¹⁸ Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. ¹⁹ The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines.”  Saul had ample time to make things right with God. And God surely would have relented. Saul knew the advice that God gave to Cain in Genesis 4:6-7, “Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.’” The reason for Saul’s destruction is clearly stated in 1Chronicles 10:13–14, “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, ¹⁴ and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” This is the essential reason. Saul was just too proud and stubborn to do what was right before God. He trampled on the grace of God. Saul looked impressive on the outside. He was tall, handsome, strong, rich and powerful, but all of this was not enough to make him a shepherd king for Israel. He was tall physically, but he was small in God’s eyes. He was handsome, but his sin made him ugly. He was strong, but his lack of faith made him weak. He was rich but he was spiritually empty. He could command an army, but he could not command their respect or allegiance. His tragic end should have been no surprise.

Part lV: The Noble Deeds Of Thankful Men (31:8-13)

Out of this tragic event comes a story of great nobility of heart. Look at verses 8–13; “The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. ¹⁰ They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. ¹¹ When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all their valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. ¹³ Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.”  Though Saul has done some awful things before God, the people of Jabesh Gilead never forgot the wonderful things that Saul did for them when he rescued them from the cruel Nahash King of the Ammonites. They never forgot the great debt they owed Saul. They bravely rescued Saul’s and Jonathan’s bodies from dishonor. We must take a lesson from them and always remember God’s grace given to us through others and be graceful, thankful people who can do noble deeds for the glory of God.

In conclusion, in our times of trial and sorrow, let us turn to God and grow in faith. Let us learn to pray and seek God’s guidance and strength. Let us respect and honor every contribution of servants of God and share the victory with all God’s people. Let us take a lesson from men of Jabesh Gilead and be thankful for all the grace poured out on us from God and from others. Most of all, may we become shepherd-like leaders like David, to the glory of God.

1. What did David and his men find back at Ziklag? (30:1–3) How much did they weep? (30:4) What was David’s personal tragedy? (30:5) Why did his loyal men suddenly turn on him? (30:6a) At this worst moment, what did David do? (30:6b)

2.  What does “his God” show us about David’s faith? What does it mean to find strength in God? (Ps18:1–6) When we are in deep distress, how can we find strength in God?

3.   After gaining strength in God, what did David do, and how did God answer? (30:7–8) Who didn’t go with him, and why? (30:9–10) How did he restore everything? (30:11–20)

4.  What did some troublemakers say, of what did David remind them, and what rule did he make? (30:21–25) What did he do for those who had helped him? (30:26–31) What can we learn from David’s character as a leader?

• SAUL’S TRAGIC END (31:1-13)

5.  How were Samuel’s words fulfilled in what happened to Saul and his sons? (31:1–7) What caused Saul’s tragic end? (28:17–18; 1Ch10:13–14) What did the people of Jabesh Gilead do, and why? (31:8–13; 11:1–11)