Strength in the LORD

You can tell what’s really in a person - who they really are - by the way they respond to pressure.

Pressure is revelatory.

You can learn a lot about a guy by watching how he responds to pressure.

People are fascinating. Because you can know someone for years without really ever knowing who they are. But given the right circumstances, you can know someone comprehensively though you only met them 15 minutes ago. Because pressure is revelatory.

In the American Revolutionary War, a few significant figures coveted General George Washington’s position as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Most notable among them was General Charles Lee, whose military experience dwarfed General Washington’s. He was sharp-witted and sharp-tongued, and was, at least on paper, much more qualified to lead the patriots to victory. In fact, Lee wasn’t chosen over Washington in part because he wanted a salary, and Washington was willing to work without pay. So Lee was placed as second in command.

In the American Revolutionary War, a few notable figures coveted General George Washington’s position as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Most notable among them was General Charles Lee, whose military experience dwarfed General Washington’s. He was sharp-witted and sharp-tongued, and was, at least on paper, exponentially more qualified to lead the patriots to victory. Though second in command, Lee undermined Washington’s influence at every turn. His distrust of Washington’s leadership was evident in every meeting, loomed behind every decision.

Do you want to know

1 Samuel 29:1–11 ESV

Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

When I was seventeen I joined the Army. From day one I was always the odd duck, because I was two heads taller than most and super, super lanky. I was the anti-athlete. Not a competitive bone in my body. But I was surrounded by varsity athletes. Wrestlers and linebackers, guys who had been training for the bulk of their adolescent life. Born to win, letter jacket and all. I mean, a lot of these guys were rock hard. And boy, were they arrogant.

Lee was haughty, overconfident in his own military genius, and undermined Washington’s influence at every turn. His distrust of Washington’s leadership was evident in every meeting, loomed behind every decision.

In the American Revolutionary War, a few notable figures coveted General George Washington’s position as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Most notable among them was General Charles Lee, whose military experience dwarfed General Washington’s. He was sharp-witted and sharp-tongued, and was, at least on paper, exponentially more qualified to lead the patriots to victory. Though second in command, Lee undermined Washington’s influence at every turn. His distrust of Washington’s leadership was evident in every meeting, loomed behind every decision.

The war efforts were reaching a turning point when Washington received word that the bulk of the British forces were relocating from the more vulnerable occupation of Philadelphia to a safer, more secure occupation in New York. Thousands of soldiers, and an immeasurable wealth of supplies would be, for a short time, vulnerable while traversing the American countryside.

Washington gathered his council and proposed a full scale movement against the Redcoats. Immediately Lee resisted, claiming that any offensive against a British force this size was ridiculous and foolhardy. Washington disagreed, and commanded the bulk of his forces to fall upon the rear of the supply line, while a force of 5,000 patriots would cut off the advance of the troop movement. Even though he initially refused to participate in the assault at all, Lee eventually demanded to command the initial force. He was hungry for glory.

When Washington and his men arrived, Lee’s men were running in the opposite direction in retreat, terrified of the advancing British force. This force of 5,000 of America’s finest were abandoning their position and fleeing in fear. So when Washington met Lee on the battlefield, he immediately relieved him of his command, and rode his while steed before the retreating men, shouting, “STAND FAST, MY BOYS, AND RECEIVE YOUR ENEMY. THE SOUTHERN TROOPS ARE ADVANCING TO SUPPORT YOU!” While Lee fled in terror, Washington rallied the fleeing soldiers, led them into battle, and brought fury and fire upon the Redcoat forces until the day was spent. This was the Battle of Monmouth, and it changed the course of the American Revolutionary war.

The sun beat down that day, over 100 degrees. Pressure. The mightiest military force in the world loomed on the horizon. Pressure. An untested force faced near certain death. Pressure.

The reason I’m telling you this story is to illustrate that pressure can work to strip away the facade we work so hard to construct and to expose us for who we really are. The pressure at the Battle of Monmouth was revelatory. For General Charles Lee, the pressure exposed a heart of cowardice, hungry for glory but terrified of death. For General George Washington, the pressure at Monmouth revealed unshakable conviction, fiery courage, and unparalleled leadership.

It took my wife and I five years to realize that 99% of our arguments began when one of us was tired or hungry. It isn’t because physical fatigue or hunger create selfishness or malice or envy in our hearts. It’s because malice was there, selfishness was there, envy was there already. It takes pressure to draw out the ugliness.

Pressure is revelatory. And we’re going to see that play out in our passage this morning.

Turn with me to . Let’s read together.

1 Samuel 29:1–11 ESV

Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Especially Smith.

On a particularly hard day, our platoon had been broken down and completely humiliated. All. Day. Long. The punishment didn’t stop. We were exhausted, mentally, physically, and emotionally. No end in sight.

English Standard Version Chapter 30

Now 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 2 and 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. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 And 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.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And 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.” 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

11 They 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, 12 and 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. 13 And 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. 14 We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.” 15 And 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.”

David Defeats the Amalekites

16 And 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. 17 And 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. 18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” 25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD.” 27 It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, 28 in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, 29 in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, 30 in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, 31 in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

And then I heard Smith screaming. Smith was a wrestler. He was strong, he was tough, and he was full of himself. Always bowed up. Always ready to fight. Chiefly concerned with being the strongest, the fastest, the best. Nobody gets in his way.

Naturally, I assumed he was injured, because Smith never showed weakness. But in a few moments the wailing materialized into these words:

“I want my momma! I want my mommaaaaaaa!”

Look, prior to that moment, you ask any soldier in my platoon who they wanted to go to battle alongside, Smith made the list every time. Strong, confident, competitive, eager to prove himself. But the pressure mounted, and what was deep down rose to the surface. We saw the facade for what it was.

1 Samuel 29:1–11 ESV

Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

1 Samuel 30:1–31 ESV

Now 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 and 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. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And 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. And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And 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.” So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor. They 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, and 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. And 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. We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.” And 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.” And 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. And 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. David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David’s spoil.” Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day. When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord.” It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

And I’ll never forget the wailing.

Okay, let’s get started.

So this story is divided into two chapters. But chapter markers in the Bible aren’t typically a huge help - they were added much, much later - and in this case they’re not helpful at all. Because this is actually one long story. Chapter 29 operates as a preface to Chapter 30. Chapter 29 answers all of the important questions we’d ask about the action in Chapter 30, and it connects the story we’re reading to the story we’ve just read in a truly fascinating way.

I think the simplest way to divide this passage is by scene. There are five scenes in this passage, and we’re going to address them one by one.

The battlefield

The burning village

The chase

The return

The celebration

So this story opens on the same battlefield that’s haunted the the final scenes of Saul’s life. Saul’s mighty enemy, the Philistines, have risen against the people of Israel in a big way, and a terrifying army looms on the horizon. So terrifying, in fact, that Saul risks his life to flee beyond the boundaries of Israel in order to seek the counsel of a pagan medium. He’s so desperate for supernatural counsel that he violates the covenant, and condemns himself, his sons, and his people to ruin. It’s a testimony of the might of the Philistine force, and it’s a testimony of the foolishness of the cursed king of Israel.

I love what the author is doing here. Because he begins this story by staging the Philistines at Aphek, the supply grounds for their military assault against Israel. At the same time, Saul and his forces are staging at Jezreel. And what that means is that this story begins a few days prior to Saul’s story in chapter 28. The author means for us to understand that David and his men were sent home from the battlefield while Saul and his men are approaching the battlefield. In other words, the two stories are happening at the same time. As David and his men are sent away from battle, Saul and his men approach the front lines. Think about the battlefield not merely in terms of two armies, readying themselves for bloody war. Think about the battlefield in terms of two kings. Saul, the broken, cursed king of Israel, facing unspeakable losses. David, the true, coming king of Israel, facing unspeakable losses. Saul is pacing toward a terrifying enemy, knowingly, David is pacing toward a terrifying enemy, unknowingly.

There’s also a heavy tone of irony in this first scene. Because David is sent away because the Philistines suspect that he will rise in defense of the people of Israel. They rightly identify that David’s driving passion is to see the people of God liberated from their enemies. Meanwhile, Saul is steadily working against the people of Israel. By turning from God, by abandoning the covenant, he curses the people of Israel and condemns them to death on the battlefield. The suspected motives of David should have been the true motives of Saul. But Saul doesn’t care about the people of Israel. Saul has abandoned the people and become a curse to them.

Another funny moment here. Achish pulls David aside apologetically. And listen to his words. ““As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day.” Literally everything he says here is the opposite of the truth. He swears - by the LORD, mind you - that David has been honest from the outset (he hasn’t). He declares that the right thing to do would be to allow David to fight against his people (he’s wrong). He says that he has detected nothing off about David from the day he fled to Gath (in other words, he’s blind). David himself is cunning, crafty, strategic, while Achish is blind as a bat.

Now what’s most fascinating about David’s relationship to Achish is how remarkably similar it is to David’s relationship with Saul. In both cases, he’s stationed as chief bodyguard, in both cases, he’s sent away, and in both cases, David is the superior. Truly, this is the better King.

And

The battlefield scene ends when David and his men begin a long march back to Ziklag. And what they find there incites overwhelming despair.

Can you imagine? Arriving home after a day’s journey to find smoldering ruin. No one remains, only smoke and ashes. Their sons, their daughters, their wives, their livelihoods, their possessions. Everything is gone. Few in our society have known this suffering. Unimaginable loss, in a moment.

When the men arrive, they weep until there isn’t strength left in their bodies. They imagine all is lost. They imagine everything that they’ve worked toward is futile. They imagine only sorrow for their remaining days. They weep, and they despair, and they turn on David in bitterness and wrath.

This is, surely, David’s darkest hour. All of those whom he has sheltered, all of those who have commited themselves to his coming kingdom, all of those he’s fought alongside weep in sober desperation, and begin to speak of taking his life. Remember, David too had lost everything. David, too, had lost his family, his possessions, and his hopes were crumbling.

Truly, this sort of pressure is unparalleled. And what does David do, faced with total destruction, faced with the loss of all that he loves, faced with the betrayal of his closest friends?

David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

That’s what he did. When all was lost, David sought strength in the LORD. Despite overwhelming suffering. He sought strength in the LORD his God.

Remember the timeline. Remember that at this moment Saul, as the red dusk settles, Saul is stripping off his royal robes and fleeing the boundaries of Israel to seek counsel from the wicked. Just at this moment, both kings have lost all. Just at this moment, both kings face near certain death.

Saul abandons the covenant, breaks faith with God and with the people of Israel, and pursues wicked means for even the distant promise of safety.

Not David. David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Look, that contrast - that juxtaposition is the point of this passage. What makes David the better man? What makes David the man after God’s heart?

Both professed faith in the God of Israel. Both attended worship feasts. Both sacrificed by the priests. Both sought counsel from the prophets.

What makes David the man after God’s heart?

When the pressure mounts, and all is surely lost, David strengthens himself in the LORD his God.

That’s the sort of King we need. We need a King who strengthens himself in the LORD his God while rescuing God’s people. We need a King who presses on in faith despite suffering, who steels his strength and looks to the joy set before him. We need a King characterized by prayer in moments of intense suffering. That’s the sort of King we need.

And that’s the point of this passage. But do you want to hear what I think is truly magical about this story?

Everything that follows is a foreshadow of what awaits those who do likewise. Follow the King after God’s heart, and all that you’ve lost will be restored.

Follow the King after God’s heart, and all that you’ve lost will be restored.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

So David - who’s facing overwhelming despair, a mutinous force, and the loss of all that he loves - turns to God for strength. He takes a moment to weep. And then, the fiery eyes of the King seek the priest, because it’s time to go to war.

You should read these words, “Bring me the ephod,” you should read these words with fire behind them. Because this is wrath embodied. David is, above all things, a warrior. And, above all things, he seeks the good of his people. When David seeks the LORD his God and asks for permission to seek out those who have stolen the joy of his people, he does so in the fullness of the Spirit who is holy, by the might of the God who is strong. The anointed rises to protect his people, the wrath and might of God manifest in the strong King’s arm, mighty to save.

Listen to God’s words. “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”

Step back from the situation of this passage for a moment and trace the shadow. The promised messiah, the Son of God approaches the Father. “Go,” he says, “you shall surely rescue.” What a lovely foreshadow of the work of the coming King, and the God who commissions him.

Remember Saul. Considering the distance that David and his men travelled, David’s prayers must have been offered around the same time that Saul was swearing against the LORD and demanding to see Samuel’s spirit. Throughout this story, we’re given a vision of the truly fundamental distinction between Saul and David. Because pressure is revelatory.

Now if you step back from this moment and count the hours it must have taken to march from the battlefield to Ziklag, if you consider the time it must have taken to comb through the smoldering ruins weeping and searching for family, you’ll find that David and Saul are seeking answers at the same time. David reaches out to the LORD his God for counsel, b

So as soon as God blesses their mission, David and his warriors ride in fury. But remember, they’ve now been marching day and night, and spent themselves weeping. These men are exhausted. And a third of their number can’t continue for the entire journey. So David allows them to remain with the supplies, and the remaining warriors speed in pursuit.

So I want you to imagine what it must have felt like, chasing desperately after the wicked men who have stolen your wife, your child, who have burned your home and stolen all that you love. Imagine the immediacy they must have felt. Imagine the pressure building as you wonder whether your loved ones are safe! And yet, in the midst of a most desperate chase, David pauses to serve the suffering. An Egyptian, left for dead, weak and thirsty, starving to death in the wilderness. David gives him bread to eat, and water to drink. A cake of figs and clusters of raisins. Knowing that this man may very well have lit the match that burned down his village, David exhibits mercy toward the suffering.

Surely he deserved death! Surely he would be the first to feel the fire of David’s vengeance.

Perhaps he remembered these words from the Law -

Leviticus 19:34 ESV

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Perhaps David was responding in obedience to care for the suffering sojourner, knowing that he, too, was a sojourner in a foreign land. In either case, in the midst of unimaginable suffering, David cares for those in need. This moment reminds me of Jesus, who - from the cross! - gives comfort to a dying thief and arranges care for his widowed mother.

The care given to the dying Egyptian yields dividends, because David and his men soon learn that this Egyptian was a servant to one of the raiders, and has insider information related to their whereabouts. After promising his safety, they set off once again, this time with a guide.

All the building fury of David and his men, elite warriors now seasoned in battle, fell upon the men who burned their village. “David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day.” Over the course of a full day, the Amalekites were totally defeated. When David arrived, these men were drinking and dancing, swimming in riches. Within a day, all was lost to them, and only four hundred thieves escape. A reminder that the judgment of God awaits the wicked, swift and final.

Miraculously, nothing was missing. Nothing, great or small. Every son and daughter and wife, their flocks and possessions. All that they’d lost was restored to them on that day, and more. These raiders had hit Ziklag as the final stop on a long series of raids. When David and his men declared victory over this Amalekite hoard, they inherited the spoils of an extraordinarily profitable conquest. David and his men were now swimming in wealth. And the men who were ready to stone him bow in honor, declaring that “This is David’s spoil.”

Another obstacle presents itself on their return from combat. If we didn’t suspect that some of David’s men were themselves scoundrels, we do now. Perhaps the same men who suggested that David be stoned at Ziklag now refuse to surrender the spoils of war to those who were too exhausted to continue on the chase.

At the burning village, when David responds to mutiny in prayer, the pressure was revelatory. Truly this is a faithful King! In pursuit of his enemies, when David encounters a dying man, the pressure was revelatory. Truly this is a merciful King! At the raider’s camp, when David fought with all his strength to defend his people, truly this King is mighty to save!

Remember that these men have been travelling at breakneck speed, exhausting themselves in chase, and then fought with all their might for over 24 hours. They risked their lives to save their own, and now they return to men who have enjoyed several days of rest. Pressure. A division in his troops threatens to compromise this day of celebration. Pressure.

Remember that these men have been travelling at breakneck speed, exhausting themselves in chase, and then fought with all their might for over 24 hours. Pressure. A division in his troops threatens to compromise this day of celebration. Pressure.

The trials haven’t altogether ceased, apparently, because as these men ride home with their loved ones and extraordinary wealth, a conflict arises among the troops. When they encounter those two hundred soldiers who couldn’t continue in the chase because of their exhaustion, a number of the victors suggest that they shouldn’t share the spoils of war.

David’s response

Now, for me this is an important connection. Because we were told that, when David first fled to the pagan wilderness, many of the lowest order of people were drawn to him. Bitter in heart, indebted, social outcasts. From the outset, David’s men were the least of these, those who had failed society’s tests. And that’s basically all the information we’re given about the nature and character of David’s mighty men, for now.

But as the story progresses, we hear brilliant stories of might and valor. That week we stole glimpses from much later in the story, when David’s mighty men are revered for their bravery, their exploits are legendary.

This passage is between this point and that. And the reason I’m glad this story is here is because it teaches us that David’s men, who were drawn to him as bitter social outcasts, didn’t miraculously evolve into soldiers of virtue overnight. The text says, “all the wicked and worthless fellows among them.” Those are strong words. And they’re true words. Because this is now two major divisions within David’s forces in less than 48 hours, both driven by misguided demands for justice.

But David exhibits the justice of God. Yet again, in the midst of trial, David’s character shines bright. And the theme of the passage swells brightly - this is the coming King. A King after God’s own heart.

See, at every moment, David’s response to suffering, to fear, to trial, has become a brilliant display of his virtue.

At the burning village, when David responds to mutiny in prayer, the pressure was revelatory. Truly this is a faithful King! In pursuit of his enemies, when David encounters a dying man, the pressure was revelatory. Truly this is a merciful King! At the raider’s camp, when David fought with all his strength to defend his people, truly this King is mighty to save!

And this display is unfolding at precisely the same moment that Saul, the king like the nations, is selling out his people and cursing his throne.

The story draws to a close when David and his men arrive in Ziklag, all of their possessions and families in tact. All of the overwhelming wealth of this conquest have been given to David, who might have merely settled down and enjoyed an early retirement. But that’s not the way of the coming King.

David sends gifts to all of the elders of Judah. He says, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD.” This is a final nail in Saul’s coffin. The true King of Israel is granted victory by the mercy of God, fights valiantly by the might of God, and gives generously to the people of God.

Not Saul. Saul curses the people by rejecting the covenant, and he leads them to slaughter.

So judge for yourself. Who is the worthy king? Which king is best? Which king is worthy of allegiance? Which king will lead the people in mercy, generosity, and justice?

This story, like all of the stories in Samuel, are meant to force you to draw comparisons.

David was faithful. Saul was faithless.

David was courageous. Saul was a coward.

David was kind. Saul was ruthless.

David was mighty. Saul was weak.

David was just. Saul was wicked.

Saul was impatient. David waited on God.

Saul sought mediums. David sought God.

Saul broke the covenant. David honored the covenant.

Saul trembled in fear. David rallied in hope.

When the pressure mounted - fear, suffering, pain, exhaustion - when the pressure mounted the true character of these two kings were on display.

David is a king after God’s own heart. David is a foreshadow of the true King of Israel.

Look at Saul! This is what the world’s kings are like! The end of Saul is a grim reminder that the nations of this world have nothing to offer you. If you set your hope in this world, your end will be like his. Will you declare allegiance to a king like this? Will you set your hope in a kingdom like his?

I want to be precise here, because I make broad statements like this all the time and rarely stop to reflect.

You are tempted daily to work toward, to hope in, to bet on this present kingdom. It is the nature of this kingdom - always seeking your affection, your total allegiance. You must decide, every day, that you are a temporary resident, or your affection for this kingdom will swell and overrule your hope in Christ’s kingdom.

You will have opportunity to work too many hours, on the promise of great wealth, though it means perhaps sacrificing those things which the scriptures teach are more important. Don’t do it. That king isn’t worthy.

You will have opportunity to spend all of your money on you, on your family, on your American Dream, though you’ve been called to generosity, though you’ve been called to invest in the coming kingdom. Don’t do it. That king isn’t worthy.

You will have opportunity to indulge your passions. People will flirt with you. Netflix will tell you that it’s 98% sure you’ll love this movie. Ads will promise instant sexual gratification without consequence. Don’t do it. That king isn’t worthy.

And every day, you will have opportunity to neglect the call to die. It’s easier to sleep in than get up. Talking about Jesus to the kids is awkward. I don’t know what to say when I try to pray. I’ve given enough this month. I’d lose my job if I spoke to him about Jesus. Stop. Stop feeling comfortable in this kingdom. Stop investing in this kingdom. That king isn’t worthy.

Look at David! This is what the coming King of Israel is like! This is a grim shadow of the glory of the coming Christ, who, like David, will persevere through suffering. This is a glimpse of the coming Christ, who, like David, will strengthen himself in the LORD his God while facing certain death. Look at David! This is a picture of the coming Christ, who will, like David, show mercy to the hopeless. Watch David save his people! This is a picture of the coming Christ, who will declare total victory over the wicked, and who will restore all that was lost - even more! Take note of David! See how he generously shares his wealth with his people! This is a foreshadow of the coming Kingdom of Christ! He has won the victory, and he will rescue his people, and they will share in his unimaginable wealth forever and ever.

Christ, the son of David, is calling you to battle. He will lead you faithfully, he will protect you perfectly. He will restore all that you’ve lost. He will share his unimaginable wealth. He will! Place your trust in him, because he’s the only king who’s worthy.

Choose your king.

Strength in the LORD

Pressure is Revelatory

The battlefield

The burning village

The chase

The return

The celebration

Judge for yourself