Sermon Tone Analysis

Getting Back on Track - 1 Samuel 29-30

PRAY

Intro?

While David is among the Philistines preparing for battle against Israel, the Lord providentially steers circumstances to deliver David and to get his attention.

David responds attentively and appropriately to get back on track.

The Lord delivers David from a no-win situation… a compromising circumstance that he has gotten himself into by moving to Philistia and aligning himself with Achish.

As ch. 29 begins, we are back in time to the same time as the beginning of chapter 28, before Saul’s consulting a medium in his desperation, when the Philistines are still mustering at Aphek (before they’ve gone up Shunem)...

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And as we said then, this is really awkward for David, faced with the prospect of displaying his loyalty to Achish by fighting against Israel.

(and there’s no commentary from the narrator about David’s thoughts or plans… we are left to feel the tension of it)

But the sensitive reader (even the original audience of 1&2 Samuel) is undoubtedly meant to notice God’s merciful, providential care to rescue David from this mess… and shortly (as we’ll see in ch.

30) to get his attention and get him back on track.

So here we are, the Philistines going off to battle against Israel, and David and his men are with Achish at the back, and what’s more, they’re actually bringing up the year.

Militarily, this was an important position bc opposing armies would often desire to “flank” their enemy (attacking them at the back while they’re focused on the front).

So the team bringing up the flank must be extremely competent, trustworthy, and brave.

When the other Philistine lords (commanders) see that this is David (by Achish’s appointment), they respond in unison…

Philistines: We don’t want David’s “help.”

(ch.

29)

Achish may trust him, but the rest of them don’t, and with good reason.

Everything they say makes perfect sense.

Again, the author makes no additional commentary (as he does other places to reveal thoughts and intentions), but one is left to agree with them, knowing that David has recently been attacking other enemies of Israel, leaving Achish none-the-wiser.

Either way, it’s four against one, so David must go home (to Ziklag).

Achish flatters David but sends him back.

In v. 6 and v. 9, where Achish essentially flatters David, it is interesting (even strange?) that he should be the one to mention Israel’s/David’s God.

These Philistines were polytheistic, so he could simply be recognizing David’s own God in his attempt to accommodate David.

Or had being around David had some impact on him?

Who knows for sure… my guess is yes David openly speaks of his allegiance to the one true God, and that yes this is primarily Achish using David’s own terminology in his flattery.

David protests but complies.

Why does David protest (v.

8)?

I have no idea.

You’d almost expect him to be thinly veiling his sigh of relief, thinking, “Phew!

Dodged that bullet!”

So maybe this is an outward show but on the inside he’s breathing a sigh of relief?

As the narrative continues, however, we find that David has a much worse situation facing him as he returns home to Ziklag:

A Harsh Reality at Home (30:1-6a)

So David returned home relieved but tired from the three-day trek… and there waiting for him was his family with excited smiles and warm embraces, a hot meal and a nice cozy fire in the fireplace.

Nope!

He and his men return to the horrific sight of the whole place having been burned to the ground.

Everything they owned was either destroyed or missing.

What’s worse, the enemies had carried off their wives and children (no doubt to make them their slaves).

These Amalekites, one of the groups whom David had raided while living in Ziklag, took advantage of the absence of David and the Philistine armies, and had apparently attacked not only Ziklag but other southern towns of Judah and Philistia.

Even for seasoned warriors like David and his men, nothing else could strike worry and misery into their hearts more than a circumstance like this (v.4).

To add insult to injury, David’s distress is increased by the murmurings among the people that it might be time to hold their leader accountable for this catastrophe (v.

6 there’s talk of stoning him).

- This is how it goes oftentimes for leaders: When things are great you’re the hero, when things fail miserably you’re the scapegoat.

And while the Amalekites are outside David’s control, he is indeed responsible for them now living in Philistia.

Application:

The consequences of sin may be delayed, but they are inevitable.

The consequences of sin extend beyond us to impact others as well.

(especially loved ones around us) - One of the hazards of leadership is that when you blow it, you hurt others.

David’s men hold him responsible for this tragedy, and they are right.

“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God”… and David inquired of the Lord.

David Returns His Attention to God (30:6b-8a)

&

God Provides Direction (30:8b-15)

God gives direct answer through the priest using the ephod.

(It’s been a while since David did this, but the Lord has his attention now.

God often uses suffering to get our attention and return our focus and dependency back to him.)

Without any extra commentary from the author, we are left to marvel at God’s providential working to give them the next direction for how to track down their enemies.

The trail has gone cold, but an Egyptian servant who had taken ill and was left for dead by the Amalekites becomes the instrument to lead David to them.

- This so great I can hardly stand it!

God’s ways are so much higher and better than ours.

It’s amazing that we so often foolishly return to trusting ourselves and our own strength when we can entrust ourselves to an almighty and merciful Father, even when we suffer (like David and his men here):

More Application:

The contrast between David and Saul is that David does in fact seek God when he realizes his failure.

(v.

6b) - Remind yourself of the character of God and the promises of God.

Seek him and submit to Him.

David also sought the Lord’s direction.

- On whom do you depend?

In this regard, your prayer life is telling.

- And to whom do you turn when you don’t know where to turn?

And David listens and obeys and doesn’t worry or waiver.

- James reminds us that if we ask for wisdom from God according to his will, he will give it.

And when he does give us direction, we must listen and act in faith.

Let’s finish out this chapter and see how God prevails against the enemy and in David’s heart.

The LORD Returns Their Families & Possessions (3:16-20)

&

David Spreads the Kindness God Has Shown (3:21-31)

The Lord prevails against the enemy, and David prevails in promoting unity and in showing kindness (also diplomacy - managing well and sensitively handling people well)

Notice how David corrects the worthless fellows who seem to think that they are justified in their selfishness.

Application:

God is soooo merciful to David in these chapters to provide him with a way of escape from the compromising situation he got himself in with the Philistines, and to get his attention without any real harm coming to their families.

- Why?

Because God has a specific plan that he intends for David.

Can you trust God’s sovereign goodness such that you will let him providentially lead in the way that he knows best?

God’s faithfulness (and grace) extends beyond our failures.

God’s purposes and promises are sure.

Again, God is not just faithful, he’s also merciful.

- David has gotten them into this mess, but God shows David (and all his men and their families such great mercy)!

- When you are foolish, flailing, or fainting… that is still no match for a sovereign God.

Who among us can fail beyond the reach of God’s mercy?

And pay attention to God’s work no matter whom he uses to straighten you out! - God uses the Philistines (as a sovereign means of his mercy), and he uses adverse circumstances (as a sovereign means of his mercy) to get David’s attention.

(Don’t waste your suffering!

- We can simply suffer, or we can let suffering drive us to dependent intimacy with God.)

Finally … Responding inappropriately to God’s mercy:

Instead, repent and return to your first love.

Do the works you did at first.

(see Rev. 2:4-5)

Conclusion: Let the Lord prevail.

Trust the Lord as he providentially works in the world and in our circumstances.

In other words, let the Lord prevail in your heart.