Wednesday, January 29, 2014

David and his men Divide the Spoils (1 Samuel 30:21-31)

7/31/2010 7:10:34 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Dividing the spoils

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Samuel 30:21-31

            Message of the verses:  “21 ¶  When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. 22  Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart." 23  Then David said, "You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. 24  "And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike." 25  So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day. 26  Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "Behold, a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD: 27  to those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the Negev, and to those who were in Jattir, 28  and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa, 29  and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 30  and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Bor-ashan, and to those who were in Athach, 31  and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to go.’”

            This section of Scripture ends chapter eleven of Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on the book of 1Samuel, with two more chapters to go, but the last chapter is a review of 1Samuel.
            There were some worthless men among the six hundred men who followed David and they raised their voice concerning the spoils that were taken after the battle with the Amalekites, as they did not want to give any of the spoils to the two hundred men who could not go on because of their exhaustion.  David stopped this by making a rule that those who followed him would divide the spoils even though they did not fight in the battle and this stopped the argument right away.  David said that it was the Lord who provided the victory and the spoils and so that is why they were to be shared.
            Next David and his men went back to Ziklag to wait on the news of the war, and this would not take long for news would come in three days of Israel’s loss and the death of Saul and Jonathan.  In the mean time David would send gifts to the elders of Judah and to the cities who had looked out for David while Saul was chasing him.  The people of these cities were in jeopardy of being killed by Saul for helping David and so David repaid them for their kindness. David was also paving the way to be the king over Judah as he served Judah for seven and a half years before taking over as king of all Israel.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  David was a generous man and I think that he understood that the Lord was the giver of all the gifts that he received and David was more interested in the Giver than the gifts that the Giver had given to him, which is a lesson that I am in the midst of learning in my walk with the Lord.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1.       Give myself to the Lord for worship and service.
2.      Trust the Lord to guide my path.
3.      Put on the spiritual armor for I am in a battle and need protection.
4.      Continue to learn contentment.



7/31/2010 7:35:14 AM

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