The Delivered Deliverers (I Samuel 29 & 30)

Crying for a King

The Delivered Deliverers

I Samuel 29:1-30:31

November 20th, 2011

Way of Grace Church

I. Introduction

II Timothy 3:16 reminds us that, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

As we return to the book of I Samuel this morning, let’s see how God will teach, reprove, and correct us, as we are trained and equipped by His truth. Let’s look together at I Samuel 29.

II. The Passage: “David Strengthened Himself in the LORD” (29:1- 30:31)

Now what I’d like to do this morning is just briefly touch on chapter 29, and spend most of our time working through chapter 30.

A. David as the Delivered (29:1, 4, 11)

Now, I’m only going to read three verses out of chapter 29. But let me set the scene for those three verses by reminding you of what we learned about in chapter 27. Failing to trust in God’s ongoing protection against Saul, David fled from the land of Israel and went to live among the Philistines, who were the sworn enemies of Israel.

And while living among them, you may remember that David worked hard at deceiving the Philistines, making them think that he had rejected his people and become their enemy. But instead of simply putting to rest Philistine suspicions, David’s actions actually put him in a horrible position. Achish, king of Gath, was now requiring that David and his men fight with him against Israel.

And that’s where we left David at the end very beginning of chapter 28: trapped on the path of treason, or at least the appearance of treason. The reader is left wondering, “How in the world will David get out of this jam?” But look with me at verses 1, 4, and 11 of chapter 29:

[29:1] Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel…[4] But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him [with Achish…for recruiting David]. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man [that is, David] 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…[11] 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. (I Samuel 29:1, 4, 11)

So amazingly, in spite of how much Achish believes in David, and wants David to fight alongside of Him, David and his men are sent packing! We can only imagine how relieved David and his soldiers were about being ‘dishonorably discharged’.

The other thing we need to see in chapter 29 is that the geographical place names given here indicate that we are going back in time just a bit. Since Aphek and Jezreel from 29:1 and 29:11…since both of those locations are south of the place called Shunem, mentioned in 28:4, that tells us that David’s dismissal from the Philistine army took place a couple days before Saul went to consult with the medium at En-dor.

As we’ll see, by the time Saul finally enters this battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, David is more than fifty miles to the south.

B. David as the Deliverer (30:1-31)

So let’s continue on here and look at what happens to David as he leaves the Philistine army in Aphek. Chapter 30, verse 1:

1. The Suffering of the True King (30:1-6a)

Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day [it was a three-day journey back from Aphek] , 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.

Talk about going from bad to worse. These men have had three days to relish their escape from being conscripts in the Philistine army. But once they come home to Ziklag, their relief turns into horror and despair.

Their homes are burned down, their possession plundered, and their families kidnapped. And it’s the Amalekites who are responsible, the same people Saul was supposed to wipe out in chapter 15, the same people David plundered in chapter 27. But thankfully, unlike David’s raids, these attackers did not kill everyone. They simply kidnapped them, most likely to sell them as slaves.

But the allusion to David’s raids here, along with the anger his men directed at him, reminds us that this is just one more consequence of David’s foolish decision to live among the Philistines. David was not able to leave any warriors in Ziklag because all of them were expected to fight for the Philistines. David’s lies had made them an attractive mercenary force.

But being gone from their families for almost a week had left Ziklag unprotected. It’s no wonder the men are beginning to blame David for what happened.

I think the opening words of verse 6 tell us what we would expect to hear in light of all this: “And David was greatly distressed…” He’s lost his family, his men have lost everything, and now they are starting to turn against him.

What I want us to see here is the very thing that has been confirmed for us time and time again since chapter 18. Even though David is the true king of Israel, even though he is God’s anointed leader, he is not immune to suffering. Whether it be unjust suffering or dealing with the consequences of his own foolish choices, David is not immune. But let’s see how David responds to this crisis.

2. The Faith of the True King (30:6b-8)

Let’s keep reading, starting with the second half of verse 6:

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.”

Now here's what I think the author wants us to see right away: there is a clear parallel between Saul in chapter 28 and David here in chapter 30. In I Samuel 28:15 Saul told the spirit of Samuel, “I am in great distress…”. And as we've already seen at the beginning of verse 6, David, like Saul, was also “greatly distressed”.

But look at the radically different way these men deal with their distress. Saul violated God's law in order to talk with the ghost of Samuel. But were told in the second half of verse 6 that “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”

David used this same word for strengthen when you wrote these words in Psalm 27:14...Wait for the LORD; be strong [or be strengthened], and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

And when David turned to to God with a desperate faith, we're told that God answered him and confirmed for him that the rescue plan hatching in David's mind was going to be successful.

You may remember that when Saul tried to communicate with God in his distress, he received no answer. We said last week, “The very guidance that Saul now desired [from God] is the very guidance he rejected in chapters 13 and 15.” Saul had been rightly rejected as king.

And God's rejection of Saul is affirmed here by the way David responds to his distress.

When you find yourself, “greatly distressed”, do you strenghen yourself in the LORD your God? I pray God will give us the grace to do that very thing.

3. The Victory of the True King (30:9-20)

Look at how David responds to God's words of assurance. Verse 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.[remember, they had just travelled three days to get home and then wept until they had no more strength][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.” [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.”

At this point, there are four things I'd like to point out here about this section: 1) notice that David is going forward with a smaller army than he started the pursuit with; down to 400 from 600, 2) the Amalekite camp had to have a lot more soldiers in it than 400, because we're told that only 400 young men escaped on camels, 3) the presence of the cast off Egyptian slave, the one who was left to die in the desert, simply confirms the cruelty of the Amalekites, and 4) David's victory over these Amalekite raiders is a complete victory. The mission was 100% successful. No casualties. No losses.

In a matter of hours, David has gone from zero to hero. His men no longer want to heap stones on him. Now they are heaping praises on him.

4. The Leadership of the True King (30:21-31)

But look at what happens when David and his people make their way back to Zkilag. (v. 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.

Now there are two things that happen in this final section, two things that confirm for us the capable leaderhsip of Israel's true king. First, even though some of the men (described as “wicked” and “worthless” fellows...even though they) want to punish the 200 soldiers who stayed behind, David is quick to reject this arrangement.

David reminds them that it was God who won the battle, it was God who protected them, and it is God who has given them back all that was lost. The men who stayed behind served an important function: they protected the supplies and thus, lightened the load for the 400 who went. Therefore, in light of these things, everyone would get an equal share of the spoils that were taken.

The second thing David does is recorded in verses 26-31. David wisely takes a portion of the spoils and sends gifts to all the local leaders in southern Judah, those who had helped in the past and those whose help he again need in the future. The last location mentioned in this list of towns is Hebron, the very place where David will ascend to the throne of Israel.

III. Learning from David’s Faith

Now I hope the author's main point here is clear. It's the very thing confirmed all throughout this chapter. In fact, it's really the main point of the entire book of I Samuel: God's people desperately need godly leadership. The leader of God's people must be a man who can and is led by God himself. David's response to the intense distress and pressure, and his leadership afterwards, proved he was the right man for the job.

And what does all this mean for us? Well not only is David's example of submission to God a challenge to all of us, in the good times and the bad times, but we know that the Old Testament and the New Testament teach us that David was used by God as a preview, an imperfect prototype of the King of kings: Jesus Christ!

And it’s that connection that helps us to see in these chapters an important reminder for any and every disciple of Jesus Christ.

What is not made explicit in chapter 29, but is clear from the entire book of I Samuel, is that it was God who delivered David from serving in the Philistine army. It was God who used the Philistine generals to dismiss David and deliver him from the battle.

In the same way, those of us who have turned from our sins and trusted in Jesus Christ as our only hope, we too have been delivered by God. Like David and his men, we have also been released from the ranks of God's enemies.

But when we come to chapter 30, there is another parallel here. Listen to what Paul tells Timothy in II Timothy 2:22-26...

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, [25] correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, [26] and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (II Timothy 2:22-26)

When we take chapters 29 and 30 together, we realize that David and his men were “delivered deliverers”. They were first delivered by God, and then used by God to be deliverers of those captured by the Amalekites. What a great reminder this is for us! Though eternal deliverance only comes through the Son of David, Jesus Christ, God wants to use each of us as instruments of his deliverance.

As Paul told Timothy, God wants to use us in His work of leading people to a knowledge of the truth, of helping people to escape from the snare of the devil; freed from slavery to sin in order to serve the living God.

God’s word tells us: But you are…a royal priesthood…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) We also read in Matthew 28:19, 20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you [which includes the command to go and make disciples].

Do you believe God wants to use you in that way? If you belong to Him by grace, through faith in Jesus, then He does want to use you!

And I think this passage has some great reminders about what God wants to do in and us and through us. Let me give you five simple truths that I hope will encourage you in this calling as a delivered deliverer.

First, a delivered deliverer strengthens himself in the Lord. Just as we saw David doing here, in the midst of distress, in the midst of a world of suffering and spiritual captivity, in seasons of spiritual loss and hardship, our work as God’s instruments does not begin with the task. It begins with the Spirit of God working in the heart of God’s servant.

Our mission of deliverance is not simply about speaking words or doing deeds. It’s about showing forth the strength of our God in our lives, through faith in the gospel message and the love of Christ. Be strengthened in Christ, and then let God work that strength out through you in the lives of those around you.

Second, a delivered deliverer is assured by the word of God. When David’s heart turned to the Lord for strength, an inseparable component of that turning was a desire to hear from God. Unlike Saul, David sought the Lord’s guidance with a humble heart.

If we desire to be used by God in the lives of others, if we want to be faithful as instruments of the Messiah’s deliverance, then we need to be guided by the word of God. We don’t want to go forth in our wisdom. We want to speak the words of God to people, not simply our opinions or worldly and sentimental encouragements. But you can only give away what you possess. We need to know and embrace God’s word before we can share it with others.

And that word gives us assurance, doesn’t it? God’s word tells us that when we go and speak that God will give us the words. It tells us that God is always with us. It reminds us that all authority has been given to Jesus. It confirms for us that the gospel is the power of God for salvation, that it can and does change lives. That’s the assurance we need as we go!

Third, a delivered deliverer is encouraged by God’s provision. Did you notice in the account of David in chapter 30 how God’s provision was so abundant? Not only did God given them strength in the weakness of their smaller group of 400, not only did he help them carry on as those who were physically worn out, not only did He lead them to the one person in the desert who knew exactly where the Amalekites were camped, but He also brought them to the enemy camp at the very best time possible: when the soldiers were spread out and having a party! They were sitting ducks for David and his men!

In the same way, God wants to provide for us when we step out to speak God’s word and express God’s love to others. He wants to open doors of opportunity, He wants to put people on our path, He wants to work in the lives of those we reach out to, He wants to give us wisdom, He wants to strengthen us. Are you encouraged by that? Then let’s step out in faith!

Fourth, a delivered deliverer rejoices in God’s complete victory. When David rescued the women and children, and the supplies that were taken, the author goes to great lengths to stress that everything was recovered. All of it was there! God’s victory was complete!

In the same way, we need to expect, and pray for, and rejoice over the fact that God wants to fully redeem lives; that He desires and does turn people 180 degrees! God’s deliverance does not set us partially free. It is complete freedom from the penalty and mastery of sin. It is complete restoration to God. Living in that freedom is a process, but it is still complete freedom. We need to rejoice over that freedom when God sets free those we are reaching.

Fifth and finally, a delivered deliverer is grateful for the support of God’s people. When David came back to the 200 men who were two tired to go on, he came back, not with spite, but with gratefulness. He understood that he needed them to stay with the supplies, and thus, protect the men from further losses and lighten the load for those who went forward.

In the same way, as we step out in faith to bring the blessing of God to those around us who need Christ, those who need to hear the “best news ever”, we need to give thanks to God and be encouraged by the support of the body of Christ.

Are people praying for you as you speak to that co-worker of neighbor? Have you been equipped by faithful teachers of God’s word? Have you received counsel that has strengthened you? Are you giving to others now because God has given to you through His people? If so, then praise Him and thank Him for that support.

This story of David is a great reminder of so many important truths, truths we find throughout God’s word. Not only is David’s faith and faithfulness an example to us in His submission to God and his work as a delivered deliverer, but as we talked about before, David is a preview, isn’t he?

God’s people desperately need godly leadership. In Jesus Christ, the Son of David, we have that leadership, don’t we? We have the perfect leader! He is the head of the body! He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep! As we die to ourselves this week through the power of Jesus’ cross, may we submit to His leadership, in every way.

And may we do that in light of the encouragement of God’s word. Remember what Paul told his readers about the Old Testament: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Let’s pray.