Mr. And Mrs. Burke were sitting in their family room one evening. The husband was reading the newspaper while, his wife knitted. Mr. Burke let out a little chuckle when he noticed that in the paper there was a man named Patrick Burke who was getting married. He shared this with his wife, and she laughed to. Their son was named Patrick, but they knew it couldn’t be their Patrick, because he was returning from military duty and they were to pick him up the next day. But they thought it was funny enough to clip the announcement out and take it with them when they picked up their son the next day. Their plan was to give him a hard time about the whole situation. However, their jaws dropped when they saw their son stepping out off of the plane with a newborn in his arms and an unknown lady standing next to him.
The confusion was quickly cleared up when Patrick informed his parents that he was merely helping the new mother with the baby because the tarmac was wet. The parents were relieved and Patrick chucked at this little homecoming mix up.
Homecoming stories are some of the most satisfying tales. No matter if it’s home for the holidays or coming back from war, the joy of returning to family is something that captures people’s hearts.
And it’s this idea of being able to return that brings us back to our series in First Samuel, where we’ll be picking it back up in First Samuel chapter 29, verse 1. As we jump back into First Samuel 29:1, let’s do a quick refresher on where we are.
As we entered the third section of First Samuel, we were introduced to David, God’s chosen king to lead Israel. Through David’s introduction, we walked away with understanding that, God desires us to eagerly follow him in humble trust that is confident that he will work things out as we seek and obey him.
Following David’s introduction we saw how Saul continued to spiraled into sin so deep that when he sought God, God was silent. This was because Saul was seeking God for his own purposes and not God’s. This is when Saul went to a medium to contact Samuel who had recently died. It was through this interaction that we walked away with the understanding that, God calls us to rely solely on him to experience the spiritual, because the spiritual realm is skewed to us, and his goals are for our benefit.
Then last week, we took a brief detour to understand the spiritual battle around us. We talked about the three foes: our flesh, the enemy, and the world, and the oppressive battle we all face. From last week, we came to the understanding that, God does not want us to be lackadaisical in the spiritual battle, but to seek him in preparation for it.
With all this refreshed in our minds, we can jump back into First Samuel, 29:1, where we’ll be looking at two of the final three chapters. Let’s read starting in verse 1 of chapter 29.
1 Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 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, 3 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.” 4 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? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
6 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. 7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 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?” 9 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.’ 10 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.” 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.
v.29:1-11
In the last chapter, the catalyst for Saul going to the medium was that the Philistines were coming out to war against the Israelites. Saul didn’t know what to do because God was silent. Now, we learn about what was happening to David at this same time.
As the Philistines gathered people from their various cities, David and his men came out to help Achish who was kind of like their patron at this time. However, the other Philistine commanders were not comfortable with David being a part of their attack on Israel. This was because of David’s reputation as an effective warrior for Saul, and it caused them to reject him, especially as someone bringing up their rear.
One thing we need to see here is that Achish was blinded to what David was actually doing. Achish says he has seen nothing wrong with David, and yet, David has been raiding everyone except the Philistines and Israelites. That Achish doesn’t see that David hasn’t been truthful with him, is a testament to Achish not being able to see the obvious threat David posed that everyone else saw. The deceitfulness of David needs to be acknowledged as a bad point for David, because this bad and good of David becomes a cycle of his.
At the end of the chapter, when told of the situation, David agrees to return to the city he was working out of.
v.30:1-20
Following this, in the first twenty verses of chapter 30, we find out that the city that David had been working out of, was ransacked. All the people, livestock, and goods were carried off by a raiding party of the Amalekites. Remember, Saul was supposed to break the Amalekites early in the book, but he didn’t. So his sin has now affected David. But David had been raiding people like the Amalekites himself, so they’re just returning the favor.
It is here that we get a good point from David. He seeks God to see if he should go after the raiders. It might seem like an obvious “yes,” but even in David’s loss, to seek God first is the answer. Something that Saul stopped doing, hence why God was silent to him.
We’re then told that six hundred men take off to go after the raiding party, but two hundred stayed behind at a brook because they were exhausted. The remaining four hundred capture an Egyptian servant of the Amalekites, who gave them their location, and David’s men recapture all that was lost to them.
v.30:21-25
It’s after the raiding party is defeated, and David and his men return, that we pick up the passage once again in verse 21 of chapter 30.
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.
Upon returning to the other men, we’re told that “… wicked and worthless fellows …” who were a part of the victory did not want to give any spoils to those who stayed behind. Here’s that word again, “worthless.” These men had their sights set on evil things, in this case their distain for those who stayed behind. They went to battle, they put their life on the line, they won the fight, and so they should be the one’s who get the spoils.
However, David sets a precedent here, that anyone and everyone will receive their share of spoils, because it’s not only on the front lines where battles are won. All those who play supporting roles, aid in their own way to bring about victory. In this case, those who stayed behind still helped by being a backup guard if the battle had gone poorly.
This interaction reminds me of Matthew 20:1-16 and Jesus’ Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. In that parable, Jesus talks about the owner of a vineyard who hired some people on at an agreed upon wage. Later in the day, the owner hires more people. At the end of the day, everyone gets paid the same amount. Those at the beginning protest that the others received the same pay, but it is the owner’s choice in what he pays.
Here we see a similar situation. Though the two hundred men did not fight in the battle, they still did work, just a different type, and David was willing to share the spoils with them as well.
Here’s another good point for David as he shows that he makes a good king, by showing compassion and wise governing.
v.30:26-30
In the final five verses, we’re told that David not only shares the spoils with those that are around him, but also with others who were most likely affected by the raiders. David’s story in First Samuel, ends with a kingly action, which sets up his eventual coronation in the next book.
Walking away from this passage, we can see the key characteristic that will cycle through David’s life. He does sinful things, and he does righteous things. He lied to Achish to save his own skin, but he sought God and shared the spoils.
And this is why God is willing to use David for his purposes. David isn’t a perfect person. He lies, cheats, and steals. Yet, he turns back to God. He humbles himself before the Lord and the Lord uses him to work out the plans he has for the coming savior, Jesus.
David’s life, is one that shows that God’s desire for his people is that they continually return to him, even when they mess up. This is the key difference between Judas and Peter. Both betray and reject Jesus in their own way. Judas for silver and with a kiss he betrays Jesus. Peter to save his own life, and with his words of rejection. The difference is, Judas doesn’t return to Jesus, but takes his own life. Peter, on the other hand embraces Jesus’ restoration and goes on to be a prominent leader in the early Church.
It’s a similar situation with Saul and David. Saul will not return to God, he just wants to use him. While David will return to God for God’s work.
And it’s this return that God wants. God desires that his people have a return mentality. When we sin, we return in humbleness, seeking the restoration of relationship. Later, through the prophet Joel, God would say this, “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.’ Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster (Joel 2:12-13).”
No matter what we have done, or how far we have strayed, God’s intention is to restore us, that we may experience his freeing life. So this week, my challenge is that we each solidify a return mentality. Seek the Holy Spirit to break through any deceitful thoughts that tell you, “God doesn’t want you," or that, “You’ve done to many things wrong for his forgiveness.” No, if God could forgive David for his lying, which led to a whole town being killed, he can forgive, what we deem in our own lives, as unforgivable.
Let us rest this week in the great grace of God, whose desire is our restoration. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment