The Conquering Rescuer

1 Samuel 30

Immanuel – 7/9/23

Purpose

1. Set the stage for chapter 30.

2. Woven throughout chapter 30 there is a final and definitive contrast between Saul and David. (It’s important to point these out, though it might feel like we are bouncing back and forth to do it.)

3. See hints of Christ’s kingdom in David’s emerging kingdom.

Last week, in chapter 24, while Sail was hunting David in the wilderness, David was given the perfect opportunity to kill Saul. It couldn’t have been any easier. But rather than kill the king and take the throne, David chose to spare Saul’s life. After Saul realized what David had done for him, he repented, gave up the hunt, and went home.

In chapter 25 heavy news comes to all Israel: The prophet Samuel died. We also learn that at some point previously, Saul took David’s wife. Remember, David was married to Saul’s daughter, Michal. But when David fled from Saul, Michal helped him escape and stayed behind. In Saul’s anger he took Michal and married her off to some Israelite nobleman. Don’t worry, after Saul’s death David will win back Michal.

So, having lost his wife and not knowing if he will ever see her again, David takes two wives: Abigail and Ahinoam. Yes, David practiced polygamy: It was standard practice in those days. The Bible never condones polygamy, it merely records that it happened. In fact, again and again – especially in the life of David and just as we saw with Abraham – polygamy leads to strife, jealousy, division, and enduring problems. It will be no different for David.

In chapter 26 we learn that Saul’s repentance was temporary, for he again takes up the hunt for David. Once again, David has the perfect opportunity to kill Saul but he chooses to spare him. And just like before, once Saul realizes that David has spared him, he gives up his pursuit and goes home.

Realizing that Saul will never stop trying to kill him, in chapter 27, and for a second time, David flees to the Philistine city of Gath. There he becomes a trusted ally and friend of Achish, the king of Gath. Achish gives David the city of Ziklag for he, his men, and all of their families to dwell in. From Ziklag David launched raids against pagan tribes to the south and east, and against the Kenites, and against the Amalekites. Under Philistine cover, David was defeating Israelite enemies. David lived like this for well over a year.

In chapter 28 the Philistine military amassed for war in the Judean city of Aphek, hungry to fight against Israel. David and his men were there too, ready to fight against Saul.

Saul sees this and is absolutely terrified. Having been rejected by God, with no hope of hearing from God, he plunges himself into the darkness and goes to the witch of En-dor, seeking counsel from a dead prophet. In a demonic and mysterious episode, Saul believes he hears from beyond the grave – from Samuel.

Regardless of its dubious origins, we need to hear what the apparition of Samuel spoke: The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines. -1 Samuel 28:17-19

Note the two reasons why God has torn the kingdom from Saul.

1. Saul did not obey the voice of the Lord. Back in chapter 15 (verse 24) Saul chose to listen to the voice of the people instead.

2. Saul did not destroy the Amalekite as God instructed.

These two reasons are critical for understanding our passage today.

It was forbidden for Saul to practice necromancy, as he did in chapter 28, but the information conveyed was true – even if Saul had known these things for years. But Saul does learn something new: he and his sons will die in the gathering battle. Saul is not comforted, but only further terrified.

Chapter 29 shifts back to the Philistines amassing for war. The Philistine lords are suspicious of David, thinking he will betray them and fight with his fellow Israelites in the coming battle. They essentially vote David out. Having been rejected, David and his 600 men begin the three-day march back home, back to Ziklag.

Now we finally come to the events of chapter 30: David and his men arrive at Ziklag only to find it burned to the ground.

Read vs 1-5

Devastation

It’s no coincidence that the Amalekites attacked Ziklag. Remember, Ziklag was David’s base from which he would launch raids; many of those raids against Amalekites. Likely, the Amalekites heard that David was away with the Philistine army and knew that Ziklag was vulnerable. It was the perfect time to launch a targeted attack and exact revenge upon David.

Though they have burned and plundered the city, it’s remarkable that they have not killed anyone. It’s a ghost town – no bodies. The implication is obvious to David and his men: The Amalekites were going to sell their families into slavery. Once that happened invading foreign powers to rescue their loved ones would be nearly impossible, especially since the Amalekites lived on the border of slave-hungry Egypt – the greatest military might of the day.

It’s no wonder David and his men exhaust themselves weeping, mourning the loss of their loved ones – David’s two wives included.

Read vs 6

Though David had lost just as much as anyone else, he is the leader. When times are hard it’s the leader who receives the bitterness of the people. If the kidnapping of his wives was not enough, now David faces the incipient fury of his 600 soldiers. Blackened Ziklag was filled with rumors of dragging David into the street and stoning him to death.

David’s the one who drove them to attack the Amalekites. David could have commanded a contingency of men to protect Ziklag while the rest of his army marched with the Philistines. David is the one to blame!

How great David’s distress must have been! He was hated and hunted by Saul, betrayed by fellow Israelites, rejected by Philistines, and now his own men speak of killing him.

Psalm 70, a Psalm of David, seems to capture the despair and need for deliverance in 1 Samuel 30; though it is not directly linked to this passage.

Read Psalm 70

The Psalms attest that no matter the depth of David’s distress, he continually, constantly, sought strength through relationship with Yahweh. It was for him as it is for us, salvation comes only from the Lord!

As 1 Samuel 30:6 says, in a time of overwhelming stress and sorrow, David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

A series of four contrasts now begin to be drawn. The first contrast is this: In David’s distress he sought strength from the Lord. In Saul’s distress, watching the Philistine army gather, he sought strength via the witch of En-dor. The faithful king looks for help from above while the rejected king looks for help from below.

David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God, and the next verses show us exactly how he did this.

Read vs 7-8

For the second time in the narrative of David, David and God speak directly to one another. David asks two questions. He receives three affirmatives.

1. David asks if he should pursue: God says pursue.

2. David asks if he will overtake: God says he will overtake.

3. God then adds that David will deliver. David will be victorious and rescue all their loved ones.

How heartening this must have been for David! But hearing these words was not enough, and David knew it. Just knowing God’s will was not enough, now he needed to work. Without hesitation, entirely motivated by his trust in God, David sprang to action! David lives on the word of God!

Read vs 9-10

The Rescue Mission

The crossing at the brook Besor was 15-25 miles away from Ziklag, depending on where exactly they crossed. By now a large contingent of David’s army is too exhausted to continue.

They have marched for three days, covering about 50 miles, from the Philistine gathering back to Ziklag. Upon their discovery they all wept until exhaustion – and those who know loss know the deep exhaustion it brings. On top of that, they have just traversed these last 20ish miles as quickly as possible as they try to catch up with the Amalekites.

It seems wise indeed for David to leave 200 exhausted men behind. Let them grieve and let them rest. They will also ensure that the rear of David’s column is guarded. And if God has promised the victory, then 400 will be enough. God is with them; who can be against them?

Then a strange stroke of chance – nay, providence – befalls David. Somewhere along the way scouts find a beleaguered man wandering in the desert.

Read vs 11-15

Unlike the Amalekites that were happy to leave this Egyptian slave to die in the wilderness, notice the abundant hospitality David’s company shows the stranger. They don’t even know his significance yet!

David mirrors the profound hospitality of his ancestor, Abraham; and the hospitality that is meant to mark all covenant people – from David’s kingdom to the kingdom of Christ.

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself. -Leviticus 19:34

This law is written upon David’s heart, and it is reflected in all his followers. This is why the disaffected and rejected continually make their way to David and join His ranks.

It’s a foreshadowing of Christ, who invites the weary and heavy laden, the hungry and the thirsty, the persecuted and oppressed; to follow Him while we wander through this wilderness and be welcomed into His family.

When David truly cares for the stranger, generous with hospitality, he eagerly abandons his old master and gives his allegiance to David: like so many of us that have abandoned our old masters and given our hearts fully unto Christ. For Christ has generously given us everything, even His own life!

The Egyptian, now loyal to David, is ready to lead him straight to the Amalekites.

Read vs 16-20

God promised David that he would conquer the Amalekites, He provided a stranger with impeccable intel, and now He brings David upon the ridiculously vulnerable Amalekite army. They are partying, drunk on self-indulgence, spread out rather than in battle formation. God provides yet again, this time with the perfect time for an attack.

The entire Amalekite force is defeated, minus those 200 soldiers who escape on camels. For David’s foot soldiers, riders on camels were much too fast to chase down or stop. All the rest David did not hesitate to kill. His enemies, the enemies of Israel, he devoted to utter destruction.

It might seem like David is being harsh, but here we arrive at the second contrast drawn between David and Saul. As we read earlier from chapter 28, one of the reasons God rejected Saul was because Saul did not utterly destroy the Amalekites. Saul was to be God’s judgment upon that wicked people. But because Saul did not dispense God’s judgment, he came under God’s judgment. Conversely, David destroys the Amalekites for their evils.

And every single wife, all sons and daughters, all were recovered. Not one was lost in the enemy’s camp. Because David acted in faith, he was the conquering rescuer.

Very intentionally, verse 20 points out that David was not afraid to plunder the Amalekites, specifically mentioning taking all the livestock. This is the third contrast between David and Saul.

Both David and Saul take livestock from the Amalekites. Saul was rebuked for doing so, David only reaps blessing with it – as we will see. It’s as if there is a shift happening with David, a new thing emerging. For once David has conquered, once he is vindicated as deliverer, a new order begins to bud.

Indeed it is so, and we see this new order blossom in the following verses.

Read vs 21-25

An Emerging Kingdom

David’s men appear quite logical. Those who defeated the Amalekites should be rewarded with the plunder. Those who stayed behind can have their loved ones back and nothing more.

It’s the commonsense rule that dominates humanity: Those who work the hardest get rewarded the most. This is the mentality of David’s men. But as we see expressed, this is a “wicked and worthless” mentality. This is a mentality of works, of self-righteous entitlement. The heart of God is grace; to give to the weak what they have not been able to earn.

In the world in which David lived, this was an entirely foreign concept. But David was a man after God’s own heart. He did not listen to his men. This is the fourth and final contrast with Saul. Saul listened to the people rather than to God, and for this he was rejected. David rejects the voice of his men to instead honor and image God.

In so doing, David initiated a ruling that endured throughout Israel’s generations: Regardless of station, each person’s share shall be the same.

Be careful. In our world many would be quick to see shadows of political ideologies in David’s words. But David’s words are not first political, though they have some political implications. David’s words are first theological, uniting the will of Heaven with the behaviors of earth.

This is a new order blossoming in David, hints of a new creation. And it foreshadows the new creation that would dawn with Israel’s greatest, final, and eternal king: Jesus Christ.

Read Matthew 20:1-16

The kingdom of Christ, where the first shall be last and last shall be first, is the kingdom in which we live; and we are called to conform our lives to its principles. The principles emerging under David’s rule were shadows of this present kingdom of Christ.

In the last six verses David generously gives gifts of plunder to the Israelite towns that had been plundered. This too prefigures Christ, though I’m not going to explore that here. David is already showing that he is a wise, courageous, gracious, hospitable, and generous politician. Can you imagine such a politician?

His God-fearing courage and generosity will certainly help to win over the people of Israel. He doesn’t know it yet, but he will soon need to win them over; for here is a battle raging in the north that will not end well for Israel.

In the list of places that received gifts from David, Hebron is listed last. But Hebron will be first to call David king. Hebron – the former home of Abraham, where the bones of the patriarch’s rest – will be blessed under the anointed king’s new reign.

The entire history of David was meant to make Israel hungry for a righteous king, one that would be courageous and kind and wise. It’s meant to do the same for us.

How obvious it should be: David points our eyes and our hearts to Christ. See it all over this passage today. The disaffected, rejected, and oppressed are welcomed into the kingdom of Christ. Here in this kingdom your self-righteous works will earn you nothing. But you shall receive generously because He is the conquering rescuer and gracious giver.

We are the poor and needy. He is our help and deliverer. He will not delay! (Psalm 70:5)

Christ our King lifts the lowly, strengthens the weak, comforts the mourning, encourages the faint, gathers the lost and loves the rejected. All He asks is that we, by faith, give Him our love and loyalty.

For He has already begun to make all things new. Heaven and earth are uniting in the present kingdom of Christ. And today we are flooded with symbols of this uniting and the emerging new creation as we rejoice in the baptism.