Lesson 217 - Junior

Memory Verse

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17).

Notes

Fear

With the promise of Saul to do no more harm to David, the two men had parted. David went on his way and Saul returned to his place. God had been with David to deliver him many times from Saul. David had been anointed to be king, and that should have been his assurance that God would protect him. Because he had no confidence in Saul and his promise David had fear in his heart. That fear weakened his faith in God for his safety. When David said, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul," it seems that he was no longer depending upon God for his help. No doubt, David felt that in his own strength he could not continue to flee from Saul.

Was this the same David who said, "The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)? Did not David say, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7)? At another time, did not David say "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee" (Psalm 56:3)? Now, for a time, David was discouraged. He decided to go into the land of the Philistines, away from Saul and his men.

The Land of the Philistines

To go into the land of the Philistines was no easy thing for David to do. David had reason to fear also their king, Achish of Gath ([1SM:21:12]; [PS:56:1-13]). David's discouragement caused him to leave the land of his inheritance and the fellowship of the rest of the Children of Israel. For one year and four months, David and his 600 men and their families lived in the land of the Philistines. Achish, king of Gath, gave David the city of Ziklag in which he dwelt.

A Servant

Often the people of the world like to have one of God's followers with them. They know that God will be with His own people. They hope to gain God's favour because of that one believer among them. Achish appeared to be kind to David and his men by permitting them to live in his land and by giving them the city of Ziklag. Achish did so because he expected to gain by having David in his land. Achish did not have David's interest at heart. David was a valiant man of war and a good soldier. Achish knew that David could do a lot of good for the Philistines by warring against their enemies. David had gone to the land of the Philistines to escape from Saul, but David was obliged to risk his life in battle for the Philistines. David did not gain any good thing by being so discouraged as to live among the Philistines. Achish said of David: "He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever" (I Samuel 27:12).

In Trouble

The time came when the Philistines were at war with the Children of Israel. Achish assigned David as his bodyguard -- keeper of the king's head ([1SM:28:2]). By his association with ungodly people, David found himself in a strait. How many times it has happened that those who leave the people of God soon find themselves in trouble! Children sometimes get into trouble because they have chosen evil companions. The words of Solomon tell us: "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men" (Proverbs 4:14); and "Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them" (Proverbs 24:1).

Perhaps David reasoned with himself as to what he should do. Should he refuse to go to battle against the Children of Israel? Should he remain at home as a coward, ungrateful for what Achish had done for him? Or should David be a traitor to his own people? Should he fight against Israel as an enemy? Would not that make David unworthy to be king? If Saul were slain, would David be to blame? Perhaps, as David considered the matter, it appeared that there would be sin and scandal whatever he did. Was there no way out, without guilt or grief for David?

The King's Guard

David and his men were given a place as a rear guard with Achish. It is probable that David meant to be only the king's guard. It is doubtful that David meant to take any other part in the battle of the Philistines against Israel. David had lived an upright and faultless life among the Philistines. He was in a strange circumstance. No doubt, he depended upon God to help him do the right thing.

The princes of the Philistines opposed David and his men. They insisted that David be dismissed from going to battle with them. The Philistines were afraid that, once in bathe, David and his men would turn on them. In days past they had been enemies, and they reasoned that David was more dangerous than Saul. Perhaps they remembered that David was the one who had slain their champion, Goliath (

Lesson 211). To please the princes of the Philistines, Achish discharged David and his men. Achish had a good report of David's life. Achish had found no fault or evil in him. Achish had been pleased and satisfied with David's conduct and association. Lest the Philistines be displeased, Achish ordered David and his men to depart early in the morning. So God delivered David out of the army of the Philistines, out of the battle of the Philistines against Israel.

Their Home

David and his men hastened to their own city, Ziklag. For three days they marched. Very likely they were tired and eager to be at home. What a sad sight they beheld! While they had been gone; the Amalekites had invaded Ziklag, captured all the people, and burned the city. David and his men, these mighty and brave men of war, were so grieved that they wept. David and his men loved their children and homes. No wonder the men wept that their families had been carried away and their homes destroyed.

Correction

Perhaps God permitted the destruction of Ziklag and the capture of the people to correct David. There is no record that David prayed or asked God about living among the Philistines. David seemed to doubt that God would protect him from Saul. When David went among the Philistines, God did not permit him nor his family to be slain, but they did suffer. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth," or correcteth ([HEB:12:6]).

Sometimes today, for the good of His people, God finds it necessary to permit trouble and sorrow. It does not mean that God has turned His face away. It is God's way of drawing us closer to Him. God loves us and wants us to learn to trust Him more.

Never before, so far as we know, had Divides family been molested when he was away in the line of duty. God had cared for and protected David's family. This time David was not in the way of duty. It was his idea to be away from home. God had not told him to go, nor did duty demand his absence.

Encouragement in the Lord

David was distressed, but "David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." When it appeared that everything was against David, he looked to God. Saul had driven David from his country. The Philistines had dismissed David from their army. The Amalekites had plundered his city and taken David's family captive. Then David's friends turned against him -- his own men threatened to stone him. At such a time of misery and distress, David knew what to do. He had faith in the Lord. Perhaps David had learned a lesson, for this time he prayed. David inquired Of God and showed that he was depending upon God to help him. David asked God a definite question, "Shall I pursue after this troop?" God gave David a definite answer, "Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all." Perhaps the reason some people do not receive definite answers when they pray is that they pray in a general way and do not pray a definite prayer. God had an unmistakable message and promise for David.

The Amalekites Pursued

The 600 discontented men who were with David recognised his faith and patience. He dealt kindly with them, so they went along as he pursued the Amalekites. Some of these men were so tired that they could not keep pace with David as he went to overtake those who had stolen his family and possessions. David did not urge his men to go beyond their strength. At the brook of Besor, one third of David's men remained behind.

Mercy and Help

David dealt kindly with a young Egyptian whom he found in a field. David showed mercy by giving him food and water. Some people would have been in too much of a hurry to help the young man, and would have considered his trouble none of their affair. Although David took of his time and provision for the young man, he was repaid by information given him. The Egyptian had been a servant of an Amalekite, and told David just what he wanted to know. When the Egyptian had become sick, his master had left him. Now the young man was capable and willing to be of service to those who had befriended him and to punish his master, the one who had abused him.

Nothing Lost

The Egyptian directed David to the camp of the Amalekites who were making merry because of their spoils from David's city. At a time when the Amalekites thought they were safe and had laid aside all thoughts of war, David surprised them, caught them off guard when they were unable to make much resistance. Only 400 of them escaped, while "David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away." The families were rescued, and the spoils were recovered. David lost nothing and gained a great deal in spoils.

His Trust in God

May it be impressed upon us how much better David fared when he prayed and had faith in God. When David fled to the land of the Philistines, he became a servant and had to go to war. When David trusted God, he found that all plans against him failed. As long as David believed God, no weapon formed against him could prosper ([ISA:54:17]). So it will be in our lives when we are willing to trust God and depend upon Him.

Dividing the Spoils

When David and his men returned to the brook Besor, they were met by those who had remained there. Though they had not been able to go with David, they rejoiced in the good work that was done. But among those who went with David were some wicked men who were selfish and greedy. They were willing to return the families to those who had stayed, but they did not want to share the spoils.

David did not listen to his men. He told them that out of gratitude to God who had helped and protected them, all would share the spoils. It would be only just and right to divide the spoils with those who stayed with the "stuff." That day David made an ordinance and law that there would be equal shares of the reward and spoils for all the people.

Just as it is today, every branch of service for the Lord is for the good of all and is worthy of a reward. We are not all able to take an active part in all the work of the Lord; but by praying faithfully -- staying "by the stuff" -- we shall receive gratitude for our help, and a reward.

Questions

1. Why did David go to live in the land of the Philistines?

2. What city was given to David?

3. What did Achish expect of David?

4. Why did the Philistines object to David's fighting with them?

5. What had happened while David was away from his home?

6. Why did David need to be corrected?

7. What kind of answer did David receive when he prayed?

8. What did David receive for befriending the Egyptian?

9. Why did all the men receive a part of the spoils?

10. How can we stay at home "by the stuff"?