Dave Burnette's Commentary

1 Samuel Chapter 30

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Samuel, Nathan, & Gad 
Date Penned: (931-975 BC)
Overview: Samuel, Israel's Last Judge (c 1-31)
Theme: Saul and David (c 16-31)
Message: David Destroys the Amalekites (v 1-31)

1 Samuel 30 Commentary

(30:6) David Finds Strength in the Lord - Faced with the tragedy of losing their families, David's soldiers began to turn against him and even talked about killing him. Instead of planning a rescue, they looked for someone to blame. But David found his strength in God and began looking for a solution instead of a scapegoat. When facing problems, remember that it is useless to look for someone to blame or criticize. Instead, consider how you can help find a solution.


(30:7-8) David Calls for the Ephod - David couldn't go to the tabernacle to ask the Lord for guidance because it was in Saul's territory. Therefore, he called for the ephod, the only tabernacle-related object he possessed. In the presence of the priest and this priestly garment, he asked God for direction. When David called for the ephod, he was really asking the priest to bring him the Urim and Thummim, which were kept in the breastplate attached to the ephod. Only the high priest could carry and use the Urim and Thummim. (For more information on the ephod and its contents, see the note on Exodus 39:1-21.)


(30:11-15) The Amalekite Slave - The Amalekites had cruelly left this slave to die, but God used him to lead David and his men to the Amalekite camp. David and his men treated the young man kindly, and he returned the kindness by leading them to the enemy. Treat those you meet with respect and dignity no matter how insignificant they may seem. You never know how God might use them to change your situation.


(30:24-25) Working as a Team - David made a law that those who stayed back to guard the supplies and equipment were to be treated equally to those who fought in battle. Today it takes several people to provide the support services needed for every soldier in the battle we fight as believers. In the church and other organizations, we need to treat those who provide support services equally with those on the front lines. Without bookkeepers, trainers, and administrators, those with public ministries would be unable to do their jobs. Are you on the front lines? Don't forget those who are backing you up. Are you in the support group? Realize that your position, although it may be less glamorous or exciting, is vital to the work of the entire group.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

It is Too Soon to Quit

 

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Today we continue in the book of 1st Samuel with Chapter 30. In our text, we see David destroying the Amalekites after they first attacked David's camp. What catches my eye today is verse 6, when David "Encouraged himself in the Lord." It seemed David had everything and everyone against him, yet, David started praising the Lord. In making an application, we see how to respond when things don't go our way. We should look toward the Lord and encourage ourselves in Him. The Lord grants us victory, which would be just as accessible from the start. A friend would always say, "it is too soon to quit." How accurate is that statement when we serve such a mighty God. How about you? Do you encourage yourself in the Lord when you face adversity? Let us learn from our text today and the life of David to remember to encourage ourselves in the Lord when facing adversity and that it is always too soon to quit.

 

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1 Samuel 30

1 Samuel 30

 1And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

 2And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

 3So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

 4Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

 5And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

 6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

 7And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

 8And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

 9So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.

 10But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.

 11And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;

 12And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

 13And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

 14We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

 15And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.

 16And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

 17And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

 18And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

 19And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

 20And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

 21And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

 22Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

 23Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

 24For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

 25And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

 26And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

 27To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,

 28And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,

 29And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,

 30And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,

 31And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.