1 Samuel 30:7 - Meaning and Application

Solomon says that the righteous are delivered out of trouble, and the wicked take their place, and that the righteous may fall seven times and rise again. So it was with David. He had many troubles, but the Lord delivered him from them all, and especially from the one described here.

First, David asked the Lord about both his duty and the outcome. He asked, “Shall I pursue this raiding party?” and “Will I overtake them?” (1 Samuel 30:8). It was a great help to David that he had the high priest with him and the breastplate of judgment, which a public leader could use to seek God’s will in important matters (Numbers 27:21). We should not think David left Abiathar and the ephod at Ziklag, or they would have been taken by the Amalekites, unless God had hidden them by special care so they could be ready when David returned.

If David did have the priest and ephod with him in the Philistine camp, then it was a serious failure that he had not asked the Lord about his agreement with Achish. Perhaps he was ashamed to show his faith that openly among the uncircumcised. But now he seems to see that this trouble came to correct that neglect, so the first thing he does is call for the ephod. It is good when suffering reminds us of duties we have neglected, especially when it stirs us up to seek the Lord. See (1 Samuel 15:13).

David had no reason to doubt that this war against the Amalekites was right. He also had a strong desire to attack them, because he was trying to recover what was most dear to him in this world. Even so, he would not go forward without asking God’s counsel. In that way, he showed that he depended on God and submitted to him. If we acknowledge God in all our ways, he will direct our steps, as he did here by promising David more than he asked, including assurance that he would recover everything.

Second, David went out in person and took with him all the men he had to pursue the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:9, 1 Samuel 30:10). Notice how quickly the unrest among the soldiers was calmed by his patience and trust. When they talked of stoning him (1 Samuel 30:6), it would have been just for him to answer harshly or even punish the ringleaders at once. But that could have harmed his cause in that critical moment, and while they were arguing, the Amalekites would have escaped with the spoil.

Instead, he kept quiet, as though he did not hear, and restrained his anger. He strengthened himself in the Lord his God, and the crowd was calmed by his gentleness and by God’s power working on their hearts. Since they were treated mildly, they were now as ready to follow him as they had lately been ready to turn on him. Gentleness helps keep any rule secure.

All his men were willing to go with him, and he needed them all. Yet he had to leave behind a third of them, because 200 out of 600 were so worn out by the long march and so crushed by grief that they could not cross the brook Besor. This was a great test of David’s faith. Would he keep going, trusting God’s promise, even when so many failed him? When we are disappointed and discouraged by our human supports, and yet keep moving forward with joy and trust in God’s power, we honor him by believing even when hope seems weak.

This also showed David’s tenderness toward his men. He would not press them beyond what they could bear, even though the need was urgent. The Son of David, Christ, also considers the weakness of his followers. They are not all equally strong in spiritual effort and struggle. Where we are weak, he is kind, and even more, there he is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10).

Third, providence put someone in their way who could tell them where the enemy had gone and help guide them. A poor Egyptian boy, barely alive, became a means of great good to David. God often chooses the weak things of the world to shame the wise.

Notice, first, how cruel his master was to him. The master had taken all the service he could from the boy, and when the boy fell sick, likely from overwork, he harshly left him to die in the field. He could have put him in one of the carts, carried him home, or at least left him enough to live on. Any master who treats a servant worse than a beast has the spirit of an Amalekite, not an Israelite. The kindest deeds of the wicked are still cruel.

This Amalekite likely thought he would soon have enough servants from the Israelite captives, so he did not care what became of his Egyptian slave. He was willing to let him die in a ditch without food or care while he himself ate and drank (1 Samuel 30:16). Justly, God used this poor abused servant to help bring ruin on a whole army of Amalekites, including his master. God hears the cry of oppressed servants.

Second, David showed compassion to the boy. Though he had reason to think the boy had belonged to the people who destroyed Ziklag, he still helped him in his distress. He gave him bread and water (1 Samuel 30:11), and also figs and raisins (1 Samuel 30:12). The Israelites were in a hurry and did not have much for themselves, yet they would not refuse help to one being dragged toward death, nor say, “We did not know” (Proverbs 24:11, Proverbs 24:12). Anyone who shuts up pity when people are in distress is unworthy of the name Israelite.

This was also wise. The Egyptian was weak and unimportant, but he could still help them. And so he did, though they did not know that when they helped him. It is a good reason never to harm anyone, and never to refuse a kindness when we can give one, because we do not know whether that person may one day be in a position to return a kindness or an injury.

Third, when the Egyptian had recovered, he told David about the enemy. He explained what his party had done: “We made an invasion,” and so on (1 Samuel 30:14). The very countries David had told Achish he raided (1 Samuel 27:10), they had really attacked and stripped bare. What had been false in David’s earlier story now turned out to be true of the Amalekites.

He also told David where they had gone (1 Samuel 30:15). He agreed to give this information if David would spare his life and protect him from his master, who, if he found him again, would likely add cruelty to cruelty.

This poor Egyptian thought so highly of an oath that he wanted no better protection for his life than this: “Swear to me by God.” He did not ask David to swear by the gods of Egypt or Amalek, but by the one true God.

Then David, led to the place where the Amalekites were camped, fell on them while they were celebrating their victory. As he often prayed, he now saw his desire granted against his enemies. The spoilers were destroyed. The Amalekites had found the plunder rich, and, as they thought, they were now safe from danger (1 Samuel 30:16). They had put all thoughts of war aside, and were in no hurry to store away their loot. Instead, they spread out carelessly on the ground, eating, drinking, and dancing, likely in honor of their idols, to whom they gave credit for their success.

David attacked them in this condition, which made the victory easier for him and far more disastrous for them. Sinners are nearest to ruin when they say, “Peace and safety,” and put off the day of judgment. Nothing gives our spiritual enemies more advantage over us than self-indulgence and giving in to the flesh. Many have gone down to the grave through eating, drinking, and dancing, that easy and pleasant path of ruin. Finding the Amalekites off guard and without their weapons, many of them perhaps drunk and unable to resist, David put them to the sword. Only 400 escaped (1 Samuel 30:17). So the triumph of the wicked is short, and judgment comes on them, as it did on Belshazzar, in the middle of their joy.

The spoil was recovered and carried away, and nothing was lost. In fact, much was gained. First, David got back all that belonged to his own people (1 Samuel 30:18, 1 Samuel 30:19). David rescued his two wives, and that is mentioned especially because it pleased him more than any other part of the victory. God had arranged things so that the Amalekites carefully kept everything they had taken, thinking they were saving it for themselves, when in fact they were preserving it for the rightful owners. So nothing was missing. When David had feared that all was gone, God proved to be far better to him than his fears.

Our Lord Jesus was truly the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. In this, he was like both of them, Abraham (Genesis 14:16) and David here: he took the prey from the mighty and led captivity captive. But that was not all. They also took the Amalekites’ own property (1 Samuel 30:20), flocks and herds, whether these had been taken from the Philistines and others, and were now David’s by the rights of war, or whether David had raided the enemy’s land and brought them away as payment for what was his. This drove of livestock went at the front of the victory parade, with the announcement, “This is David’s spoil. We owe this to him.”

Those who had just spoken of stoning David now praised him and welcomed him, because they were getting more through him than they had lost before. In this way, the world’s opinions are often ruled by self-interest.