“David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of
stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.
But David found strength in the Lord his God.”
1 Samuel 30:6
It always seems that in tragic circumstances mankind looks to find
someone or something to blame. After all, clarity often eludes us when we are
fighting back tears and fighting back heartache. Somehow cause and effect
relationships tend to give us some false sense of understanding in grief-filled
times. But no matter how hard we search to lay the liability for discomfort on
another we forget that nothing can ever comfort us like God can. Whether in
travesty or triumph, maintaining and deepening a relationship with the Lord
should be our central pursuit.
The last few blogs have focused on the years David lived prior to
becoming king over Israel. Scripture highlights some impressive moments in
David’s youth: being anointed the next king by Samuel the priest, slaying a
fearsome giant named Goliath, and being employed in Samuel’s court to soothe
the king when he became vexed with a depressed spirit. But just as quickly as
these biblical memories are established we read that David became public enemy
number one in Israel. Saul’s jealousy of David’s popularity and his bravery
caused the king to desire David’s death. A fugitive existence for the shepherd
boy ensued, which led David to zigzag inside and outside surrounding
territories for several months. In fact, the entirety of David’s renegade
running encompasses some eleven chapters in 1 Samuel, implying that David’s years
hiding from Saul were many and treacherous.
As the time for David’s exile came to a close there was one
dramatic event that nearly brought about yet another premature death experience
for the future king of Israel. The setting for the incident is pretty
remarkable. As a last ditch effort to evade Saul’s murderous grasp, David and
his brigade sought refuge in Philistine land, which in and of itself is
incredible because the Philistines were the most reviled enemy nation of Israel
in the Old Testament. To show David’s loyalty to the Philistine people he and
his fellow men marched with the Philistines to join them in battle against
Israel (although one wonders if David would have found an alternate way of
attempting to combat his own brethren had it come to that). But the Philistine
rulers did not endorse David joining their ranks and sent David away from the
battle staging area. As David and his men returned to their temporary home,
Ziklag, the Amalekites attacked the city, likely knowing it was practically
defenseless with the Philistines away on a war campaign. The Amalekites burned Ziklag
and took the women and children away as their captives.
Imagine the emotional upheaval that transpired in David’s heart.
Just a few days prior, God had miraculously intervened and released him from a
no-win situation by excusing his involvement in the Philistine/Israel battle
through the directive of the Philistine rulers. In gratitude and relief he and
his men made their way to Ziklag to reunite with their families. But as they
neared the town they likely saw smoldering smokestacks filling the sky. In disbelief,
they beheld a decimated city. Their world was instantly turned upside-down. Joy
became sorrow. Hope became bitterness. Victory became loss. And what happens
when our lives are suddenly flooded with sorrow, bitterness, and loss? We look
for someone or something to blame. And David’s men pointed accusing fingers at
David. 1 Samuel 30:6 denotes that their pain and anger was so great that they
openly discussed stoning David on the spot. David had been spared from Saul’s
hand on more than one occasion but now he found himself minutes away from a
deathly treason from his own fellow fugitives.
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