I Samuel 30:21-31
“ And 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.
Then 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.” (I Samuel 30:21-22)
The two hundred men who had stayed behind to keep the other’s stuff were overjoyed to see them bring back their stuff. David’s followers were men who had been dispossessed according to I Samuel 22:2. “And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him...” Not all of them were good men. Some were cheats or thieves, and being with David did not change their outlook.
They felt that they had done all the work and thus deserved all the rewards. They would give back what belonged to those who had stayed behind, but everything else belonged to them. It was a satanically inspired attitude.
Not everyone who joins a church is devoted to God. Just as David worked with the men who came to him, we need to learn to work with the people God gives us. I Corinthians 12:18 tells us, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” If God put them there, he had a reason. Don’t try to get rid of them.
“Then 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. For 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. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.” (I Samuel 30:23-25)
The Amalekites had been able to raid Ziklag because no one had stayed behind to protect it, and had no one stayed behind to keep their stuff, David and his men might have been delayed enough for the Amalekites to escape. David said it would be unfair to deprive men who had done such a valuable job of their fair share because they were not able to be there to take it. He established the policy as a permanent policy. Those who provide the support should share equally with the stars.
“And 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; To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir, And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa, And 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, And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach, And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.” (I Samuel 30:25-31)
David then divided up the cattle and sheep he had claimed as his own and sent it to each of the communities that had harbored him and his men in thanks for their help, ensuring their continued support. Had they fought along with the Philistines, that support would have been lost.
“ And 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.
Then 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.” (I Samuel 30:21-22)
The two hundred men who had stayed behind to keep the other’s stuff were overjoyed to see them bring back their stuff. David’s followers were men who had been dispossessed according to I Samuel 22:2. “And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him...” Not all of them were good men. Some were cheats or thieves, and being with David did not change their outlook.
They felt that they had done all the work and thus deserved all the rewards. They would give back what belonged to those who had stayed behind, but everything else belonged to them. It was a satanically inspired attitude.
Not everyone who joins a church is devoted to God. Just as David worked with the men who came to him, we need to learn to work with the people God gives us. I Corinthians 12:18 tells us, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” If God put them there, he had a reason. Don’t try to get rid of them.
“Then 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. For 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. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.” (I Samuel 30:23-25)
The Amalekites had been able to raid Ziklag because no one had stayed behind to protect it, and had no one stayed behind to keep their stuff, David and his men might have been delayed enough for the Amalekites to escape. David said it would be unfair to deprive men who had done such a valuable job of their fair share because they were not able to be there to take it. He established the policy as a permanent policy. Those who provide the support should share equally with the stars.
“And 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; To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir, And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa, And 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, And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach, And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.” (I Samuel 30:25-31)
David then divided up the cattle and sheep he had claimed as his own and sent it to each of the communities that had harbored him and his men in thanks for their help, ensuring their continued support. Had they fought along with the Philistines, that support would have been lost.
I appreciate your comment about the ungodly in the church, and how God has even put them there. My wife's sister is thinking about attending a church for social reasons (to meet moral people). She has her reasons for going, but my wife and I are fervently praying that God directs her to a church where the truth is proclaimed so she and her family may be saved.
ReplyDeleteToo often though we find the ungodly not just in the church, but running it. What a sad spiritual state we have come to, and we are to blame because of our laxity. We've all fallen asleep, waiting for our Lord's return.
I agree. It was one of the reasons for writing Prescription For Revival, based on Revelation 2 and 3.
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