In our previous study, we looked at the death of Saul and the moments and situations that lead up to it. Meanwhile, there were also other things happening on the other side at the same time with David.

1 Samuel 29:1-2
1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

• David was in a difficult situation.
• He could not say no to be part of the army of the Philistines. He had put himself into the protective hands of God’s enemies instead of God Himself.

Where did we see Achish before?

• 1 Samuel 21:10-15
  10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. 14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? 15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
• This was when David was first running from king Saul. He ran all the way to King Achish who was of the Philistines. He got to the gates of the city and realized that he had made a mistake. And so he pretended to be mad and they let him go.
• God spared David even though it was done by deceit.
• But there was also a second time. And this second time was more intentional.
  • 1 Samuel 27:2
    And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
• The context of this was that Saul had been hunting him and then he said that he would stop after David had spared his life for a second time. Saul tells him to come back with him but he refuses to believe that he has changed.
• So at the end, David turns to the Philistines for refuge and protection.
• We have to be careful when we go to the world for help. Nothing good can come out of it. Not to say that Saul was any better. But God had been protecting him already. There was no need for him to go to the Philistines. It was a momentary lapse in his faith that caused him to make this decision.

But now coming back to the situation at hand. The Philistines have all been gathered to go to war against king Saul and the Israelites.

• If David refused to fight, then he would be infamous and all the surrounding nations would certainly focus on him and fight against him.
• However, on the other hand, David could not be be part of the battle either. If Saul died in this battle that David was fighting in, then king Saul’s death would be charged on David.
• David was caught between a rock and a hard place. If he turned to the left he would die. If he turned to the right he would die.
• All that was left for him to do was pray, to really pray that God would help him out of this situation that he and put himself in.

God would be merciful.

• 1 Samuel 29:3-7
  3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day? 4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not. 7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
• The princes of the Philistines rebel and refuse to let David fight with them. They don’t trust him. They are scared that he might have a change of heart on the battle field. And if that happened, then they would be in trouble.
• It was definitely a real concern. But it was God that was working on the hearts of the Philistine lords to make them think and feel this way.
• At the end, Achish relents and listens to them.
• 1 Samuel 29:8-11
  8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king? 9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle. 10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master’s servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart. 11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
• David acts the part like he is so disappointed that he was not allowed to fight alongside them. Not wanting to really reveal what was in his heart. But really, he is thankful to be spared.
• David has made his serious mistakes in decisions which put his life and the life of others in jeopardy.
• Furthermore, he is rebuked that Achish calls him an angel of God. Little does he know that he has no real loyalties to the camp of the Philistines.
• We don’t realise that when we put ourselves into the hands of the enemies, we really have to live a lie. Either that or we really change and become like them.
• Thankfully, David has not changed sides. He hasn’t allowed the hatred of Saul to change him and turn him against his own people.
• At the end, David and his troops leave relieved.

But what happens next?

• 1 Samuel 30:1-2
  1 And 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; 2 And 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.
• His camp at Ziklag has been invaded by the Amalekites.
• 1 Samuel 30:3-5
  3 So 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. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
• Why did the Amalekites do this at such a time?
• When David sought refuge amongst the Philistines, look at what he did.
• 1 Samuel 27:8
  And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
• David attacked the Amalekites whilst he was taking refuge in the Philistines land at Ziklag. So now that they knew that David and his army was busy going to war, they came and invaded their town.

How did his own army feel when they saw all that had happened to their town and their loved ones?

• 1 Samuel 30:6
  And 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.
• They were ready to stone him. In their grief, they also got angry as well. And so all the blame, they placed it on David.
• If he had not sought refuge amongst the Philistines and also attacked the Amalekites, this would not have happened.
• This is what happens when you are in leadership position. The blame rests on you. Whilst it is a great privilege, it is also a great responsibility.
• But what did David do?
  • He encouraged himself in the Lord.
• Everyone else was angry, they were grieving, they were upset and blinded.
• Yes, he was at fault. It was true. There were genuine reasons for wanting to stone him. He was the one that made the decisions. He was to blame.
• But he learnt to find encouragement and strength from the Lord.
• This really is the key lesson that we take from the study today. It is so important! This is the times that we need to have our faith firmly grounded in God.
• It’s when the trials come.
• And when they come, they come fast and hard!
• First Saul had driven him from his own country.
• Secondly the Philistines had pushed him away.
• Thirdly, he lost everything as much as his other troops had lost because of the Amalekites, taken his own wives and children as prisoners.
• Fourth, his own men are ready to stone him because of their grief!
• Where would he find someone to lean on? He was all alone. His family was not there. There was no human that he could confide in or take counsel with or even ask to pray with him. But he found it in the Lord.
• We got to learn to stop going to humans and the arm of flesh for help because one day, you might be all alone.
  • Have you heard of Murphy’s law? Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
  • Has that happened to you before?
• It’s like Job – he lost everything in one day!
• Too often we look to the arm of flesh.
• But even the best of men and women will let you down one day.
• And this is where we get a clear view of David’s faith. Yes, he had made his mistakes. He had acted unwisely. He had put his family and other people in a vulnerable position.
• But he had stayed close with God. When he erred, he would come back to God and ask for help, for forgiveness. He was walking with God. And so when all went wrong, he found his strength in the Lord.
• Psalms 56:1-3
  1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. 3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
• We must learn to put our trust in God. When we are afraid, when things go wrong, we tend to act out of instinct. And if we have not learnt to put our trust in God when the little things come up, surely we will not do so when big problems and big trials surface in our lives.

But because David was able to pause and find encouragement and strength in the Lord, what did he do next?

• 1 Samuel 30:7-10
  7 And 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. 8 And 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. 9 So 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. 10 But 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.
• David consulted with the priest who gave confirmation to pursue the Amalekites with the promise that they would be victorious and would recover everything.
• We still have that at our disposal today as well. We may not have a priest or the voice of God speaking to us directly, but we have something just as clear. It’s called the Bible!
• God still speaks to us with His word today. It is still verily the voice of God guiding each of our lives if we would take the time to listen and to read. God’s word is His heart. God’s word is His thoughts to each of us. And if we would talk with God in His word, we would find our lives guided very clearly by God Himself.
• So off David goes. However, 200 of his 600 troops got worn out and stayed back. The 400 that remained went ahead.
• 1 Samuel 30:11
  And 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.
• They then found an Egyptian servant from the Amalekites and he eventually led them to the camp of the Amalekites.

What happened when they arrived at the location of the Amalekites?

• 1 Samuel 30:16-20
  16 And 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. 17 And 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. 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. 19 And 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. 20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.
• God gave David a great victory. He recovered everything and got back even more!
• However, look at how his troops reacted when they came back to the other 200 men that had not fought with them.
• 1 Samuel 30:21-25
  21 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. 22 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. 23 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. 24 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. 25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
• They only wanted to give them their families back and that was it! They had gotten exhausted and not fought in the battle with them so they didn’t want to give them anything else.
• But David was quick to step in and show them and just because people don’t fight in battle, it does not mean that they are not entitled to any of the profits from war.
• So David quickly made a statute that when people went out to war, everyone would profit. From those that worked back at home to protect the city, to those that simply sharpened the weapons. Everyone was treated equally.

Not long after coming back to Ziklag, David received some news.

• 2 Samuel 1:1-10
  1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
• Saul had died in battle and a man came running to David to give him the news. And not only that, he gave the story of his death and that he was the one that killed Saul.
• According to what this man said, was that how Saul really died in battle? No it wasn’t! This man had told a lie. And he came looking for David hoping that he would be happy that Saul was dead. Finally, the obstacle that stood in his way to the throne was now removed. His enemy who was hunting his life was now gone.
• And because this Amalekite was the one that killed him, he was hoping for some sort of reward from David.
• But was David happy? How did David respond?
• 2 Samuel 1:11-16
  11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed.
• David was the total opposite. Instead of being happy, he mourned and was greatly sad for Saul and for his son Jonathan.
• Everyone in the camp mourned and wept and fasted until the evening.
• The Amalekite must have been so surprised to see this reaction. And at the end, he lost his life because he told David that he was the one that killed Saul.
• And the worst thing is that he was not even the one that did kill him. He ended up dying for a lie, for something that was not even true.
• We ought to be careful to always tell the truth no matter what. How many of us have told a lie just to try to get ahead in life. How many have told a lie just to try to get some extra reward or some extra cash.
• For this Amalekite, that was what he was hoping, but it backfired. And he ultimately paid for it with his life.
• And thus came an end to the reign of Saul as the first king of Israel.

As we close here, I want to remind you that main lesson that we focused on today. About learning to strengthen and encourage ourselves in the Lord. If you have lived long enough, you will know that trials and troubles are the lot of every person’s life. We will all go through dark times in our lives. And instead of turning to the world, instead of turning to sex or drugs or alcohol or any temporary fix that we think might be the solution, before we turn to any man, why not give God a try?

God tells us that there is no problem too big that He cannot carry. There is no storm so dark that He cannot take us through it. We are the apple of His eye. We are His twice over by creation and redemption. He cares for each of us. And if we will walk with Him and commune with Him and come to know Him as our Lord and Saviour, He will give us peace above the storm. He will give us a strength and a resolve to overcome every temptation and trial and storm that comes into our lives.

Even as David made unwise decisions that placed him in the midst of these troubles, God was with Him. And He will not forsake you today as well if you will turn to Him in faith, humility and repentance. May we find that strength and encouragement in the Lord today. God bless you all!