1 Samuel 30 Devotional

What the LORD Has Given

“And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.”1 Samuel 30:6 (BSB)

David returns to find Ziklag burned and every wife and child carried off by Amalekite raiders (30:1-3). The men weep until they have no strength left, and then they talk of stoning David. With everything gone and his own men against him, David finds strength in the LORD his God (30:6). Then he asks the LORD whether to pursue, and the LORD tells him he will surely overtake the raiders and rescue the captives (30:8). An abandoned Egyptian slave, revived with food and water, guides them there (30:11-16).

Everything is recovered, with nothing missing (30:18-19). But some of the men refuse to share the plunder with the two hundred who were too worn out to keep going. David will not allow it. The plunder is what the LORD has given; he protected them and gave them the victory, so those who stayed with the supplies will share alike (30:23-24). Grace received becomes grace shared. What God gives is never earned by our strength, so it can be shared freely with the weary.

To think about: Who around you is too worn out to keep up, and how could you share with them what God has given you?