1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

112 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editionas a shepherd (cf. Ps. 23). God takes care of His own, even when we are under greatstress and are not entirely obedient."David's sixteen months at Ziklag probably marked a low point in hisspiritual walk with God. He displayed a lack of faith in going there, asthough God could not protect him in his own land; he was not honest withAchish after he arrived there; and it was only because of God's interveninggrace that he was spared from having to fight his own people.Significantly, too, it was during this time that his men nearly mutiniedagainst him, not being sure that he was leading them aright. He had beendoing so well until this time, but here he definitely slipped." 310David's wise leadership of the Israelites ch. 30This chapter reveals many qualities that marked David as an outstanding leader. As Saulcontinued to decline, God perfected the characteristics of leadership in David thatprepared him for the throne. The Amalekites' capture of Ziklag at first looked as iftragedy had struck, but later it proved to be a great blessing. In this respect this eventresembled David's whole career (and that of Jesus Christ). As a result of this victory, thepeople of Judah came to regard David as the obvious successor to Saul's throne.The chiastic structure of the chapter focuses attention on the defeat of the Amalekites, thepeople that God had commissioned Israel's leaders to annihilate."A. David reaches destroyed Ziklag and finds it plundered (30:1-3).B. David and his men are promised the Lord's help (30:4-8).C. David defeats the Amalekites (30:9-20)B'. David shares the Lord's plunder with his men (30:21-25).A'. David returns to Ziklag and distributes the remaining plunder(30:26-31)." 311David's crisis and his response 30:1-6David took three days to return from Aphek (29:11) to Ziklag. The Amalekites, whomDavid had previously raided (27:8), took advantage of the Philistines' and David'sabsence to retaliate in the Negev and on Ziklag. They plundered both Philistine andJudahite territory (v. 16). When David and his men arrived back home, they discoveredZiklag empty of inhabitants and burned down. David joined his men in weeping over thetragedy that the enemies of God's kingdom had caused (cf. Matt. 23:37). David'ssupporters then turned on him and almost stoned him giving him trouble on two frontssimultaneously. In his distress David, as usual, strengthened himself in the Lord byrelying on Yahweh and inquiring of Him (vv. 6-8). From the Psalms we know that Davidoften did this by looking back on God's past faithfulness, looking up in prayer, andlooking forward with God's promises in view.310 Wood, Israel's United . . ., p. 211.311 Youngblood, "1, 2 Samuel," p. 791.